Turkish and Turkish culture classes (MEB), weekend Turkish schools

This page is for families living in the United States who want to preserve their child's Turkish and connection to Turkish culture. The Ministry of National Education (MEB) provides free online Turkish and Turkish culture classes for children abroad; education advisers and attachés in the United States also provide support on this matter. Here you will find only the official programs, registration steps, and contact information of MEB and other institutions of the Republic of Türkiye.

• It is a digital education platform prepared by MEB for children aged 5–16 living abroad. Membership is free.
• Classes: live online Turkish and Turkish culture classes with expert teachers. Children can ask their teacher questions during class and receive immediate feedback.
• Classes appropriate to level and age: level assessment is conducted during registration.
• Content:
  • Turkish: listening, speaking, reading, and writing
  • Turkish culture and history; history workshops and virtual museum tours
  • religious culture and ethics workshop, music, chess, and science activities
  • textbooks, audiobooks, educational videos, and games
  • award-winning competitions throughout the year
• Students reached: According to MEB's announcement dated October 15, 2026, 3,000 students in 16 countries are taking classes with 98 teachers. Children in the United States participate alongside those in Europe and the Balkans.
• 2026–2027 registration: the main registration period ended on August 31, 2026. Last year, an additional registration period opened from October 6–10, 2025. Find out from the platform or your region's education attaché whether there is an additional registration period this year.

1. Go to ulkemyanimda.eba.gov.tr and register using "Yeni Üye" (New Member). The parent or guardian submits the application.
2. Complete the Seviye Belirleme Formu (Level Assessment Form).
3. Follow the class selection in September; your child will be placed in a class appropriate for their age and level.
4. Join live classes through the "Giriş" (Login) link on the platform.
5. The platform's "Ders Kitapları" (Textbooks) and "Öğretim Programı" (Curriculum) sections are open to everyone; you can review them before registering.
6. Questions about registration and the program: ulkemyanimda@meb.gov.tr. Those in the Chicago Attaché's region can also write to sikago@meb.gov.tr.

• The "Turkish and Turkish Culture Course Curriculum," prepared by MEB's General Directorate of Higher Education and Education Abroad, was adopted by a decision of the Board of Education and Discipline dated August 4, 2026. The curriculum is being implemented beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year.
• Target audience: 6–12-year-old Turkish students living abroad. The curriculum considers these children bilingual and follows an approach different from teaching Turkish as a first or foreign language.
• Structure: 7 levels. The levels indicate the child's language skills, not their grade; the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is used as the basis.
• Two cultural axes: general knowledge about Türkiye (the flag, anthem, history, scientists, and cultural heritage) and Turkish social culture (daily life, traditions, and interpersonal relationships).
• The full curriculum and textbooks can be downloaded free of charge (below).

• We could not find an official list of weekend Turkish schools on the websites of MEB's advisory offices and attachés in the United States. Therefore, we do not name a specific school on this page.
• The New York Education Attaché announced that it attended the opening of the new academic year at two Turkish schools in its region in September 2026.
• MEB's local teachers: MEB hires local contracted teachers in the United States through examinations for the purpose of "preserving the cultural ties of our citizens and people of Turkish origin." The 2026 announcement included 2 positions for the New York Education Attaché and 1 position for the Chicago Education Attaché (Ohio, Dayton).
• To learn which school in your region works with MEB, ask your regional education advisory office or attaché directly (addresses below).
• For a list of Turkish associations, you can consult Ally Daily's own guide: Ally Daily Businesses – Associations. See also 13.3 Turkish community organizations.

• Anadolu University Open Education Faculty runs the Open Education Middle School and Open Education High School under its Overseas Programs. The America Program is among the regions covered. The announcement was made by the MEB New York Education Attaché.
• 2026–2027 first term: the deadline for new registration, registration renewal, and transfer applications was extended to October 23, 2026.
• Applications and information: mebyurtdisi.anadolu.edu.tr.
• How this program affects a child's school attendance obligation in the United States depends on the rules of your state. Consult your school district and education attaché.
• Anadolu University also announced that it offers online associate and bachelor's degree programs to people living in the United States for a fee of $350 per term (globalcampus.anadolu.edu.tr).

• Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) is a Turkish institution that conducts Turkish-language instruction and cultural and artistic activities. Its headquarters in the United States is in Washington.
  • Address: 1430 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005
  • Phone: +1 202 516 5207
  • Email: washingtondc@yee.org.tr
• Cultural centers offer general Turkish courses, Turkish for children, and special-purpose courses according to demand.
• YEE's online Turkish courses and self-study portal (turkce.yee.org.tr) are primarily intended for people learning Turkish as a foreign language. They may be suitable for spouses who do not know Turkish and children with very limited Turkish.

• Washington Education Advisory Office
  • Address: 2525 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Phone: +1 202 612 6810
  • Area of responsibility: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
• New York Education Attaché (area of responsibility: New York and New Jersey)
  • Address: 344 E 46th St., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10017
  • Phone: +1 212 687 8395
  • Email: newyork@meb.gov.tr
• Boston Education Attaché
  • Address: 31 Saint James Ave., Suite 840, Boston, MA 02116
  • Phone: +1 857 284 7448
• Chicago Education Attaché
  • Address: 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr., NBC Tower Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Phone: +1 312 263 0644 (extension 811) and +1 312 392 2860
  • Email: sikago@meb.gov.tr
• Houston Education Attaché
  • Address: 5333 Westheimer Road, Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77056
  • Phone: +1 713 325 2862
• Los Angeles Education Attaché
  • Address: 5455 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 804, Los Angeles, CA 90036
  • Phone: +1 310 342 5222
• We could not find the areas of responsibility of the Boston, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles attachés on their official websites; ask the Washington Advisory Office or the nearest attaché which office you are affiliated with.
• Attention Ohio residents: The Washington Advisory Office lists Ohio within its area of responsibility; the Chicago Attaché also listed Ohio (Dayton) as its service area in the 2026 teacher announcement. Ask in advance which office you should contact for your transaction.
• Ülkem Yanımda: ulkemyanimda@meb.gov.tr
• For consular services, see 11.1 Turkish representatives and areas of responsibility in the United States.

• Missing the Ülkem Yanımda registration period and looking for the main registration, which closes at the end of August, in October.
• Assuming registration is complete without completing the level assessment form.
• Registering at a weekend school without asking about its relationship with MEB.
• Not asking the school district how Open Education registration affects the school attendance obligation in the United States.
• Applying to a consulate instead of an attaché, or vice versa.

• Is Ülkem Yanımda paid? No, it is free.
• What ages of children can participate? Children aged 5–16. The target age for the new curriculum is 6–12.
• My child does not know any Turkish. Can they participate? They will be placed in an appropriate class after the level assessment. The program was prepared for bilingual children; YEE courses are also an option for children with very limited Turkish.
• Are the classes at times suitable for the United States? Class times are determined according to the class. Check the times during class selection; send your questions to ulkemyanimda@meb.gov.tr.
• Where can I get the textbooks? They are available online in the platform's "Ders Kitapları" (Textbooks) section.
• We want to open a weekend school. Whom should we contact? Your region's education advisory office or attaché.

• Ülkem Yanımda platform
• Ülkem Yanımda – Textbooks
• Ülkem Yanımda – Curriculum page
• Turkish and Turkish Culture Course Curriculum 2026 (PDF)
• MEB General Directorate of Higher Education and Education Abroad
• Open Education overseas programs (Anadolu University)
• Yunus Emre Institute – Turkish teaching portal
• MEB Washington Education Advisory Office