This year, over a thousand persons enrolled, which is a tenfold increase over 2019.

The free courses have been organized since 2011 to popularize Tatar language among the general public. There are no age restrictions.

Course coordinator, Professor Alfiya Yusupova informs, “1,056 persons have signed up so far. However, the exact number will be known a bit later because some of the interested individuals show up in person without prior online registration.”

The courses cater to beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced speakers. There will be 36 lessons of one-and-a-half-hour each from February to May 2021. Another course is planned for autumn 2021.

Apart from classic face-to-face classes, there are also theater visits and excursions. Since the lessons are open to everyone, the enrolment is really diverse. There are doctors who want to communicate more freely with their Tatar patients, people who moved from other provinces and want to familiarize themselves with local culture, linguistics enthusiasts, and many others.

Interestingly, there are also international students who are interested in learning Tatar. One of them, Iraqi national Al-Hosseini Amir Hamid, says that he wants to hone his language skills and use the knowledge in his archeological profession.

Those who successfully pass the final test are going to receive a certificate from the University.

Source text: Alina Minnevalieva

Photo: Alexander Kuznetsov

Translation: Yury Nurmeev