About Turkish ConneXion

Since 2014, Turkish ConneXion has been offering Turkish language classes with a strong focus on quality instruction and community. What began with in-person classes in Tribeca, New York, has grown into a vibrant program, offering dynamic online classes to students across the U.S. and in person at 31 East 32nd street, suite 605, in New York City.

Our approach combines structured learning, small class sizes, and personalized attention, with a strong emphasis on conversation and real-life communication. English is used only when necessary to clarify complex grammar or meaning – our goal is to help students immerse themselves in Turkish as much as possible.

We are also proud of the community we have built. Many of our students continue studying with us for years and form lasting friendships through their classes and events. We invite you to join our supportive, engaging, and culturally rich learning environment.

Meet our friendly & professional team

Our greatest strength is our team of dedicated instructors. They are fluent in English, highly trained, and passionate about teaching. They bring both professional expertise and genuine enthusiasm to every class.

All of our instructors are certified and carefully selected. They’re specially trained to work with children and teens and are passionate about making Turkish fun and accessible.

Bengisu

Founder, Director & Instructor

Bengisu founded Turkish ConneXion in 2014, drawing on more than two decades of experience in language education. She has taught Turkish and English since 2000 at both high school and university levels in Istanbul and New York.
She holds:

  • M.A. in Cultural Studies – Bilgi University, Istanbul
  • B.A. in Linguistics – Hacettepe University, Ankara
  • TESOL Certificate – Brooklyn College, NYC

Bengisu has also worked as a Senior International Student Counselor at CUNY and The New School, and continues to consult for CUNY colleges today. A passionate traveler, she enjoys learning about new cultures and sharing Turkish language and culture with her students.

Ipeksu

Instructor

Ipeksu holds a dual TESOL degree from Anadolu University and SUNY Cortland (2019). After moving to New York, she began teaching both English and Turkish to students of all ages.

She brings a thoughtful, globally informed perspective to the classroom and has been teaching at Turkish ConneXion for over four years. Her interests include writing, depth psychology, and astrology.

Betul

Instructor

Betul is an educator and researcher passionate about language acquisition and student-centered learning. She graduated from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2024 with a major in Foreign Language Education and a minor in Psychology, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at Columbia University.

Her international academic journey has shaped her holistic and supportive teaching philosophy. Outside the classroom, she enjoys birdwatching and bird photography.

Osman

Instructor

Osman joined Turkish ConneXion in 2024 with more than a decade of experience teaching Turkish to international learners at universities, language schools, and cultural institutions.

He holds a PhD, MA, and BA in Turkish Language and Literature from Yıldız Technical University, along with a Certificate in Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language from Istanbul University.

Osman has also contributed to major academic initiatives, including the Ottoman Sources Project at Duke University (2019–2021) and research projects at Yıldız Technical University.

Mert

Instructor

Mert graduated from the Faculty of Law at Izmir University of Economics and is a licensed attorney in Izmir. His interest in teaching Turkish began while helping international classmates learn the language during university.

He now lives in New York, where he works at a law office while teaching Turkish. Mert enjoys exploring the connections between law, language, and culture, and in his free time he enjoys drawing and creative arts.

Zeynep

Instructor

Zeynep is currently pursuing an M.A. in Philosophy and Education at Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar. She graduated from Middle East Technical University in 2024 with a degree in Foreign Language Education.

She has worked with students from diverse cultural backgrounds and across many proficiency levels. Her academic interests focus on motivation and ethics in education. Outside of her studies, she enjoys hiking and cinema.

What our students are saying about us

yelp
I’ve been taking Turkish at Turkish Connexion for about 9 months and I love it. Learning any language takes time, and you’ll have to go through multiple levels to keep learning, but I understand so much already. Bengisu really pushes you, and Ozan is super smart and fun, both of them are great teachers; and they also make an effort to turn the school into a community with bi-monthly happy hours and small classes. I’ve taken French and Spanish classes at similar language schools, and though Turkish itself is harder than either of those languages, it’s the best school I’ve been to. They take teaching Turkish seriously so be prepared to work hard for a few hours a week but have fun!
yelp
I have been taking classes at Turkish Connexion for two years and I cannot recommend the program enough. Bengisu is an amazing teacher and always has the class be a mix of reading, writing, speaking, grammar, and comprehension. Classes are small and you will be asked to participate a ton in each class. There is also a great community among the students. This is definitely the best language learning experience I could ask for, I highly recommend it!
yelp
Turkish Connexion is great! I have been going for a year and a half and I am learning a lot! We do a good combination of theory and practice speaking, and Professor Bengisu is amazing. Classes never exceed 8 students, and their are held in a nice classroom in Tribeca. After every trimester we have a networking event (usually at Pera Soho) where we meet people from other levels and mingle.
I definitely recommend Turkish Connexion!
yelp
Turkish Connexion offers classes for speakers of all levels. Class sizes are small, teachers are very experienced & engaged. great community of turkish learners & teachers.