“WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FRANCE?”: FRENCH LANGUAGE WEEK REVEALS NEW TALENTS AT THE INSTITUTE
From March 13 to 19, 2026, the Department of World Languages at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a specialized week titled «Que connaissez-vous de la France?» (“What do you know about France?”). The event was held to mark the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the French Republic, as well as the International Day of La Francophonie.
The initiative actively involved the third- and fourth-year students specializing in the French language. Aligned with the national motto of 2026, «Independent, Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses», and the UN Sustainable Development Goals regarding Quality Education, the week aimed to promote cultural diplomacy and encourage academic research among the youth.
The week featured several competitive stages designed to test both linguistic proficiency and creative expression:
Wall Newspaper Contest: Students from all faculties showcased their artistic talents. The Faculty of International Journalism secured the first prize for their creative and informative presentation.
Recitation Performance: Participants demonstrated their oratory skills by reciting poems by the great Turkmen thinker Magtymguly Fragi translated into French. They also performed works by iconic French authors such as Victor Hugo, Paul Éluard, and Jean de La Fontaine.
Literary Insights: A significant portion of the event was dedicated to reading excerpts from the book “Akhalteke – Our Pride and Glory” («L’Akhal-Téké – gloire et fierté du Turkménistan») by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag, highlighting its value as a vital linguistic and cultural resource.
Linguistic Proficiency: Students competed in anagrams and error-correction tasks to prove their mastery of French grammar and orthography.
The closing ceremony on March 19 began with a soulful performance of the song «La Seine» by Mahri Guzychyeva. This was followed by a series of presentations on topics: “Turkmen-French Relations”, “The International Organization of La Francophonie”, and “Prominent French Figures”.
Following a rigorous final round of the «Que connaissez-vous de la France?» quiz, which covered history, culture, linguistics and literature, as well as modern Turkmen-French cooperation, the winners were announced:
First Place: Sona Gurbanova, the 3rd-year student of the Faculty of International Law;
Second Place: Nurbibi Guljanova, the 3rd-year student of the Faculty of International Relations;
Third Place: Orazmyrat Sahetmyradov, the 4th-year student of the Faculty of International Economic Relations.
Organized by the “Lingvo World” Scientific Club, this successful event underscores the high level of language training at the Institute and the students’ dedication to fostering international dialogue and cultural cooperation.
Ogulbeg GAZAKOVA,
French Language Instructor at the Department of World Languages
of the Institute of International Relations
of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.