During a working visit to Ashgabat, as part of cooperation with higher education institutions of Turkmenistan, representatives of Nottingham Trent University, UK—Professor Martin Seviour and Dr. Sam Barclay—held meetings with teachers and students of the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages.
The meetings were attended by English language instructors and third- and fourth-year students specializing in "English Language" studies.
The guests from the UK provided detailed information about Nottingham Trent University, one of the oldest universities in the UK, where thousands of students from various countries study in different fields. The university representatives also shared information about the UK government’s activities under the "Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia" program, effective methods for teaching English, and the special attention given to this area.
To exchange experiences and improve professional skills, the British colleagues conducted practical testing with questions related to English language teaching methodologies. Turkmen educators shared their opinions on this topic, followed by joint discussions on teaching methods and technologies, preparation of educational materials, organization and delivery of lectures, and student assessment approaches.
For their meeting with university students, the guests prepared special group assignments and tests related to teaching English, which were successfully completed.
Following this, Professor Martin Seviour conducted a colloquium during which he discussed with students the challenges and difficulties encountered when learning foreign languages and ways to overcome them.
Representatives of Nottingham Trent University Professor Martin Seviour and Dr. Sam Barclay expressed their satisfaction with the students’ ability to freely express their thoughts in English. They also shared their views on the students’ professional development and their active engagement in language learning.
The foreign guests expressed special gratitude for the hospitality and warmth of the Turkmen people and for the opportunity to become acquainted with the unique culture of Turkmenistan.
