HISTORY OF KAZAKHSTAN THROUGH KAZAKH AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION (KMI): RUSSIAN-SPEAKING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE STUDYING IN NAZARBAYEV INTELLECTUAL SCHOOLS (NIS)

Abstract

Considering the fact that in the framework of trilingual education reform in Kazakhstan, Kazakh history is taught through Kazakh as a medium of instruction (KMI), some Russian-speaking schoolchildren might meet difficulties with the learning process due to their weak Kazakh language skills. The purpose of this research, therefore, was to explore the perceptions of Russian-speaking students regarding the effectiveness of studying the history of Kazakhstan through KMI within the framework of the trilingual education curriculum. The research questions, constructed to achieve this aim, referred to students' opinions of using KMI to learn the content embedded in the history of Kazakhstan and their suggestions for improving KMI teaching and learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Russian-speaking students who have studied Kazakh history through KMI at Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. The most surprising finding of this small-scale research was the fact that a high competence in the Kazakh language was not a prerequisite to acquiring a solid knowledge of Kazakh history. Instead, the most pivotal aspect that really influenced the quality of instruction and learning was teachers’ professionalism and enthusiasm, which enable the development of effective and interesting lessons and the application of translanguaging as a scaffolding pedagogic strategy...