The scientific and methodological seminar "Effective Teaching Methodologies in Foreign Languages Classrooms"

On January 24, 2025 the scientific and methodological seminar of the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Philology of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University entitled "Effective Teaching Methodologies in Foreign Languages Classrooms" was held. As part of the seminar, an international guest from Karabük University (Turkey), Professor Asim Aydın, participated and introduced his university and the Department of Western Languages and Literatures. He informed about the functions of the teaching staff at his department and familiarized the department members with Turkish academic journals indexed in international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO (Elton B. Stephens Company), MLA (Modern Language Association), ASOS (The Journal of Academic Social Science), ASCI (Asian Science Citation Index), as well as journals from Karabük University.

After the presentation by the foreign professor the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Duysengazy S. M., thanked the professor for his active participation in the department's work, presenting him with a letter of appreciation and commemorative gifts. He expressed hope that this collaboration would continue within the framework of joint research projects.

Interesting and informative presentations were also made by the department members, covering various aspects of foreign language teaching methodologies.

One of the presentations was on the topic "Using Podcasting and Shadowing Techniques to Enhance English Language Learners’ Fluency and Native-Like Pronunciation," delivered by Dr. PhD, Senior Lecturer of the Department A.K. Sadykova.

In her presentation A.K. Sadykova shared effective methods of teaching English using Podcasting and Shadowing techniques within the framework entitled "Using Podcasting and Shadowing Techniques to Enhance English Language Learners’ Fluency and Native-Like Pronunciation" and presented her students' work. During the presentation she demonstrated how these methods help improve speech rhythm, enrich vocabulary, and develop key language skills. She also emphasized the importance of integrating technology into the learning process, noting that Podcasting and Shadowing not only aid in improving pronunciation but also in a deeper auditory understanding of the language. The methods proved especially useful for students aiming to reach a level close to native speakers and can serve as an effective supplement to traditional teaching methods.

Dr. PhD, Senior Lecturer of the Department, Suleimenova J.A., presented a report in Kazakh on the topic "Technologies of using Yasawi's hikmets in the teaching process»deals with the problem of teaching Yasawi's hikmets" for the department's review. In her presentation she provided a historical overview of the use of the poet's wisdoms in the educational process, confirming that they remain valuable material for student education.

Additionally, statistical processing of the data from an experiment, which lasted ten and seven weeks, was conducted to assess the effectiveness of teaching foreign languages using the wisdoms of Yasawi, applying traditional methods such as retelling and paraphrasing. It was found that students' knowledge and interest significantly increased. The results were analyzed using numerical programs such as ANCOVA, MedCalc, and PRAAT. The results of the standardized tests conducted by the experiment participants showed a slight improvement in the students' speaking proficiency.

Equally interesting was the presentation by Senior Lecturer J.P. Vatutina on the topic "Principles of the Inclusive Approach in Foreign Language Classes for Students with Disabilities at Universities." In her presentation she emphasized the importance and necessity of inclusive education in higher education, especially in the context of teaching foreign languages. The main issues related to the implementation of the inclusive approach were summarized, and effective principles for integrating students with disabilities into the educational process were proposed. In particular, attention was focused on eliminating socio-pedagogical barriers and creating conditions for teaching English at an accessible level. This not only improves the quality of education for students with special needs but also contributes to their social integration within the university environment.

The final stage of the seminar was the discussion of the presenters' presentations. Faculty members Chulakova Z.U., Shakhputova Z.K., Kasenova A.B., and Suleimenova Z.A. asked a number of interesting questions, such as: about the effective methods of teaching foreign languages used at Karabük University; about the criteria for assessing inclusive students; about lexical material for creating podcasts; and about using various topics to develop critical thinking skills. All questions were answered thoroughly.

In summarizing the results 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 received for further practice. The seminar highlighted the importance of integrating modern technologies and methodological approaches into foreign language teaching, as well as emphasizing the significance of in-depth theoretical and practical training for both teachers and students in successfully acquiring language skills.