Abstract
THE EFFECT OF CONCEPTUAL ASSOCIATION ON IMPROVING SPEAKING SKILLS
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of conceptual association, which is one of the factors affecting the process of learning, on the speaking skills by relating this concept to the techniques used in the Turkish Language courses. Conceptual association, the ability to associate, is the process in which the subject enables the student to recall other phenomenon, situations or events already existing in his/her mind. Associations are related to the previous learning. Thus, they contribute to formation of positive transference. Subjects are not realized as irrelevant units, but as concepts to be transformed into a whole. Conceptual associations are unique to the individual (subjective). The effect of the concept of conceptual association within the scope of descriptive analysis on improvement of the speaking skills of the students was examined during the course of the study. Based on the concept of conceptual association, it can be said that the auditory and cognitive aspects of speaking skills of the students can be improved in the activity oriented courses. It was found that the concept of conceptual association can create an alternative learning environment for the Turkish Language courses with its suitability for the Turkish teaching methods and techniques as well as its contribution to the mental development of students.
Keywords
Conceptual association, speaking skills, cognitive, auditory
