Perspectives of Kazakh Language Teachers towards the Reform of the Latinization of the Kazakh Alphabet in One School in South Kazakhstan

Abstract

The implementation of the policy to Latinize the Kazakh alphabet has commenced in Kazakhstan. There are many social and educational factors which have influenced the policy decision. This research focuses on the perspectives of Kazakh language teachers towards the policy and the process of Latinization in Kazakhstan. The proposed reform has met some resistance because it impacts on the rules of the Kazakh language, especially spelling and orthography. As the central implementers of the policy in classrooms, Kazakh language teachers’ opinions play an important role in this process. The purpose of this qualitative study is to reveal the perspectives of Kazakh language teachers on the reform in order to identify the benefits and challenges of implementing the Latinization of the Kazakh alphabet in one school. The central research question is: How is the implementation of the Latinized alphabet for the Kazakh language perceived by Kazakh language teachers in one school in South Kazakhstan? A qualitative case study design was used for this research, with data collected from seven participants through semi-structured individual interviews at a single convenience site. Purposeful sampling was used to intentionally select Kazakh language teachers with experience relevant to the research question. The findings revealed that the majority of Kazakh language teachers support the transition to the Latin-based Kazakh alphabet, although the Kazakh language teachers receive very little, occasional support from the school administrators, Education Department and Ministry of Education. The age and experience of teachers differentiated their description of the policy intent with older teachers emphasizing political and cultural purposes, while young teachers identified modernization purposes. By understanding the perspectives of Kazakh language teachers, school administrators, researchers, and policymakers can make informed decisions about how to improve and support the effective implementation of the Latinization of Kazakh alphabet reform.