In 1992 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped to set up the Chair of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of International Relations to train specialists for "International Relations", "International Law", "Area studies” and “World Economy”. From 1992 till 1994 and from 1996 till 2005 the Chair was headed by Kairbayeva Roza Sakharievna Candidate of Sciences (Philology), KazNU Professor. From 2005 till 2007 by Abdramanova Saule Abdikulovna Candidate of Sciences (Philology), Associate Professor. Since 2007 till now the Head of the Chair is Baitukayeva Altynai Shaikenovna Candidate of Sciences (Pedagogy), Professor, Corresponding member of International Academy of Sciences.The Chair of Diplomatic Translation of International Relations Department of the Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi is a leading center in Kazakhstan on foreign language training. The Chair of Diplomatic Translation was transformed in 2011 through the merger of two previously existing chairs - the Chair of Foreign Languages and the Chair of Modern and Oriental Languages of International Relations Department. Nowadays there are 46 teachers, 1 professor, including 12 Associated Professors (10 candidates of sciences), 28 experienced senior teachers and 5 teachers.
The main objective of the Chair is to offer students high quality teaching of foreign languages, corresponding to fundamental European standards, through the use of modern methods of teaching and good management of the teaching process. The Chair strives to give students high level of knowledge comparable with the world famous Universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Sorbonne, Humbold. The most contemporary methods of teaching are used: multimedia, Internet, computer programmes, audio-video, interactive methods. Having excellent knowledge of English and great desire to study abroad, a great number of students use the opportunities not only via "Bolashak" programme, but also such programmes as ACCELS, "Muskie" and Soros Fundation.
