The resolution of the participants of the International scientific-practical conference "Problems of multilingualism in a multi-ethnic space"

 

            November 27-28, 2019, Department of Foreign Philology of Faculty of Philology of L.N. Gumilyov ENU, together with the Department of Germanic Linguistics, University of Erfurt, Germany, the Department of Romano-Germanic Linguistics and Foreign Literature, M.Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University (Bashkortostan, RF) and the Department of Speech and Communication Theory of Minsk State Linguistic University (Belarus), with the support of the German Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, held an international scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Alexander von Humboldt "Problems of multilingualism in poly-ethnic space."

The 250th anniversary of the famous German scientist and  natural scientist Alexander von Humboldt was the impetus for the unification of the scientific community from various research areas. Experts discussed the philosophical ideas and scientific theories of the scientist in a new interpretation, presented concepts taking into account modern scientific paradigms and a critical rethinking of traditional approaches. Alexander von Humboldt today is not in vain called the “first great organizer of science” and “the first theoretician of globalization”, because his works still do not lose their relevance and are classic for most scientific fields. The interdisciplinarity of the conference once again demonstrates the extent to which the scientist’s activities were multifaceted and remains attractive to this day.

Alexander von Humboldt attached great importance to the study of languages. He himself spoke several languages, including the main European languages. This fact makes his personality special for philologists.

The discussion of the personality, scientific and cultural heritage of Humboldt within the framework of the International Scientific and Practical Conference has gained wide coverage: specialists from the fields of philology, geography, international relations, linguodidactics, pedagogy and other humanitarian fields presented their scientific research. The Embassy of Germany in the Republic of Kazakhstan, members of the Council of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, the German Revival Society, teachers from Kazakhstan, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Iran, teachers of secondary schools of Kazakhstan, students, undergraduates and doctoral students participated in the discussion of the declared topics.

In the plenary part of the conference, reports were presented on the legacy of Humboldt and his contribution to the development of the ideas of globalization, literary criticism and linguistics. The problems of multilingualism in Kazakhstan and around the world were considered from the perspective of the modern development of a poly-ethnic society.

The scientific and practical sections worked in four areas: questions of linguistics and foreign literature; communication, speech and translation strategies; the role of Alexander Humboldt in the development of geographical thinking at the present stage of the development of science; linguodidactic principles and approaches in teaching languages. Participants discussed topical issues in the development of the humanities, speech, and technology of teaching languages.

During the three round tables, participants were given the opportunity to discuss and express their own vision on the problems of modern education in Kazakhstan, to talk about the role and place of Kazakhstan in the global world. A significant practice-oriented event was a master class on the modern methodology of teaching foreign languages (using the Spanish language as an example).

Following the results of the International scientific-practical conference held at different research sites, the following provisions were adopted:

·        - recognize that the personality of Alexander von Humboldt is a landmark in the world and that his scientific heritage today unites the most diverse spheres of science, countries, peoples and cultures, defines a classical understanding of the world, helps to understand its unity;

·    -recognize the cooperation of teachers and scientists of various scientific and educational fields, government agencies, public organizations, foreign missions to promote and support the scientific ideas and legacy of Alexander von Humboldt effective and requiring further development and improvement both in Kazakhstan and abroad ;

·      - recognize that the international experience of the event will not only contribute to the growth of the consolidating creative and scientific activity of scientists and the multiplicative dissemination of knowledge about an outstanding German scientist, but also promote the image of the Eurasian National University as one of the country's leading national universities in the ratings of world agencies;

·   -stimulate the creation, development and coordination of an interdisciplinary approach in the planning and organization of scientific forums with the wide involvement of different-structure associations to develop constructive ideas for the development of the multi-ethnic space of modern states in the context of a single language policy;

·   -stimulate the practice of inter-university scientific and methodological exchange, focused on the search for innovative approaches to the study of Humbolddianism as a special set of views on the language and its study;

·       -confirm the significance of the work of modern young researchers studying the Humboldt heritage;

·    -contribute to the implementation of initiatives of associations to popularize foreign education in general and German studies in particular;

·       - recognize the practice of cultural and educational projects aimed at promoting the German language and German culture in Kazakhstan as exemplary;

·        - send out a collection of conference materials to the world's leading libraries and universities.