The Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University has launched the IV International Forum of Central Asian German Language Teachers under the theme “German in Central Asia: Education, Innovation and Cooperation.”
Before the opening of the forum, participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the military personnel who lost their lives in a tragic incident in the Mangystau Region.
The two-day international forum is dedicated to discussing the current state and development prospects of German language teaching in Central Asian countries, introducing modern educational methods, sharing best practices, and expanding academic and professional cooperation.
The forum brings together representatives of higher education institutions and professional communities from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Germany, German language teachers, as well as representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions.
At the opening ceremony, Suatai Sabit Kurmanzhanovich, Member of the Board and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at QyzPU, delivered a speech and emphasized the importance of international exchange of experience, the introduction of innovative methods, and the strengthening of regional academic cooperation.
The forum was moderated by Mereke Khafizkyzy Tankibayeva, President of the Association of German Language Teachers of Kazakhstan, who presented the main areas of the forum’s work.
The first day’s plenary session was dedicated to the theme “German as a Foreign Language: Global and Regional Context.” The session addressed the prospects for the development of German in Central Asia, the specifics of teaching the language in multilingual environments, academic mobility and dual-degree programmes, as well as the opportunities offered by digital technologies.
The plenary session featured presentations by Karin Pittner, Senior Professor at the Institute of German Studies at Ruhr University; Dr. Csaba Földes, Professor at the University of Erfurt; and Khurram Rakhimov, Chair of the Association of German Language Teachers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Association of German Language Teachers of Central Asia. The speakers addressed German language teaching in the digital era, multilingualism in Central Asia, as well as opportunities for academic mobility and dual-degree programmes.
As part of the forum, thematic sessions were held for representatives of higher education institutions and schools. The practical part of the forum focused on modern didactics, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and media didactics. Participants explored ways to use artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, in classes, develop educational content, adapt media resources, conduct interactive text-based activities, and develop learners’ communicative competence.
Professional exchange continued through round-table discussions. Participants discussed the role of German as a language of science, research and professional careers, academic writing, publication skills, certification and standardized language examinations, as well as the development of regional professional cooperation.
The forum will continue on September 26. The programme will include working group sessions aimed at developing the “Central Asian Roadmap for the Development of German: Education, Innovation and Cooperation for 2026–2030.”
Following the forum, participants and speakers will receive certificates. The adoption of the Central Asian Regional Roadmap for the Development of German for 2026–2030 is also planned.
