In the period from 06/06/2022 to 06/10/2022 students from Emporia State University, the USA completed an internship in cultural exchanges at Kazakh Abylai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages.
During the internship, the teachers of the Faculty of Translation and Philology organized various events in the form of panel discussions, debates and round tables on such topics as “Teaching and learning experience in Kazakhstan and the USA”, “Intercultural communication: Cultural values and stereotypes ”, “Comparative studies of Kazakh and American Literature”, “Building a bridge between the two cultures”. Since the purpose of the exchange of students is the mutual exchange of cultural values, the students were given a unique opportunity to fully immerse in a foreign environment and broaden their horizons. Thus, Kazakh students taught American students how to dance Kazakh folk dances and sing in the Kazakh language. Moreover, they introduced Kazakh national cuisine to the American students. Besides, our students improved speaking skills, learned to overcome the language and cultural barriers, improved their level of English proficiency in general both during everyday communication.
Various cultural and educational events for foreign guests were also organized. The students of the faculty took an active part in all ongoing events, both held within the walls of the university and outside it, including joint trips to Medeo and Koktobe.
As part of the internship, it was planned to visit the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan named after Kasteev, Museum of Folk Musical Instruments Ykhlas and the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, acquaintance with the main sights of the city of Almaty, and a picnic was organized in the park of the First President.
Upon completion of the internship, foreign students expressed their deepest gratitude to the university and the staff of the faculty for conducting an internship to exchange cultural values and practicing language skills with our students, as well as for the opportunity to see and learn more about local customs and traditions. This allowed the students of the two countries to better understand the cultural characteristics of Kazakhstan and the USA.