The international conference “Evaluating the past, preparing for the future: learning English today” started at Samarkand State University.

      About 60 scientists from countries such as the UK, USA, Russia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan are taking part in the conference.

      The international conference was organized jointly with Samarkand State University and the Asian Association of Teachers of English.

      The main goal of the conference is to discuss innovative methods of teaching teachers and current problems of the English language, as well as the results of international research. It is also planned to jointly conduct scientific research and publish articles in prestigious international journals.

      The ceremony was opened by the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation of Samarkand State University, Professor Akmal Akhatov.

    Suvarsih Madya, professor at the Indonesian University Sarjanaviata Tamansiswa, president of the Asian Association of Teachers of English:

      - Good preparation for the conference. The fact that the conference was held at a high level is a clear confirmation of this. International English language conferences are rarely held in Central Asian countries. We share with colleagues ideas on issues in teaching and learning English as a foreign language, based on established research approaches. We discuss innovative software, platforms and applications related to the industry. Samarkand State University has extensive international cooperation relations, professors and teachers with high scientific potential work. That is why we are holding a conference at SamSU.

    Karin de Jong-Kannan, professor at the University of Utah, USA:

      - I am a participant in the Fulbright program. For this reason, I have been attending Samarkand State University for two years now. University teachers and students are very interested in learning English. This conference took place at SamSU. I am participating in the event with a lecture “Aspects of Language Teaching and Artificial Intelligence”. The role of artificial intelligence in language learning is increasing. At the same time, we have developed special English language training programs for students at the Institute of Agrobiotechnologies and Food Security of Samara State University. Thanks to this, students will have the opportunity to gradually acquire knowledge of the English language in specialized subjects.

     Ravender Gargesh, Head of the Department of English and Romance-Germanic Languages, Samarkand State University, Professor:

      - The experts participating in today's conference are world-famous English language teachers. This was a good opportunity for our department members. Our teachers interact with foreign scientists and exchange experiences. They receive a number of recommendations. In collaboration, they plan to publish scientific articles, textbooks and teaching aids in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Foreign scientists will also be happy to take part in the conference. I believe that this will be beneficial to both parties. Together with the conference participants, we decided to publish a collection of lectures in the form of a collection.

     Dildora Bashmonova, student of the Faculty of Philology, Samarkand State University:

      - I'm a graduate. I am glad to take part in the conference. I met with a number of foreign scientists. I received recommendations to do scientific work in a master's program. I listened to their lectures on current issues. I want to choose a scientific supervisor from among the conference participants. I would like to become a student of Professor Karin de Jong-Kannan at the University of Utah, USA.

Bekhruz Shamsiddinov, Information Service Officer
Samarkand State University
Photos were taken by Shavkat AKRAMOV.