• 10 December 2024
• 335

In the context of social mobility, international cooperation is important

"Our Scientist" is a new rubric about teachers of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University studying abroad. The guest of the rubric is Elmira Bayniyazova, Master of Pedagogical Sciences, undergoing a scientific internship in Russia, Kazan Federal University. We talked with Elmira Merekekyzy about the students' communicative competence, the Kazan Linguistic School, plans after returning to Kazakhstan and much more.

- Elmira Merekekyzy, I'll start with a question about your research. What is the subject of your scientific work? Why did you choose this particular direction?

"Formation of foreign language communicative competence of students of higher educational institutions through digital technologies" is the topic of my work. In my opinion, the issue is quite relevant, since modern society is characterized by increased social mobility, the development of contacts at all levels, and drastic changes in value orientations. This reinforces the need for communication in all areas of life in general, and in education in particular. The problem of the formation of foreign language communicative competence remains a critical issue. Although the issue can be successfully solved through digital technologies, which is becoming a real priority of pedagogical science and practice. The world is rapidly developing and changing, so the concept of "foreign language communicative competence" requires a systematic and flexible approach. In this paper, we propose a model for the formation of a foreign language communicative competence of future foreign language teachers, including conceptual, procedural and effective blocks, and identify the methodological possibilities of interactive learning technologies in the formation of foreign language awareness of teachers.

- What research methods do your colleagues use? How are they similar or different from Kazakhstani methods?

I consider my studies at Kazan University to be significant, since the work of 14 departments, five scientific and educational centers, three research laboratories of the Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication of KFU is concentrated here. It is here that the traditions of four renowned scientific schools continue to be maintained, deepened and developed: the Kazan Linguistic School, the Kazan School of Literary Studies, the Kazan Turkological School and the Kazan Linguistic Methodological School. We all know that this is where one of the most important areas of linguistics - experimental phonetics appeared, the achievements of it are used in various fields - from correctional work to the creation of speech analysis and synthesis tools.

Representatives of the Turkological linguistic school are actively working at the university, interesting projects related to the Tatar language are being implemented. The linguistic methodological school, the postulates of which are the linguistic principles of consistency and functionality, resulting from the approach to language as a functioning system, is extremely interesting from a pedagogical point of view. This is my field of study, and the dialogue of languages and cultures is important for me here.

We cannot say that the methods used in linguistics differ greatly from country to country. But, of course, there are its own peculiarities. For example, in Kazakhstan, in the study of ethnolinguistics and linguoculture, they rely more on research related to the language and culture of the Kazakh people, on the study of national components. In Russia, the methods of semantic and structural analysis are more completely applied. Both there and here, an active study of human speech activity is underway, that is, such a component as psycholinguistics is developing.

International cooperation, which ensures the participation of Kazakhstani scientists in global language research projects, is an important step in both improving the education system and the overall development of our country. Therefore, I think it is necessary to expand the space of international cooperation in terms of the development of digital philology, combining philology with cultural studies, anthropology, and cognitive psychology.

- Please tell us about the university, the country and the city where your foreign internship takes place.

Kazan University is one of the oldest universities in Russia. In 2023, the 210th anniversary of the university, which has an ancient history, was celebrated. Initially, the educational institution was located in the historical quarter, but in the twentieth century, changes became inevitable. At all times, universities create a wide cultural field around themselves, contributing to the formation of a special social structure. The same thing happened in Kazan, under the influence of higher institution, the city began to change, responding to the needs of a developing society, the tasks of Europeanization of the country. Over time, the campus turned into a cultural and shopping center of Kazan: hotels, pharmacies, shops, and the infrastructure necessary to serve the university public appeared. And now Kazan University is a scientific, cultural, and social center focused on the development of global relations.

The official date of the foundation of the city of Kazan is considered to be 1005. The city is located at the intersection of trade routes between East and West, on the Volga River. The modern history of Kazan began in 1990, when it became the main city of the Republic of Tatarstan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a metro system was built here. Kazan has a large number of historical and architectural monuments, modern structures such as the Kul Sharif Mosque, the Millennium Bridge, a racetrack, one of the largest river ports, and a new airport. The main attraction, of course, is the Kazan Kremlin, the citadel of the city, a complex of archaeological and historical monuments, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are a lot of tourists here. The city has a population of over a million people. I managed to fall in love with this city, where I found many colleagues and friends. International exchange is a very interesting stage in the life of any person.

- Please share your opinion on the prospects for the development of domestic science and the impact of foreign internships on the research of Kazakhstani scientists. Does the "500 Scientists" of "Bolashak" International program have a future?

Kazakhstan's domestic science has significant potential, but its further development requires solving a number of key tasks: strengthening research funding, upgrading infrastructure, training and integration into the global scientific community.

