Using Kazakh proverbs as an effective educational method in an English lesson
Learning a foreign language is not just about internalizing grammatical structures and developing writing, speaking and reading skills. Every lesson should unconditionally pursue educational goals aimed at developing students' moral qualities, beliefs, feelings, values and skills, as well as fostering an active lifestyle and respect for universal human values. While developmental goals focus on developing intellectual abilities, educational goals focus on shaping the character and socio-psychological qualities of the individual, such as patriotism, humanism, responsibility, discipline and communication skills.
From this point of view proverbs and sayings hold a unique position in language education as linguistic tools that bridge culture, communication, and meaning. In this article, we propose the use of Kazakh proverbs for educational purposes. We substantiate this idea on the grounds that Kazakh proverbs can most effectively influence the minds of a Kazakh audience of students, thereby achieving the ultimate goal of raising a worthy generation of valuable contributors to society.
Before working directly with proverbs, it would be a good idea to enlighten students about the nature of proverbs by providing them with information on how they represent a synthesis of observations of society and natural phenomena. Proverbs can be characterized as a kind of law, a code that defines interpersonal relations, a covenant of ancestors, and a sort of textbook for educating generations. In the ancient Kazakh steppe, proverbs were used for ethical instruction and to disseminate philosophical ideas.
It’s our idea that the first proverb that can be introduced is the proverb “Adam bol”. This proverb is the fundamental tenet of the Kazakh proverbs, which passes like a “red thread” through all proverbs, serves as the primary counsel and aspiration of the Kazakhs for the younger generation.. The proverb “Adam bol!” is attributed to Abai Kunanbayev, a great Kazakh philosopher, poet, and author who believed in the worth of a man. “Adam bol!” signifies the aspiration to become a fully-fledged, virtuous individual, to pursue knowledge, to adhere to honesty and diligence, exemplifying the qualities of a commendable citizen and a valuable contributor to society.
The concept of recognizing and respecting the intrinsic value of a man and respecting him has always been of particular importance for the Kazakh mentality and the young generation of Kazakhs are constantly taught this rule. This idea is encapsulated in the Kazakh proverbs: “Omir sholaq, adam bir birine qonaq” (Men are each other's guests) and “Adamnyng omiri qamshynyhg sabyndai qysqa” (Man’s life is as short as a whip handle). The proverb “Bireuding ala zhibin attama, ar-namysyn taptama” (Don’t step over a white and black rope, don’t trample your and other’s honor and dignity) is a powerful and meaningful warning against inflicting harm upon others. In Kazakh culture, the 'white and black rope' symbolizes destiny made up of good and evil, representing the duality of human existence. The integration of proverbs into language lessons can be achieved through various strategies: translation of the proverbs, making up a story, a dialogue using proverbs, write a collective essay on the topic of a proverb, create a situation from an illustration that would confirm the given proverb, etc.
Svetlana Muldagaliyeva,
Ayana Januzakova,
Department of Foreign Languages
