Foreigners to study Azerbaijani language in embassies abroad
By Nigar Orujova
Foreign nationals will have the opportunity to study Azerbaijani language during courses to be organized in Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad under a relevant state program.
According to the program, in order to develop the study of Azerbaijani language, proposals to organize the self-financing language courses for foreign citizens, representatives of diasporas and all those interested will be prepared until 2015.
The state program on the use of Azerbaijani language in the context of globalization, in accordance with the requirements of the times and the development of linguistics in the country, was approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture and Tourism, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the State Committee for Work with Diaspora were ordered to implement the program.
Moreover, in 2013-2015 the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and the Education Ministry will prepare new standards of Azerbaijani language teaching methods, improving the structure of the ANAS Institute of Linguistics. Speech culture will be taught at local universities. Also, enlightenment measures will be taken in state-run organizations and the media to enforce proper use of the national language.
In March, Azerbaijani language courses for Azerbaijani children aged 4-13 living in Paris and its suburbs were organized in the cultural center of the Azerbaijani embassy in France.
The study program also includes general information about Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani history, geography, culture and art.
The Azerbaijani language, which belongs to the ancient Turkic group of languages, was declared the official language of the Azerbaijan Republic, which currently has a population of over 9 million people, by holding a nationwide referendum in 1995.