"Fafna" is the subject. Subjects don't take case suffixes. It could take if it hadn't been the subject, it could take a case suffix. For instance:

"Ben fafna'dan ders alıyorum."

After I saw difficulties by Turkish learners I'm now rewriting my teaching materials that I have writen to use in my lessons.

There are some minor issues thrown inbetween but the basics of a beginners level Turkish in my opinion would be like this:

1. vowel harmony
2. question suffix
güzel > mi
3. infinitive
git -> mek
4. simple past tense
Ali denize gitti.
5. case suffixes
denize, denizde, denizden
6. negative suffix in simple past tense
gitmedi
7. personal suffixes
gitmedim, gitmedin
8. exercises:
-Sen denize gittin mi?
-Evet, gittim.
9.Present Continuous Tense:
-Sen İstanbul'a gidiyor musun?
-Hayır, gitmiyorum.

When this level is reached, there is a lot of reading work possible.

I wish there would be an experieced web designer to work with me on these issues to create some new contents and exercises.

I'm aware that it is tempting to start with present continuous tense (because the learners are impatient to communicate at the beginning) but I prefer the past tense since I want the learners to read a few simple stories and to build a simple vocabulary very fast so that we have a ground to play around. With a simple and stable vocabulary it is much easier to learn any additional issue.

I found the past tense to be more suitable for simple stories. In the past, I used to ignore the present continuous tense for a longer period. It wasn't even among the first 20 issues, let alone the first 10. Later I decided to more it in front as it gives a wide range of options. One issue that is possible with present continuous is that you can use it to express future tense.

Tamam - I sort of understand your logic......

But for me the situation is that I will probably never live in Turkia, I will practically always use my Turkish language skills whilst on holiday and therefore in a very present situation.

Whilst ultimately I want to speak Turkish fluently, the next 4 weeks (from now until I go to Turkia) must be spent learing the things I am likely to use while there.....and, apart from talking about the journey there, I cannot imagine me needing to use the past tense very much!!!

I am more concerned about being able to address people correctly, thank people, greet people, ask for the things I might want, ask for directions, express my gratitude or disgust, explain what I would like to do, say what I am going to do and most of all pass the time in general chit-chat.......none of there require the past tense, only present and future.

So yes, I would agree that past tense is a good start to building linguistic skills - but it does not allow for practical use of a language for casual visitors to the country/culture. But maybe your professional teaching is to other types of students Erdinç.