Burak Sözer

Scholar of Turkish language pedagogy with extensive experience in teaching Turkish as a foreign language and researching technology-enhanced language education. My work focuses on the intersection of language pedagogy, digital learning environments, and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and computational approaches to language teaching. I am interested in developing innovative models for Turkish language instruction that expand accessibility, adaptability, and pedagogical effectiveness in international learning contexts. My broader research interests include e-learning and digital language education, computational linguistics and language technologies, dialectology and Turkish dialects, and bilingualism and language policies. My academic contributions include publications in international peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international scientific conferences, chapters in internationally published books, and participation in national and international research projects.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Language Education

Sözer, B. (2025). Doğal dil işleme kavramı ve uygulama alanları [Concept and application areas of natural language processing]. In U. Başar & Ö. Çangal (Eds.), Yapay zekâ ve yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.

Sözer, B. (2024). Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde medya ve dijital okuryazarlık becerileri [Media and digital literacy skills in teaching Turkish as a foreign language]. In U. Başar, M. Durmuş, & Ö. Çangal (Eds.), Dijital çağda yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.

Sözer, B., Özdamar, N., & Pilancı, H. (2023). Intercultural usability in e-learning objects prepared for teaching Turkish to foreigners. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 25(3), 243–264.

Sözer, B. (2023). E-öğrenme nesneleri [E-learning objects]. In E. İnal (Ed.), Yabancı/ikinci dil öğretiminde yenilikçi perspektifler: Teknoloji ve ötesi. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.

Sözer, B., Özdamar, N., & Pilancı, H. (2020). Yabancı dil öğrenimi için hazırlanan e-öğrenme ortamlarına ilişkin kullanılabilirlik araştırmalarının incelenmesi [A review of usability studies on e-learning environments designed for foreign language learning]. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6(4).

Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language

Sözer, B., & Semiz, K. (2022). Kazakistan örneğinde Türkçe öğreticilerinin genel durumu: Sorunlar, beklentiler ve öneriler [The general situation of Turkish language instructors in Kazakhstan: Problems, expectations, and suggestions]. Ordu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(3), 1815–1844.

Sözer, B. (2023). Kazak Türkçesi konuşurlara Türkiye Türkçesinin öğretimi [Teaching Turkey Turkish to speakers of Kazakh Turkish]. In U. Başar (Ed.), Türk dillilere Türkiye Türkçesi öğretimi. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.

Turkology, Bilingualism and Language Studies

Sözer, B., & Sakhi, Z. (2024). An overview of research methods and topics used in Turkological studies. Turkic Studies Journal, 6(3), 196–218.

Sözer, B., & İnal, E. (2023). Dünyada ikidillilik/çokdillilik alanında çalışan kurumların güncel durumu [The current state of institutions working on bilingualism/multilingualism worldwide]. Turkophone, 10(2), 154–175.

Conference Proceedings

Sözer, B., & Yılmaz, B. (2025). Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde kültür atölyesinin öğretim sürecine katkıları: Kazakistan örneği üzerine kuramsal bir yaklaşım [The contribution of culture workshops to teaching Turkish as a foreign language: A theoretical approach based on the Kazakhstan case]. International Symposium on Teaching Turkish and the Role of Turkish Culture in Intercultural Communication. Cologne, Germany.

Sözer, B. (2025). Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde yapay zekâ çalışmalarının güncel durumu [The current state of artificial intelligence studies in teaching Turkish as a foreign language]. International Symposium on Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language and Its Future. Başkent University, Ankara.

Sözer, B. (2025). Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde dillerarasılığa genel bir bakış [An overview of translanguaging in teaching Turkish as a foreign language]. International Young Turkologists Symposium. Bishkek.

Sözer, B. (2024). Yabancı dil olarak Türkçe öğretiminde yapay zekâ destekli okuma metinlerinin okunabilirlik bağlamında değerlendirilmesi [Evaluating AI-generated reading texts in teaching Turkish as a foreign language in terms of readability]. International Congress of Current Issues in Foreign Language Education. Turkistan.

Sözer, B. (2023). Türk dünyasında teknoloji destekli dil öğretiminin güncel durumu [The current state of technology-supported language teaching in the Turkic world]. International Turkology Congress. Turkistan.

Sözer, B., & İnal, E. (2022). Yabancı/ikinci dil olarak Türkçe öğretiminde becerilere yönelik hazırlanmış mobil uygulamalar ve temel ölçütler [Mobile applications designed for skills in teaching Turkish as a foreign/second language and fundamental evaluation criteria]. International Young Turkologists Symposium.

