Kazakh-Japanese relations are developing, strengthening and improving every year. It is especially important to note that in recent years, cooperation between the two states in the field of education and science has brought noticeable results in the form of grant programs, joint research, academic exchanges and various internships for students, teachers and researchers in Kazakhstan and Japan. A great merit in this belongs to the Kazakhstan Association of Japanese Language Teachers.

         The Kazakhstan Japanese Language Teachers Association (KazJLTA) is a voluntary association founded in 1998. The mission of the association is to promote the development of teaching the Japanese language and the spread of Japanese culture in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia. Employees and teachers of the Japanese language of such universities as KazNU, KazUMOiWL, ENU, as well as employees of the KNC and the Embassy of Japan in KZ participate in the activities of the association. The main activity of the association is to organize annual republican and Central Asian competitions of oratory in Japanese, improve the level of language proficiency of both young and experienced teachers, improve the teaching skills of teachers through various seminars. Also, one of the missions is to deepen mutual understanding and maintain friendly relations between our countries, Kazakhstan and Japan.

         On a regular basis, once a month, a general meeting of the members of the association is held. On the agenda of the November meeting of the members of the association, several important issues were considered, including the appointment of a new chairman of the Kazakhstan Association of Japanese Language Teachers. Let me remind you that until November 2022, the chairman of the association was the senior lecturer of the Department of the Far East of KazNU named after al-Farabi, Borankulova Samal Kenesovna. As a result of the meeting, Kanbalaeva Cholpon, Head of the Department of Japanese Language Courses of the Kazakh-Japanese Center, was appointed as the new chairman of the association. In this regard, we want to wish the new chairman all-round success in his work, optimism, prosperity and stability, as well as the realization of all the goals set in the future!

         Most of the teachers who are members of the association have known each other well for many years. They are constantly discussing further plans for the development of the association's activities. It is also encouraging that new young graduates joined the association, who were able to feel their contribution to the development of Japanese language education and their great role as a teacher in promoting Japanese culture in our country. Experienced teachers are always ready to share their experience and pass on their accumulated knowledge to a new generation of Japanologists. Friendly, trusting relationships have been formed between the members of the association, including attention to each other, respect and goodwill. The optimistic attitude and responsibility of each teacher help Japanese language learners achieve their dreams and become a unifying bridge for the development of friendly relations between our countries!

         For the further development of the teaching of the Japanese language and the dissemination of Japanese culture in Kazakhstan, it is very important to continue close interaction and cooperation between the organizations that are part of the association, as well as the organized and well-coordinated work of the members of the association. In this regard, the work of the participating members was optimized, additional changes were made to the staffing and responsibilities of specialists. An anniversary date is expected next year - exactly 25 years of existence of the Kazakhstan Association of Japanese Language Teachers will be celebrated. A lot of work has been done over the years by members of the association in the field of domestic Japanese studies. Now the main tasks that KazJLTA sets for itself are to adequately carry the baton of development of the teaching of the Japanese language in the future, to maintain and increase the existing results and improve the main activities of the association.

The doors of our Association are always open for new teachers!!!

For all questions, please contact: nihongo.kz@gmail.com..

Senior lecturer of the Department of the Far East G.B. Tazabekova