Social Science Research Council

Nurlan Masylbaev
Teacher of Arabic-Islamic University of Kyrgyzstan
Indiana University, Fall 2004

Having begun his education in a madras in 1993, Mr. Masylbayev entered the Bishkek Islamic Institute in 1995, from where he graduated in 1999. After completing his studies, he received special permission to teach Arabic at the Kyrgyz National University's department of Oriental studies, where he gained a comparative perspective on teaching approaches. He has recently held mutual responsibilities as a teacher at the Islamic University and as head of the student affairs department with the Spiritual Administration of Kyrgyzstan. In the past he has undertaken research at the National Library on Arabic literature but feels hindered by the limited opportunities to make use of his additional research. With the possibility of the Islamic University expanding its teaching of Arabic through a new Arabic language institute, Mr. Masylbaev hopes to have greater opportunities to expand his courses and integrate examples from his past research and his upcoming trip to Indiana University into his future courses.