Sözer, B. (2021). Çevrim içi yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi ortamlarında kültürel unsurlar [Cultural elements in online environments for teaching Turkish as a foreign language]. International Turkology Congress.

Translated Articles

Sözer, B., & Pilancı, H. (Trans.). (2019). Restoran deneyimlerinde dil engeli ve kültürel farklılıkların etkisi: Bir yerleşik kuram yaklaşımı [The impact of language barriers and cultural differences in restaurant experiences: A grounded theory approach]. Söylem Filoloji Dergisi, 4(2), 517–527.

Research Projects

Digital Catalogue and Online Library of Modern Kazakh and Kyrgyz Literary Works (2010–2025): Preserving and Promoting Modern Turkic Literature in Digital Form. Proposal submitted to the Turkic Academy.

European Solidarity Corps – Be Volunteer for Youth in Europe (2018-1-TR01-KA125-057129). European Voluntary Service Project. Researcher and Project Coordinator. Chișinău, Moldova.

Strengthening Teacher Capacity for Teaching Turkish as a Second Language within the Context of Inclusive Education. Ministry of National Education, Directorate General for Teacher Training and Development (2019).

Kolukısa Village Dialect of Kadınhanı District, Konya Province (Text – Analysis – Dictionary). Scientific Research Project, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Scientific Research Project (2016 – 2017).

*A complete list of publications and conference presentations is available upon request.

• Measurement and Evaluation in Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language, Hacettepe University TÖMER, 2022
• Statistical Data Analysis with SPSS, 2021
• Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language Certificate, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 2019
• English Academic Writing Training Program, Anadolu University, 2019
• Pedagogical Formation Certificate, Anadolu University, 2014

 Sözer, B. (2025, April 19). The Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Teaching Turkish to Foreigners: Developments, Suggestions and Current Situation. 1st International Conference on Transformative Humanities, Almaty Management University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Sözer, B. (2024, May). Drama in Foreign/Second Language Teaching: A Program Proposal for Language Trainers. Research-Based Practices in the Teaching of Turkish as L2 Online Workshop, University of Toronto.

Sözer, B. (2024, April). An Overview of Research Methods in Turkology Studies. Institute of Turkology Studies Seminar, Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Sözer, B. (2024, January). Texts Used in Exams and Their Characteristics in Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language. Preparatory School Seminar, Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Kazakh-Turkish University.

Sözer, B. (2023, May). Scientific Research Methods and Techniques. Institute of Turkology Seminar, Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Kazakh-Turkish University.

Sözer, B. (2022, May). E-Learning Objects in Language Teaching. Seminar on Technology in Language Teaching, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Centre for Turkish Language Teaching, Research and Application.

Ephesus Publishing (2014 - 2020) - Remote

· Edited manuscripts for clarity, coherence, and adherence to style guidelines.

· Collaborated with authors to refine content and enhance narrative flow.

· Reviewed submissions for quality assurance and compliance with publishing standards.

· Prepared, rewrote, and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.

· Developed and maintained editorial standards for content.

My future research aims to further develop interdisciplinary approaches at the intersection of language pedagogy, digital language education, and artificial intelligence. In particular, I plan to investigate how AI-assisted language learning tools, corpus-based resources, and data-driven pedagogical approaches can enhance the teaching of Turkish as a foreign language in international learning contexts.
My ongoing research also examines student satisfaction in teaching Turkish as a foreign language, the pedagogical role of culture workshops in language learning environments, and the application of translanguaging practices in multilingual classrooms where Turkish is taught as a second or foreign language.
In addition, I am currently involved in a project proposal under evaluation at the Turkic Academy that aims to develop a digital catalogue and online library of modern Kazakh and Kyrgyz literary works. The project seeks to preserve and promote Turkic literary heritage in digital form while integrating an AI-based assistant designed to support users in navigating and exploring these literary resources.
Through these lines of research, my long-term goal is to contribute to the development of globally accessible and technologically informed models of Turkish language education and to support the digital preservation and study of Turkic cultural and literary heritage.

Reviewer for Peer-Reviewed Academic Journals (TR Dizin Indexed)

• Boğaziçi University Journal of Education
• Elektronik Dil ve Eğitim Dergisi
• Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi
• ASOS Journal (The Journal of Academic Social Science)
• International Education Studies
• Uluslararası Türkçe Edebiyat Kültür Eğitim Dergisi
• Uluslararası Türkçe Öğretimi Araştırmaları Dergisi