New Trends in the English Language Teaching Methodology

There was an international scientific-practical seminar "New Trends in the English Language Teaching Methodology " devoted to 65 th of Victory Day anniversary in WWII which was occurred in June 7, 2010 at KazNU named after al Farabi in the Center for applied linguistics and cross-cultural communication.

The representatives of British Council, MacMillan Education, English teachers from different universities in Almaty such as KazNu named after al- Farabi, KazNTU named after K. Satpaev, KazNPU named after Abai, Technological University, National Agrarian University, Zhurgenev’s University, Academy of Transport and Communication, Woman’s Pedagogical University participated in the seminar. A stand session presented by English teachers work in KazNU and MacMillan Education was included to the seminar’s programme.

Zh.T. Bimagambetova – the director of the Center for applied linguistics and cross-cultural communication opened the seminar with welcoming speech about English Language Teaching in Kazakhstan.

Today’s modern life and new conditions require an immediate and radical methodological review, its specific methods and techniques of foreign languages teaching. These new conditions present the "discovery" of Kazakhstan and its rapid entry into the world community. Political, economical, cultural, ideological growth, people migration and mixing of languages, changing relations between Kazakh people and foreigners, absolutely new purpose of communication cause new problems in the theory and practice of teaching foreign languages.

Welcoming speech of Ardak Bekturova and Brian Maguire from British Council resulted in trainings. Their presentation was about the necessity to introduce new interactive methods of English teaching.

The key person of the seminar was Lindsay Clandfield who is the author of the «Global» textbook. Lindsay Clandfield is a teacher and an instructor of English teachers. He has trained teachers from around the world. He is also a creator of the popular blog Six Things, a collection of lists about ELT in www.sixthings.net . Lindsay Clandfield included a part concerning our republic which is called «The created capitol» in his book. He presented new interactive English teaching methodic so called e-workbook, an electronic version of his «Global» textbook which will take a honorary place among modern English teaching methods.

150 English teachers from 8 universities in Almaty were given memorable souvenirs from KazNU, British Council, MacMillan. Special presents were given to KazNU Labour Veterans.

Discussion of new English teaching methods and communication with colleagues were perfectly combined today in the Center for applied linguistics and cross-cultural communication. All participants were glad and happy having attended the seminar. They were able to learn new methods in English teaching, to communicate with colleagues, and of course to visit the exhibition "Achievements KNU in international cooperation" in the Palace of students named after Zholdasbekov.