the Scientific and Methodological Seminaretitled “Strengthening Foreign Languages Teaching: Challenges, Approaches, and Technologies"

On December 23, 2024 the following scientific and methodological seminar of the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Philology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, was held entitled "Strengthening Foreign Languages Teaching: Challenges, Approaches, and Technologies."
During the seminar interesting and insightful presentations were made, covering various aspects of the methodology of foreign language teaching.

One of the presentations was on the topic "The Textbook as the Main Tool in Modern Foreign Language Teaching," presented by the faculty members of the Department: Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Aubakirova A.K., Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Acting Associate Professor of the Department Tussupova G.K., and Senior Lecturer Nurbekova G.Z. In their presentation the speakers emphasized that the textbook remains the primary tool in the teaching process, including foreign language instruction. Using the example of the textbook “Deutsch als 2. Fremdsprache”, developed and prepared for publication for students, they shared the main principles and requirements for textbooks of the new generation. In particular, the textbook should comply with state educational standards and curriculum programs, be accessible and understandable for the target audience, and include tasks that develop all language skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening). Furthermore, it should be practice-oriented and include multimedia and digital materials.

The speakers provided a detailed explanation of the goals, objectives, and principles behind the structure of the textbook, as well as its overall design. In conclusion, they noted that a well-developed textbook helps structure the entire educational process, systematically develop all aspects of language, and prepares students for real-world communication.

Candidate of Philological Sciences A.M. Kyzyrova presented a report in Kazakh for the department eintiled "The Role of Critical Thinking in Personality Development: The Advantages of Using Films in the Educational Process and Their Effective Application."

 

In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of education as a key element in shaping an individual's worldview, skills, and values. Through teaching, educators influence students, fostering their socialization. An important aspect is the use of effective and engaging methods that capture the students' attention. One such method is the use of films in the educational process. Films serve as a powerful tool for visualizing information, which facilitates better material retention and the development of critical thinking. In modern educational practice, films not only complement traditional teaching methods but also open new opportunities for more rapid achievement of educational goals. In her presentation, A.M. Kyzyrova highlighted how films impact the learning process, stimulate active student engagement, and contribute to the development of their knowledge, skills, and personal qualities.

Equally interesting was the case study on the topic "Phraseology and Idiomatic Expressions in English Language Learning," presented by PhD, Senior Lecturer A.O. Alzhanova. In her presentation, she explored the features of phraseology and idiomatic expressions in the English language. The speaker emphasized that phraseological units and idioms often use figurative language, which can be difficult for speakers of other languages to understand. A particularly important aspect is recognizing the underlying metaphor of the expression, as this is key to understanding the idiom correctly.

During the seminar, it was noted that idioms can have multiple meanings depending on the context, which requires students to be able to interpret their meaning based on the surrounding words and situation. For successful learning of idiomatic expressions, several important steps can be identified: starting with simple and frequently used idioms, avoiding complex or obscure expressions at the early stages of learning.

To effectively memorize idioms, students should actively use them in various contexts, such as conversations, written assignments, or role-playing games. It is also recommended to use specialized online resources, such as the Macmillan Dictionary or the Collins Dictionary, which contain numerous idiomatic expressions with usage examples and detailed explanations. This will help students not only memorize the expressions but also use them correctly in real communication.

The speaker also proposed several practical methods for teachers to integrate the study of idioms into the educational process, making it more dynamic and interesting for students. An important part of teaching is developing students' ability to recognize and use idioms in various situations, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the language and the culture of its speakers.

The final stage of the seminar was the discussion of the presenters' talks. Interesting questions were posed by senior faculty members of the department: S.K. Musina, B.G. Smagulova, A.K. Sadykova, A.B. Kasenova, and Z.Kh. Shakhputova. These questions concerned text varieties, grammatical material for creating textbooks, the use of SAT (self-assignment tasks), dictionaries, film themes, and the use of these aspects in phraseological expressions to develop critical thinking skills. Exhaustive answers were provided to these questions.

The head of the department, P.Zh. Balkhimbekova, following the first presentations, made a proposal regarding the resumption of German language teaching for non-language majors in the next academic year. She plans to submit this proposal for consideration, hoping that it will be supported. Additionally, she expressed confidence that the textbook developed by our colleagues will find wide application in the educational process and become an important resource for students.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants expressed a unanimous positive opinion regarding the relevance of the issues discussed, their novelty, and the value of the information gained for future practice. The seminar highlighted the importance of integrating modern technologies and methodological approaches into foreign language teaching, and emphasized the significance of both theoretical and practical preparation for teachers and students in successfully mastering language skills.