In search of new approaches to teaching foreign languages

On March 4, 2021, an international scientific and practical training seminar on the topic “Basic principles of teaching ESP (English for special purposes) and the development of materials” with the participation of a doctoral student from the University of Warwick (UK), founder and chief coordinator of the Integrated cooperation “Teachers of ESP (English for Special Purposes) of Uzbekistan” UzTESPING - Komila Tangirova was organized at the Branch of the Russian State University of Oil and Gas (NRU) named after I.M. Gubkin in Tashkent.

This training seminar introduced the participants to the work of the project “Teachers of ESP in Uzbekistan”. Information was provided on opportunities for professional development and joining the wider ESP teaching community through IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language in the UK). Komila Tangirova highlighted the most important aspects of teaching methodology and key principles of teaching English for specific purposes in the development of materials.

The workshop was conducted in an integrated format, i.e. the work was carried out both in the classroom and on the Zoom platform.

This training seminar was attended by more than 70 teachers, researchers, doctoral students in the field of learning English from republican and international universities, such as the Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov Moscow State University Branch M. V. Lomonosov in Tashkent, Branch of the Russian Chemical-Technological University named after D. I. Mendeleev in the city of Tashkent, Branch of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”, Tashkent State Technical University. Named after I.Karimov, Academy of State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent State Agrarian University, Webster University in Tashkent, Tashkent Financial Institute, Uzbek State University of World Languages, Tashkent State Transport University, Tashkent State University of Information Technologies named after Muhammad al-Khorezmi, Academic military lyceum "Temurbeklar maktabi".

Thus, the topic of this event is of particular relevance among teachers of English at universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The topic of the seminar caused great interest among the audience. After her speech, the speaker answered the questions of interest to the participants of the training seminar, and also expressed her wishes for further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation. At the end of the event, the participants were awarded with personalized certificates.

Associate Professor of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, PhD Madina Nazarova shared her impressions: 

“Today's seminar was very relevant. We learned that the Integrated Cooperation Group "Teachers of ESP Uzbekistan" sets goals such as: creating opportunities for communication between ESP teachers, organizing projects aimed at improving the quality of ESP teaching, providing opportunities for the exchange of teaching practice and experience between ESP teachers, establishing a relationship with foreign associations of ESP teachers, which are necessary for the development of the field of teaching ESP in our country. Now we, the teachers of ESP in Uzbekistan, can interact with these organizations through UzTESPING, since the group is a member of IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language). In addition, we got fresh ideas on the basic principles of ESP teaching and materials development”.