On November 21–22, 2024, the VII Moscow International Cultural and Educational Forum on Russian as a Foreign Language (RFL) took place, focusing on the theme: "New and Traditional Aspects in the Multicultural Space of Teaching RFL: Current Issues in Theory and Practice." The event was organized by the Russian Language Teaching Center at Moscow State University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the "Russian Language and Culture" Center (Russian Center) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the Uzbek State World Languages University.
The forum was held in both in-person and online formats, enabling participation from a wide range of specialists from various countries. The second session, "Features of Teaching RFL in Multicultural Spaces of Foreign Countries," was particularly engaging for specialists from European countries. Speakers from Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Hungary shared their experiences. Slovakia was represented by Gabriela Turisová, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Russian Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, Prešov University, and a methodologist at the Russian Center in Prešov.
In her presentation, "The Status of the Russian Language and Features of Teaching RFL at Prešov University in Eastern Slovakia," she provided an overview of Prešov University and analyzed the specifics of teaching Russian as a foreign language at her institution, as well as the status of Russian studies in this eastern region of the country. Gabriela Turisová emphasized that Russian studies at Prešov University have a longstanding tradition.
N. Yadryshnikova, a Russian language teacher at EFSPK, attended the conference as a participant.
The discussion focused on the current status of the Russian language at the university, the number of students studying Russian as a foreign language, and the unique aspects of teaching Russian at Slovak universities. Educational tracks and programs of the Institute of Russian Studies at Prešov University, as well as opportunities for learning Russian at the institution, were also presented.
The Russian Center at Prešov University was inaugurated on November 20, 2018. It became the 113th platform for studying Russian language and culture established worldwide by the Russkiy Mir Foundation.
During the forum, it was noted that the Russian Center has hosted hundreds of events, including scientific, educational, cultural, and public activities aimed at promoting the Russian language and culture in Slovakia.
Additionally, two volumes of a collective monograph, "In Search of Russian Values," were published with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation and the Faculty of Philosophy at Prešov University.
The forum featured 50 speakers from 12 countries, including Russia, Italy, the UAE, Greece, Hungary, the UK, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. These scholars, educators, and representatives from 33 educational institutions and centers discussed trends and prospects for teaching Russian as a foreign language in their respective countries.