The implementation of the Concept of improving the teaching of foreign languages in Turkmenistan is being implemented using the best world experience and the possibilities of international cooperation. One of the long-standing partners of Turkmenistan in the field of teaching foreign languages is the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, the largest provider of scholarships in Germany for foreigners. Consultations of the DAAD service in Ashgabat have been held since 1997.
In the 2022/2023 academic year, DAAD in Turkmenistan is represented by Dr. Raymond Zelke. He teaches German, its phonetics and language-related topics at the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after Azadi and also consults on educational and research opportunities in Germany. According to Dr. Raymond Zelke, consultations on education and current scholarship programs are held at the German Embassy every Wednesday during the university classes from 14:00 to 16:00.
Providing information about the German higher education system and DAAD scholarships for continuing education and research, as well as providing individual consultations is one of the main tasks of the DAAD Academic Exchange Service in Turkmenistan. The DAAD system includes scholarships for applicants with different qualifications and interests. There are special programs for those who are just learning German, programs for high school graduates, bachelors, masters, graduate students and teachers.
According to Dr. Raymond Zelke, Turkmen youth are showing great interest in learning German both in Turkmenistan and in Germany. Several dozen applications have already been received for summer language courses for Turkmen students with pan-European A2 and B1 language proficiency levels planned for next year. For young Turkmen citizens, this is a good opportunity for a month not only to improve their knowledge of the German language, but also to get to know the history and culture of Germany better. The project also provides for a study tour to other EU countries - as Dr. Raymond Zelke said, this could be an excursion to Prague or Paris, depending on the objectives of the course.
Remind that almost 10 years ago, the German Embassy, together with the Goethe Institute, opened the «DIL» Centre for Languages at the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after D. Azadi German language courses for children, youth and adults. The next registration for the initial stage (from scratch) will begin on the 20th of April of this year.
