Al-Farabi KazNU Master’s Students Promote Kazakh Culture in South Korean Schools

Within the framework of a memorandum signed in 2024 between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education of the Republic of Korea, an international program aimed at engaging teaching assistants in Korean schools is being implemented.

Following the successful completion of a two-stage selection process, Master’s students from the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Department of the Far East at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University are currently working as teaching assistants in schools across Gyeonggi Province. The participants include Zhaniya Kozhakhmetova, a Master’s student in Regional Studies, and Balnur Subebek, a second-year Master’s student in Oriental Studies. In addition, Gulden Kaliyeva, a graduate of the Master’s program in Oriental Studies, has successfully passed the third stage of selection and is currently completing documentation for participation in the international program.

As part of the program, KazNU Master’s students conduct classes for Korean schoolchildren aimed at introducing the rich cultural heritage of Kazakhstan. The lessons cover national traditions, music, art, and rituals of the Kazakh people, while such cultural elements as the dombra, yurt, and the traditional asyk game are presented through interactive teaching methods. Korean students show great interest in these classes, actively asking questions and engaging in discussions.

According to the participants, Korean students are interested not only in the history and culture of Kazakhstan but also in the distinctive features of the peoples of Central Asia as a whole. The program plays an important role in strengthening intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and friendship between nations.

In addition, KazNU Master’s students work with children from CIS countries living in South Korea. In recent years, the growing number of migrant families has made support for children’s adaptation to a new linguistic and cultural environment increasingly important. In this context, events promoting Central Asian cultures, as well as days of national games and traditional cuisine, are regularly organized.

The program also provides participants with an opportunity to gain in-depth insight into the South Korean education system. Distinct teaching approaches are applied at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, with widespread use of multimedia technologies and interactive learning materials. This experience enables Kazakhstani Master’s students to adopt innovative teaching methods in their own educational practice.

This international program is aimed at strengthening cultural and educational cooperation between Kazakhstan and Korea. The project participants express their sincere gratitude to Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, in particular to the Department of Science and Innovation, the Department of Academic Affairs, and the Department of the Far East of the Faculty of Oriental Studies for providing the opportunity to participate in the program.