Efforts to Improve Kazakh Language
This is a translation of the post by our Russian-language author Nurgeldy.
September 22 is celebrated as a Day of Languages in Kazakhstan. Usually, such days are meant to provoke some thought about achievements or troubles. But it is much more important to work for improvement of the situation and to do this work daily.
The situation with state language in the country remains difficult. New report by the Association of Sociologists and Politologists of Kazakhstan proves that:
First, the urban population prefers Russian language; Second, re-orientation of the people for state-language domination has very slow pace and is hardly implementable in short period of time; Third, taking into account low migration trends among the Russian-speaking population and reluctance to study Kazakh language by a large part of them, inculcation of state language will remain a rather complicated process.
However, improvements are taking place thanks to the people who seriously started studying Kazakh language and those who give them a hand in this endeavor. There is a Training Center under the Department for Language Development in Kustanai. Public employees have chance to study Kazakh and English languages for free. Tutors are experienced educators recruited by the Public Service Agency. Students are awarded with certificates upon completion of courses.
Currently there are 80 groups with 10-15 students in each. Besides, the Kustanai Palace of Friendship together with national cultural centers (public organizations of ethnic minorities) launched a sunday school for those who want to study their native language.
My mother tongue is Kazakh. Regretfully, I know it much worse than Russian, but I hope to correct such state of things. I’m going to check the efficiency of the Training Center by my personal experience.
on September 30th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I AM LOOKING FOR A COLLEGE WHERE TO STUDY RUSSIAN/KAZAKH LANGUAGE IN A CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA COURSE.
on October 1st, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Working on an article for this, but since you beat me to it, I’ll note the comments of one recent visitor to Astana: you have to make people want to learn Kazakh, everyone from urban Kazakhs to Russians and Koreans. Offering free tutoring is an awesome idea. If we had that in Astana, I’d go. You also have to have materials that are fun and interesting. Educational and fun TV shows would be good as well. Or show music videos in Kazakh with subtitles and then translations…instead of veiled threats that if you don’t learn KAzakh you won’t be cool, and old boring textbooks.
on October 17th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
It is very interesting, as part of the Kazakh diaspora to see how badly the Kazakh language is taught even in Kazakhstan. It raises questions among the youth of the diaspora (who, by the elders, are always encouraged to speak and learn Kazakh); since they don’t see a point in studying and learning the language if it’s not even taught properly in Kazakhstan. The youth realises this especially in encounterance with people from Kazakhstan, especially students from Kazakhstan, who prefer to speak Russian among themselves. I don’t mean to put a “bad example” label on the issue, yet it nevertheless has an effect on the youth that has been raised outside of Kazakhstan.
on October 18th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Situation is different in Almaty. It’s very easy to find Kazakh language course here. And people (mostly students) prefer to speak in Kazakh. I don’t believe to such kinds of statistics.
on October 19th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I am still expecting a reply for my petition concerning colleges where i can study Kazakh or Russian language in Kazakhstan.
on October 20th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Dear Isaac,
Almost all universities in each city of Kazakhstan offer degree courses on Kaz and Rus languages. There are tons of private institutions that render educational services and issue certificates. Your question is too broad…
on November 6th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Thanks for all!
Your opinion is very important for me
on November 29th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
There are many places to study Russian in Kazakhstan. The teachers are of high quality and it is cheap really to dwell here. The experience of the teachers is inferior to none in this respect. You could either graduate at a university or attend special courses. For example, I can recommend you to take courses of the teacher AUBAKIROVA Alipa Nasibullaevna in Astana. She has the great experience of teaching russian to comers from many countries and speaks, as I know, english, persian. If you are keen on studying Russian in Kazakhstan, Astana, here is the cell phone number of the teacher:
+7 701 725 66 64.
Good luck!
Maral