ENU Presents «English for Seniors» Educational and Methodological комплекxes for Senior Citizens

Presentation of the English Language Educational and Methodological Packages «English for Seniors» (A1–A2 Levels) for Senior Citizens.

The Institute of Continuing Education of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, in cooperation with the Faculty of Philology, held a presentation of the «English for Seniors» English language textbooks for older adults and methodological materials for instructors of Silver Universities.

The authors of the presented publications are Gulnar Ismagulova, Candidate of Philological Sciences and Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology of the Faculty of Philology, and Aigul Uisinbayeva, doctoral student of the Department of Foreign Philology and Senior Lecturer at the Kazakh National University of Sport.

During the meeting, the authors introduced participants to the content of the educational and methodological materials, explained the specific features of their development with consideration for the educational needs of older adults, and presented modern approaches to teaching English within the framework of Silver Universities.

Perizat Balkhimbekova, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages of the Faculty of Philology, noted that since 2021, faculty members have been providing free English language classes for learners in four groups: beginner and intermediate levels with instruction in both Kazakh and Russian. In addition, meetings with native speakers are organized during the summer as part of the Speaking Club. This practice contributes to the development of learners’ communication skills and enhances their language proficiency.

The developed educational materials are aimed at building basic communicative skills, improving digital literacy, preventing cognitive decline, and expanding opportunities for social engagement, personal development, and integration into the modern information and communication environment.

Each educational and methodological package consists of 10 units, containing thematically organized vocabulary and grammar materials. The books provide comprehensive explanations of grammatical topics that often present difficulties for older learners.

The packages also include reading texts and assessment tasks for each unit to evaluate acquired knowledge. These exercises correspond to the learners’ level and degree of preparation. Given the practical orientation of the materials, the authors selected topics that are particularly relevant and accessible to older adults studying in Russian-speaking groups.

The «English for Seniors» educational and methodological packages (A1–A2 levels) fully comply with the requirements for educational literature and contain a variety of learning tools designed to facilitate knowledge acquisition among senior learners.

Special attention was paid to new educational resources aimed at supporting active aging, developing language competencies, and implementing the principles of lifelong learning. It was emphasized that the use of these materials will expand the educational opportunities of Silver Universities, improve the quality of English language instruction, and ensure the sustainable development of language training programs for older citizens.

Participants showed great interest in the presented publications, highlighting their practical value, accessibility, and relevance. The presentation served as an effective platform for sharing experiences, discussing contemporary approaches to adult education, and exploring new directions for the development of educational initiatives for senior citizens.

Creating conditions for accessible and high-quality lifelong education for people of all ages, promoting personal development, strengthening competencies, and improving quality of life remains one of the key priorities of the Institute of Continuing Education. The implementation of such projects contributes to fostering a culture of lifelong learning, expanding opportunities for self-realization among older adults, and encouraging their active participation in community life.