Why Study English Language and Literature?
Dear Students,
The famous English poet John Donne begins one of his poems with the following lines:
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”
We believe that people are not independent beings, but indispensable parts of a whole. Please do not interpret this as an anti-individualistic stance. Despite all their differences, people are defined not only by their own experiences, but also by the existence and experiences of others, and by the past, present, and future designs and characteristics of all societies. In this sense, it directly touches on the fundamental issues of the social sciences—identity, ethics, social solidarity, and existence.
In a world where technological progress and economic gain are increasingly at the forefront, studying English Language and Literature may seem to some as indulging in nostalgia or abstraction, or even adopting a culture that does not belong to them. However, this view fundamentally misunderstands the enduring and even urgent value of literary studies in the contemporary world. Literature is not merely reading old books or studying classic works; it is an intellectual discipline that develops rich cognitive, ethical, and imaginative abilities. Through literature, students learn to ask meaningful questions, confront intellectual challenges, engage with different perspectives, and understand the universal human experience in a nuanced way.
English Language and Literature is essentially a research discipline. It teaches students not what to think, but how to think. Confronted with complex texts ranging from Shakespearean tragedies to postmodern novels, students learn to interpret language accurately, discern ambiguities, and extract deeper meanings. They are trained to ask open-ended, probing questions: What does this text say about power, identity, or morality? What ideologies underlie its structure? What is left unsaid? This form of inquiry encourages intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, and a refusal to accept simple answers.
These qualities are as important for academic life as they are for building a democratic society. Studying English Language and Literature forces students out of their comfort zones. A poem by John Donne or a novel by Zadie Smith is not easily digestible; it requires attention, emotional engagement, and critical thinking.
Students engage with texts that do not allow for simple interpretations, confront them with unfamiliar worldviews, and force them to question even their own assumptions. In doing so, they develop intellectual resilience and analytical depth, i.e., the ability to remain within complexity rather than jumping to early conclusions.
Literature gives voice to the marginalized, bears witness to historical injustices, and reveals the inner worlds of those outside the dominant discourse. For example, when reading Virginia Woolf's Orlando or Kafka's Metamorphosis, students not only examine the stories, but also engage in ethical dialogues about memory, identity, and the costs of progress.
In addition to encouraging questioning, challenging, and empathy, English Language and Literature also develops aesthetic and linguistic sensitivity through texts. Careful reading of texts sharpens attention to language: its rhythm, structure, and power to persuade or unsettle. This increased awareness of language enhances students' own writing and communication skills, enabling them to argue persuasively, write elegantly, and express their ideas clearly and subtly.
As your faculty members, one of our most important goals is to develop a strong sense of imagination and freedom in you. We invite students to imagine alternative realities, critique dominant paradigms, and discover the meaning of being human. The critical perspectives you will gain from psychoanalysis to feminism will not only give you the ability to interpret the world, but also the power to change it.
Graduating with this vision, proficiency in Turkish and English as well as a third language, an understanding of language structure through linguistics courses, the ability to easily transition between different languages through translation courses, and expertise in conveying the subtleties of a language through language education courses will give you an advantage in your professional life. I am proud to say that our graduates are highly adaptable, well-equipped, and open to learning, and they are always preferred for their expertise in learning and teaching strategies.
In conclusion, studying in our department is much more than just passing courses and earning a prestigious diploma from İstinye University; it is the formation of an enlightened mind and a character that everyone will envy. It nurtures curiosity, challenges intellectual indifference, develops ethical awareness, improves communication, and frees the imagination.
Please remember, “No man is an island,” let's explore the continent of humanity together!