I learned 200 Turkish words in 10 hours, says 70-year old Lebanese student

BEIRUT (A.A) - January 29, 2012 - Lebanese individuals from all age groups have shown great interest in the Turkish language after the Yunus Emre Culture Center was recently opened in Lebanese capital of Beirut. Speaking to the AA, 70-year old Lebanese Joseph Kekva said that he knew 7 languages. "I have come to the Yunus Emre Culture Center to learn and speak Turkish. I did not want to miss the opportunity to learn Turkish," Kekva said. "Years ago, I had gone to Turkey to learn Turkish in a month. I have learned 200 words in Beirut in 10 hours. The teaching of Turkish here is very scientific. I believe that I shall be able to speak Turkish very soon," Kekva noted. 16-year old Muhammad Hajj said that his parents came to Lebanon from the Turkish province of Mardin years ago and that he knew very little Turkish. "I was born in Beirut and I do not speak much Turkish now. However, I began learning the Turkish language at the Yunus Emre Culture Center. I learned 60 Turkish words in 3 days. My goal is to find a job in Turkey in the future," Hajj indicated. Director General of the Yunus Emre Culture Center in Beirut, Faruk Ozturk, said that 33 students were receiving courses on Turkish in 2 separate classrooms. "We plan to open 2 more classrooms soon. A Lebanese bank is making plans to open a branch in Turkey soon. Around 60 staff members of the bank will learn Turkish at our center," Ozturk added.