Scientific activity
The research activity of the Department of Foreign Languages aims at studying theoretical and practical issues:
- foreign philology;
- comparative and comparative linguistics;
- linguodidactics;
- the usage of onnovative technologies;
- multilingualism and intercultural communication.
The themes are the key research topics for the faculty members of the department in the framework of the grant projects, individual research, resulted in publications in peer-reviewed international journals, as well as in journals recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
A high indicator of the scientific activity of the department is the enrollment of faculty in doctoral studies and the subsequent successful viva for PhD (Kurmanaeva D.K., Balkhimbekova P.Zh., Tazhitova G.Z., Kasbayeva G.S., Shakhputova Z.Kh., Sydykova A.K., Alzhanova A.O., Suleimenova Zh.A, Baltynova A.Sh., Kerimbayeva K.K., Kuzar Zh.N.); assigning degrees as candidates of pedagogical and philological sciences (Mukhtarkhanova A.M., Tussupova G.K., Ustelimova N.A., Ospanova F.A., Aubakirova A.K., Kyzyrova A.M.)
Foreign Languages Department focus on professional development: constantly improve their professional level and take an active part in academic mobility programs. The faculty members undergo professional development courses and language internships, participate in international conferences with articles both in Kazakhstan and abroad (Russia, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA, Germany, France, Poland ).
In 2020 staff of the department participated in several projects: Sagimbayeva J.E. assistant professor, Ph.D. - the project of modernization of secondary education (World Bank-MON RK), expert in developing requirements for textbooks; Tussupbekova M.Zh. asst. professor, Ph.D. - "Formation of a professional multilingual personality of a new type in the conditions of multilingual education of the Republic of Kazakhstan", participant of the Republican project; Nurpeisova A.H., master, senior lecturer - "SMARTCITY: Innovative Approach towards a Master Program on Smart Cities Technologies", co-author of the laboratory workshop on programming Lego Mindstorms EV3 in English; Sultan D.G., Master, Senior Lecturer - Modernization of Pedagogical Education (World Bank-MON RK), Coordinator of Higher Education.
At the department, there is a scientific and methodical seminar on topical problems of teaching foreign languages in non-linguistic specialties in higher education. Due to the growing interest in these problems, the scientific and methodological seminars of the department have reached a new interuniversity level. Every year department of foreign languages holds international seminars.
In 2020 international scientific and methodological seminars, such as "Strengthening foreign languages teaching: challenges, approaches, technologies";"The use of digital resources in teaching foreign languages"; "Becoming a better teacher: exploring professional development" were held. At the last seminar, Dr. Gabriel Barboulet from the University of Alba Iulia named after "December 1, 1918" (Alba Iulia, Romania) made a report on the topic "The Role of the English teacher in a Global Society". In 2021 within the framework of the Decade of Science, an international scientific and practical online seminar "Distance learning in foreign languages teaching: best practices" was successfully held at the Faculty of Philology on the Microsoft Teams platform. Along with that, a scientific and methodological online seminar was held for the teaching staff of the department and with a professor from the University of Exeter (England) Debra Myhell on the topic “Writing for publication”.
In 2022 the scientific and methodological seminar entitled "Collaboration & Publication" was held. The seminar was conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform, as it was attended by Professor of the University of Minnesota, USA, Susan Jones and associate professor of the Department Tussupbekova M. Zh., who was having the research internship at the same university. In 2023 the Foreign Languages Department held its regular scientific and methodological seminar "Becoming a Better Teacher: Exploring Professional Development". The lecturer Jeffrey Stier presented the topics Adaptive Learning Systems. In addition, at a scientific and methodological seminar on the topic “Guided discovery teaching style” the director of the Corporate Training Center, representative of Prime Plus education UK, Dr. Joseph Sheikh, took part in the seminar and shared his experience.
In 2024, a scientific and methodological seminar was held on the topic "Internship Insights and Research Perspectives: Engaging with Michigan State University", the seminar was attended by Philip Montgomery, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Linguistics, Language and Culture at Michigan State University, who presented a report entitled "Publishing with Purpose: Aligning, Engaging, Targeting Your Research" and Associate Professors Kurmanaeva D.K. and Mukhtarkhanova A.M. spoke about their internship at the University of Michigan as part of the Bolashak "500 Scientists" program.
In 2025, the scientific and methodological seminar “Effective Teaching Methodologies in Foreign Languages Classrooms” was held. The seminar was attended by a foreign guest from Karabuk University (Turkey), Professor Asim Aydin, who presented his university and the Department of Western Languages and Literature.
In December 2025, the Department of Foreign Languages of the Faculty of Philology held a scientific and methodological seminar entitled “Researching Modern Trends and Aspects in Foreign Language Teaching Methodology.” The seminar was organized for the first time in English, French, and German. During the seminar, participants discussed integrative methodological approaches and practical strategies in foreign language teaching, the use of checklists in academic writing, comparative teaching of French and English, as well as ways to enhance student motivation in German language classes.The seminar was attended by the following guests: Zakirova Alma Bulatovna — Director of the Research Department, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Bizhkenova Aigul Ermekovna — Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology at the Faculty of Philology, Miguel Trigo Narbano — Spanish language instructor at the Faculty of International Relations, a polyglot fluent in English, French, German, and Italian, currently studying Kazakh and Russian, Baygozhina Zhanar Manatbekovna — Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of International Relations, Yergaliyeva Kunsulu Ongarovna — Senior Lecturer of the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of International Relations.
