From Oxford to Turkistan to learn Kazakh. Students from a British university have come to Kazakhstan for a two-week language program. Classes are being held at the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University in Turkistan. Participants are studying grammar and vocabulary, practicing speaking Kazakh and learning about the country’s culture. The program was organized by the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education in cooperation with universities and research centers from both countries. It is helping to foster greater international interest in the Kazakh language and opening up new opportunities for cooperation.
«I was very grateful for our teacher, Didar, who offered Kazakh as an option this year — two courses, two lessons a week, four hours — and so we’ve been learning Kazakh. And it’s just, everything’s very interesting about this part of the world, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to learn it. I’d like to get to know this region slightly more, and obviously, a language is a very good way of getting to know that,» said Rory Cronin, Oxford University student.
«So I've always liked learning languages, and my friend told me that there were free Kazakh courses going on, so I thought it would be really interesting to learn a Turkic language and, you know, learn more about the culture in this part of the world. I guess I’d like to improve my Kazakh speaking skills and learn more about this part of the world,» said Daniel Livingstone, Oxford University student.
Learning Kazakh here goes beyond the classroom. Students practice speaking during meetings and trips to historical sites in Turkistan, Shymkent and Taraz. This allows them to put new words and expressions into practice right away, while also learning more about Kazakhstan’s history and culture.
«The demand for learning Kazakh is high. Interest in Kazakhstan is growing in Europe and the U.S., with people looking to explore the country from historical, political, and economic perspectives. At the same time, Central Asia and the wider Eurasian region remain relatively understudied. That’s why I believe British universities will begin introducing Kazakh language courses as full-fledged academic disciplines within this decade,» said Didar Sadyk, Kazakh language instructor at Oxford University.
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