Mamed Tagaev: Knowledge of the Russian language opens up a lot of new opportunities for Kyrgyzstanis
Bishkek, 06/08/22. /Saber/. Director of the Russian Language Institute of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU), Professor Mamed Tagaev told what the Russian language is important for Kyrgyzstanis.
Many residents of the regions of Kyrgyzstan today do not know Russian. There are not enough teachers and teaching aids, the number of teaching hours in the Russian language has been reduced and there is no Russian-speaking environment that existed in Soviet times. However, living conditions allow residents of the regions to use their native language.
«The Russian language is needed when there are advanced technologies. And when, for example, you are simply engaged in peasant labor, knowledge of it is not required, says Mamed Tagaev. – But the Russian language is still in demand in Kyrgyzstan. Parents try to enroll their children in schools with Russian as the language of instruction. They are well aware that it opens up new opportunities for them, helps them obtain a quality education, and become advanced and competitive in the labor market».
Russian remains the language of interethnic communication for Kyrgyzstan. It helps break down barriers, brings peoples together and strengthens relationships. If we abandon it, we risk losing access to enormous cultural, scientific and economic resources. «Language – is the engine of the economy. If we want to develop the economy of Kyrgyzstan, then we need to first of all learn Russian, – emphasizes Mamed Tagaev. - Currently, about 70% of the planet's inhabitants are bilingual. We must strive to speak several languages, and in our case – Kyrgyz and Russian. Literate, educated individuals will bring great benefits to the country».
According to him, in Kyrgyzstan there is a problem with the training of Russian language teachers. It is especially difficult with personnel in scientific and pedagogical specialties – candidates and doctors of science. There are practically none left. There is no specialized dissertation defense council that would deal with issues of teaching methods of the Russian language. «In Soviet times, we had a powerful scientific and methodological school, there was a pedagogical institute of Russian language and literature. All institutes and universities had special faculties of Russian language and literature. Now their number has decreased. Fortunately, teachers’ salaries have recently been raised and, perhaps, there will be an influx into teaching specialties, including Russian language and literature», says Mamed Tagaev.
«The Russian Language Institute of KRSU is trying to help solve these problems. Recently, together with the Pushkin Institute of Russian Language, we conducted advanced training courses for 350 people. But the resources of one institute are limited, – notes Mamed Tagaev. – We need to develop our native language. But the Russian language, being the official language in Kyrgyzstan, should also receive support at the state level. We need to create new manuals, books, and expand cooperation with Russia».
International Russian Language Day was established by the UN in 2010 and is celebrated on June 6.