For the first time in 2025, the I Spring International Scientific and Practical Conference among the partner universities of the department on the topic "Innovative Approaches of Language Teaching: Bridging Theory and Practice" was organized. The keynote speakers also included representatives from partner universities of the Department of Foreign Languages: Ali Gunes, Rector of New York Tirana University, PhD, Professor (Albania); Asim Aydın, Professor, the Department of English Language and Literature, Karabuk State University, Mustafa Canlı, Professor at Karabük State University, Ömer Özdemir, Professor at Karabük State University (Turkey); Svetlana Vladimirovna Vladimirova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor at Yugra State University (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia); and Sonaim Ismailovna Kochkonbaeva, Assistant Professor at Osh State University (Kyrgyzstan). As a result of the joint work, the works of representatives of partner universities, our teachers and students were published in the conference proceedings. (Link to proceedings of the conference)
Under the guidance of Associate Professor, PhD Tussupbekova M.Zh., the competition of scientific projects "Project Fest" is held annually among students of non-linguistic specialties. Students from different faculties of the university take part in the competition, who note how useful and interesting it is to hold competitions in this format. Guests from other Kazakhstani universities and foreign experts are also invited as a jury. Among them were such experts as, Anthony Cuschieri - Teacher at Online education center (Australia), Akimkhanova Aliya (Astana International University), Kantaeva Gulnur (Astana International University), Okafor Emmanuel Emeka - a graduate student at ENU, Master’s degree in Construction within the Civil Engineering and Architecture Department (Nigeria).
In addition, the department holds olympiads in foreign languages for undergraduates of non-linguistic specialties, as well as round table discussions, song and verse contests, public speaking in foreign languages, quizzes for the countries of studied languages.
From 2021 to the present days Foreign Languages Department of Faculty of Philology has been holding International Gumilyov Online Olympiad in English among 1st-2nd year students of non-linguistic educational programs. International Gumilyov Online Olympiad is annually dedicated to important events and topics, touches upon current issues. The teaching staff of the department and invited guests always take part and give their assessments as a jury. They are always amazed at the intellectual level of our students and note how versatile they are.
Invited guests: Miller Yu.A., manager of the international language center of Nur-Sultan "Interpress", Mohammed Asad Khan, certified IELTS (Global Language Training) trainer, UK; Ubaka Precious Spik, visiting professor of EDU Stream, Nigeria; Ejaz Ahmad, Visiting Professor, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Pakistan; Fatih Thompson, Lecturer, Centre for Preparatory Studies, Nazarbayev University; Gertrude Schotte, PhD, Deputy Director for Research, Doctor of Professional Studies (Dr.Prof) Department of Education, Middlesex University and others.
In general, not only students of our university take part in the Olympiad, but also students of non-linguistic specialties of higher educational institutions from Kazakhstan, near and far abroad. Including: Astana Medical University, Kozybayev University, Voronezh University of Engineering Technologies (Russia), Academy of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan (Baku), Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Russia), Yugra State University (Russia), Kazakh Academy of Sports and Tourism, Osh State University (Kyrgyzstan) and etc.
Teachers of the department, together with students of non-linguistic specialties, annually organize meetings and many events within the framework of the scientific club “Foreign language for solving practical problems.” Teachers and students participating in the science club visit American Corner in Otyrar library and take part in different events every year. In 2026, as part of the scientific club, a webinar was held for students on the topic "Your First Academic Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide". The speaker was PhD, Senior Lecturer Zh.N. Kuzar. The webinar was conducted in an interactive format — students actively participated in discussions and received practical recommendations for academic writing.
From January 5 to January 16, 2026, the Department of Foreign Languages of the Faculty of Philology at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University organized the Winter School “Innovations in Language Education”. The event brought together teachers, researchers, and students. Among the distinguished guests were Dean of the Faculty of Philology Duyisengazy Serikzat Maksutovich; Head of the Department of Practical Kazakh Language, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Acting Professor Kulmanov Kuandyk Sandybekovich; Head of the Department of Theory and Practice of Translation, PhD Akizhanova Diana Muratovna; Head of the Department of Russian Philology, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Nurgali Kadisha Rustembekovna; Head of the Department of Kazakh Linguistics, Candidate of Philological Sciences Bibekov Kanysh Tleuzhanuly; Head of the Department of Foreign Philology, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Baydrakhmanov Dosym Khasenovich. Guests from partner universities included Senior Lecturer, Master of Pedagogical Sciences Sarsenova Anar Madibekovna, Associate Professor, Master of Pedagogical Sciences Davletova Saltanat Yesengaliyevna, Sultanova Samal Muradymovna (A.K. Kusainov Eurasian гуманитар Institute), as well as Senior Lecturer, Master’s degree holder Zhasarova Dinara Galiaskarovna (International University “Astana”).
Invited lecturers included PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology at E.A. Buketov Karaganda University Kitibayeva Alfiya Kanybekovna; PhD, Head of the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Aimagambetova Malika Muratovna; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation Studies at Abay Myrzakhmetov Kokshetau University Zhumagulova Natalia Stanislavovna; PhD researcher at Nazarbayev University Philip Montgomery; representative of RUDN University (Moscow) Felicia Bulus; PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Theory and Practice of Translation at L.N. Gumilyov ENU Eskindirova Manshuk Zhumabayevna; Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Ayapova Tanat Tanirberdiyevna; Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor at Voronezh State University Pivovarova Elena Leonidovna; Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor at Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies Vitruk Lidiya Yuryevna; Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Minyu Bhatnagar (India); Regional Director of Sales at Prime Plus Training (UK) Joseph Sheikh; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor at Voronezh State University Kuzmina Larisa Grigoryevna; Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor at E.A. Buketov Karaganda University Buketova Nursulu Ibrayeva, who shared their professional expertise and experience.
Below you can see reports on the research work of Foreign languages Department of the Faculty of Philology:
