Şevket Balla, who is the only person teaching Albanian language courses in Izmir, has taught Albanian language to many apprentices who have taken an interest in their ancestral language, enabling them to be reunited with their distant relatives.
Bala said, “Thanks to our course, we have played an essential role in many meetings. There is a proverb in Turkey and this word only exists in the Turkish language. One language is one person, and two languages are two people. After learning a language, you become a second person.”
Şevket Balla, who was an officer in Albania and came to Turkey for training in the 1990s, settled in Izmir when he fell in love with an Izmir native. Bala, who learned Turkish here, met many people who emigrated from Albania at the Albanian Cameria Culture and Solidarity Association. Having decided to offer a course in the Albanian language at the request of the members of the association, Balla also wrote a book to teach this difficult language. Thanks to Balla’s initiative, the descendants of people who immigrated to Turkey from Albania many years ago have begun to learn the language of their ancestors, and have reached relatives they have never met. Mentioning the similarly “one language is one person, two languages are two people”, Bala mentioned that they were instrumental in many of their reunions.
“I met a girl and became a peasant woman”
Bala, telling her story, said, “I was born in Albania. I finished my military education there and started my military service. In 1994 I came to Turkey for training. I didn’t know Turkish at all. First, I learned Turkish and got an education. I met a girl from Eşrefpaşa in Izmir and became a village lady.Izmir is a very beautiful city and I decided to stay here.At the request of our association members, I have been teaching Albanian since 2012.Because it is difficult to teach Albanian, I worked at home for 4 hours for two years and taught for 2 hours.Then I wrote a book about How to learn Albanian.
“A brother stayed in Albania, a brother came to Türkiye”
Recalling that the Albanians are a community living in the Balkan Peninsula, Bala explained the migrations that took place over the years and the relatives that left with the following words: “Albanians came to Turkey in 1878 under the name of ‘besieged’.” After 1923, at the time of the exchange, the second wave came. The third wave occurred after 1950. In the first wave, 400,000 people came. Today, the seventh generation of those 400,000 people lives on these lands. In the second wave, 1 million people came. Today, the third and fourth generations live. In the third wave, About a million people came.The first and second generation of these people also live in these lands.Albanian families had to flee during the First and Second World Wars.One of the brothers stayed in Albania, another brother came to Turkey.The brother, who stayed in Albania, started living in The communist regime and he could not go abroad for 45 years. Meeting was also forbidden. The brother who came to Turkey tried to contact them, but the communist regime did not allow it. Only the children and grandchildren of the brother in Turkey began to learn Turkish. Those in Turkey also learned Albania only Albanian After the 90s, communication started, but there was a problem with the language. This is why these courses are so important for communication.”
She was able to see her 80-year-old brother before he died.
Pointing out that they started the course with 40 students and that 400 people have learned Albanian so far, Bala said, “For example, one of my students wanted to learn Albanian at the age of 70. He wanted to meet his older brother with whom he had never been in contact yet. He took lessons in the course, he went to live with his older brother who lives in Albania. He managed to see his 80-year-old brother before his death. Another trainee found his relatives and went to their house. Thanks to our course, we were instrumental in this meeting. There are many examples Like that, that’s why I feel so emotional. There is a proverb in Turkey and this word only exists in the Turkish language. One language is one person, two languages are two people. After learning a language, you become a second person. Albania and Turkey are two sister countries. Language is a very important tool for strengthening relationships .
“I wanted to learn the Albanian language so that family ties would not be broken.”
Intern Figen Çelikal said, “In 1923, my grandfather and grandmother came to Turkey from Albania, but their brothers and cousins stayed there. My grandfathers taught my fathers their language, but no one taught us. We could not communicate with our relatives who lived there. My father was progressing “At age, too. I wanted to learn the Albanian language so that family ties would not be broken. Currently, I am in constant contact with my relatives there. I also went to Albania to visit them. I have now begun to teach my grandson.”
We have been communicating with his children through social media.
An apprentice named Mujdi Yıldırım said, “My father’s side came to Turkey in 1878 and settled in the Menemen district. My mother’s side came to Menemen from Thessaloniki in 1923. As children, we always heard Albanian, but we didn’t understand it. I also became curious.” “After I retired, we’ve made progress since September. Only my father’s aunt lives in Albania. We communicated with his children through social media. We were able to start talking slowly,” he said.
“I found my relatives”
Trainee Asli Kurt said: “Our family immigrated to Turkey in 1923. My grandparents came from there, but we have many relatives residing in Albania. We knew what they were going through, but we could not communicate with them. The psychics also died. In this course, we learned Languages enough to express ourselves. This is how I found my relatives. I invited them to my son’s wedding and hosted them in my house. “I went to Albania,” he said.
Albanian is a difficult language.
The course includes Albanian citizens as well as people who do not belong to Albania. “I am not Albanian, but after working in companies, I decided to live a more peaceful life. I have always wanted to learn Albanian. That is why I signed up for the course,” said Pinar Türkel, “I am working.” In the private sector. I work abroad related. I’m not Albanian, and there are no Albanians around, but I came to this course because I was curious.”
Learn a language for her lover
A trainee named Nadir Oner said, “I started the course at the suggestion of my wife. We exchange cultures. Our classes are going well. We are very happy. Albanian is a beautiful and difficult language.” Ali Fuat Erdal, who is thinking of settling in Albania after marrying his girlfriend, said, “I have a girlfriend in Albania. She speaks Turkish and was thinking of settling here after her marriage. But when he said he couldn’t leave his family, I had to go there.” In learning the Albanian language because I was going to settle in Albania after my marriage.”
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