International academic mobility programs such as "Bolashak" have a significant impact on the development of science. First of all, they strengthen the competence of scientists. Internships in the world's leading scientific centers allow Kazakhstani researchers to master advanced techniques, equipment and scientific approaches to research projects. Foreign scientific practice definitely expands scientific ties, international programs open access to global scientific networks, which facilitates collaborations, publications and participation in major international projects. It is thanks to international scientific, educational and cultural exchange that qualified personnel are being improved. Such programs contribute to the modernization of research activities and technology transfer. As for the "500 Scientists" program of "Bolashak", the initiative has proven its effectiveness, and the "500 Scientists" project, focused on targeted support for researchers, can become a key tool for strengthening domestic science. However, its success will depend on a number of factors. First, the targeted integration of knowledge: it is important that the knowledge and technologies acquired abroad are applied in real scientific and applied projects in Kazakhstan. Secondly, creating conditions for the return of specialists: scientists should see prospects for their careers in Kazakhstan, including decent project financing, modernized infrastructure and competitive salaries. And the third important factor is the expansion of the program: coverage of a larger number of specialists and research areas, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, linguoculturology, linguodidactics, methods of teaching a foreign language, biotechnology and renewable energy.

If the state continues to develop programs to support science and integration into the international scientific community, then Kazakh science will be able to achieve significant success, which is important for the development of the domestic economy, production, as well as the domestic education system. In this case, the "500 Scientists" program may become not just a temporary measure, but the basis for long-term scientific planning. We should also talk about expanding cooperation with international scientific foundations and organizations such as UNESCO and EU Horizon, which will strengthen funding and increase the prestige of Kazakh science.

I think that only a systematic approach to the implementation of programs like "Bolashak" and "500 Scientists", their integration into strategic national priorities, the creation of conditions for young researchers and Kazakhstan's active participation in global scientific cooperation will ensure the sustainable development of domestic science and its recognition in the international arena.         

- What advice can you give to young people who are just at the beginning of their professional career and choosing which field to work in? Which country would you recommend for education?

The most important thing is to study the trends in the labor market, your own interests and abilities. Through hobbies, studying school subjects, participating in social, community, educational and volunteer projects, it is important to understand what is really interesting. It is necessary to make an analysis of professions, which will be in demand in the very near future. I would give the main advice: do not be afraid to change direction. The modern world is changing rapidly, and many successful people are changing their fields of activity. Studying is just the beginning, not the end point. Regardless of the choice, skills such as critical thinking, communication, project management and knowledge of foreign languages will always be useful.

The best choice depends on the chosen field of activity. The USA and Canada are suitable for high-tech industries, like IT, artificial intelligence, medicine. Germany is famous for free or affordable education at public universities, especially in technical specialties like engineering and mechanical engineering. The Netherlands is known for English-language programs and strong positions in ecology and sustainable development. South Korea and Japan: Suitable for those who want to innovate in electronics, robotics or biotechnology. The UK and Australia are suitable for studying law, international relations, medicine and natural sciences. The Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Finland - are leaders in the field of ecology, sustainable development and social entrepreneurship.

For those who want to stay closer to home, it is worth considering Kazakhstani Nazarbayev University or MSU/St. Petersburg State University in Russia. Kazakhstan is also actively developing academic mobility programs. Considering my own experience in choosing an educational route, I recommend KFU in Russia, which offers a wide range of directions and training profiles.

It is important for young people to remember that education abroad is not only knowledge, but also experience that shapes personality and develops global thinking.

If you plan to study abroad, start preparing in advance: study the requirements of universities, take language tests like TOEFL, IELTS. You can consider scholarship programs, for example, Kazakhstan's "Bolashak", Erasmus, Fulbright.

We need to set long-term goals, but remain open to new opportunities and challenges.

- What are your plans when you return to Kazakhstan from a foreign internship?

Of course, it might sound so trite, but it is the application of the experience of Kazan Federal University to improve the methodology of teaching a foreign language in higher education in Kazakhstan. As I have already said, KFU is famous for its strong philological school, its emphasis on Turkology and the use of modern technologies in linguistic research. After the internship, I plan to work on the adaptation of research methods, the introduction of corpus linguistics, comparative and intercultural studies into Kazakhstani scientific practice. The development of ethnolinguistics: the study of the English language through the prism of foreign language culture is an important topic that I will continue to discuss after completing my scientific internship.

Gaining experience in international cooperation, I would like to continue working on the creation of joint research projects with KFU and other universities. I am very interested in the possibilities of creating new disciplines with an emphasis on digital philology, cross-cultural studies and methods of teaching foreign language and intercultural communication, and I think I will develop in this direction.

The main task of each participant of the "500 Scientists" program is to use the experience gained to support the state.

- Thanks for the interesting conversation.

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