Russian as a foreign language: theory of acquisition and teaching practice in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Current trends in the social development in the multinational state, the expansion of international relations, integration processes contribute to an increased interest in Kazakhstan around the world, which is reflected in the strengthening of the relevance of academic research in the field of the theory of a second language acquisition and the development of innovative technologies for teaching Russian and Kazakh as a foreign language. The article examines the Kazakhstani experience in the development of problems in the theory of a second language acquisition and the practice of teaching Russian as a foreign language. The main directions of the national academic school of Kazakhstani Russian studies in this area are highlighted, a brief overview of theories and models of mastering a second language developed by Kazakhstani linguists is made. The further perspective of the research is demonstrated by the example of academic research by young scholars aimed at developing the theoretical provisions of the national academic school. The role of “Theory of a second language acquisition” as a research direction and as an academic discipline in the system of higher education is considered. Achievements of Kazakhstani Russianists in the field of the theory of a second language acquisition are based on the rich experience of teaching Russian as a foreign language (over 40 years) in the country’s leading universities. The effectiveness and efficiency of the methods used is shown on the example of the practice of teaching the Russian language to foreigners at the Faculty of Pre-university Education and students of American universities at the Philological Faculty of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (within the framework of the American language program “Flagman”, Almaty), as well as teaching the Russian language to repatriate Kazakh students at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Nur-Sultan).