Learning the languages for 50 years

Warm memories, pleasant hugs, sincere smiles: such was the 50th anniversary of one of the most promising and sought-after departments in German and Roman Philology. During this time a large number of highly qualified teachers of foreign language, philologists and translators, who are successfully employed not only in cities of Kazakhstan, but also abroad. The assembly hall of the university was attended by veterans of the chair, the faculty of the Institute of Language and Literature, alumni, partners and students.

Lubov Ivanova, the veteran teacher, senior lecturer of the chair, recalls how the history began: "At first, we studied at Ruzaev Street, in the building not adapted for studies. But we were happy, cheerful, the first graduates. Then we were transferred to a barracks building. The ink froze in winter, but we didn't get upset.  The department was growing, with new enrolments every year, and we were transferred to a well-maintained building on Teatralnaya Street. We started setting up offices and creating a library. The first core of teachers, when they went on trips, were sure to bring textbooks, scholarly collections, cassettes, etc. from various cities of the world. There was nothing to mar us, we were dreaming, striving for the best".

At the moment the department is actively developing in terms of international relations. It has been a member of the English Language Fellow Program at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan for more than a year. In the frame of cooperation with Republic of Turkey, Turkey was included as a pilot for the "Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages" course.

Students of ILL prepared creative and patriotic performances. The name of the department and the faculty have changed, but the spirit and traditions have remained intact.