Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Kazakhstan means entering a country that is officially Kazakh-speaking, yet still largely Russian-speaking, at the crossroads of Turkic, Russian, and Chinese worlds. For an expatriate, the temptation is great to stick with Russian, which is omnipresent in major cities and in business. However, learning Kazakh opens other doors: genuine integration into society, direct access to nomadic culture, a nuanced understanding of local current affairs, and, increasingly, a professional advantage.
For learning Kazakh on the ground, several practical options exist: taking classes in schools or universities, using apps, frequenting public centers or language clubs, and participating in language exchanges. Adopting learning strategies adapted to local realities is also essential.
Why Kazakh truly matters for an expatriate
Kazakh is the state language of Kazakhstan. It belongs to the Turkic family, close to Kyrgyz, Karakalpak, or Tatar, and shares similarities with Turkish or Uzbek. In practice, the country operates under bilingualism: Kazakh as the national language, Russian as the “language of business,” protected at the constitutional level.
Percentage of the population of Kazakhstan of Russian origin, a language still widely spoken despite a trend towards re-Kazakhization.
– All young citizens learn Kazakh in school.
– Kazakh is advancing in administration, education, and media.
– The gradual transition from the Cyrillic alphabet to a Latin alphabet aims to strengthen national identity and reduce linguistic dependence on Russian.
In this context, an expatriate who makes the effort to learn Kazakh, even modestly, sends a strong signal. Kazakhstani people greatly appreciate being greeted in Kazakh or being able to exchange a few simple phrases. Professionally, mastering at least the basics can become an asset in the country’s strategic sectors (energy, agriculture, technology, international projects).
Understanding the language to better master it
Before choosing a method, it is useful to grasp what you’re up against. Kazakh is demanding but logical.
Kazakh is an agglutinative language: suffixes are attached to a root to express case, possession, tense, person, etc. A single verb form can convey multiple pieces of information. The language has seven cases (nominative, accusative, dative, locative, ablative, genitive, instrumental) and a typical Subject-Object-Verb word order. For a French or English speaker, switching from an SVO to an SOV pattern requires a change in mental reflexes: “Tom yesterday sandwich ate” would more closely match the Kazakh structure.
In Kazakh, all vowels in a word must be consistent (front or back, rounded or unrounded), a rule that influences the form of suffixes. Furthermore, the stress typically falls on the last syllable of the word.
Phonetically, some sounds do not exist in French or English:
– Қ, a uvular “k” produced far back in the throat, similar to the Arabic “ق”.
– Ғ, a guttural fricative close to the French or German “r”.
– Ң, the “ng” sound as in “singing”.
– Ө, close to the French “eu” or the German Ö.
– Ү, close to the French “u” or the German Ü.
The good news is that the spelling is very phonetic: you pronounce what you see, much more so than in French or English.
Managing two alphabets: Cyrillic today, Latin tomorrow
In Kazakhstan, Kazakh is currently written primarily in the Cyrillic alphabet. The alphabet consists of 42 letters, derived from the Russian alphabet with nine additional letters adapted for Kazakh sounds (Ә, Ғ, Қ, Ң, Ө, Ұ, Ү, Һ, І). Most signs, newspapers, administrative forms, and textbooks remain in Cyrillic for now, even as the Latin version progresses.
Historically, Kazakh used the Arabic alphabet, then the Latin alphabet in the 1920s, and finally the Cyrillic alphabet in the 1940s under Soviet influence. Currently, a presidential decree is preparing a return to the Latin alphabet. Several versions have been proposed, hesitating between apostrophes and diacritics (like ä, ö, ü). The goal is to align with Turkish and Azerbaijani standards while preserving the specificities of the Kazakh language.
For an expatriate, a realistic strategy is to start with Cyrillic, essential for reading the public space and current resources, while keeping in mind that the Latin version will become widespread. Sites like Qazlatyn.kz already publish news in the Latin alphabet and allow for gradual familiarization with the new script.
A good compromise is to dedicate an intensive week to the alphabet:
– memorize letters with flashcards,
– listen to alphabet songs to associate sound and spelling,
– handwrite simple words,
– read aloud every day.
In-person training: Language schools and universities
For those settling in Kazakhstan long-term, in-person training solutions are abundant, especially in major cities like Almaty and Astana.
Specialized language schools
Several schools have made a name for themselves in teaching Kazakh to foreigners. They combine modern methods, experienced teachers, and varied formats (group classes, private lessons, intensive courses).
Among the key players:
– Kazakh Language House in Almaty, which offers groups by level, intensive programs, and individual lessons.
– InterPress International House, present in several cities, which works on the four skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing) with interactive pedagogy.
– Qazaq Language Center in Astana, very focused on the needs of foreigners, with customized programs.
Local “Wikicity”-type listings reveal a very dense landscape of language schools in Astana, including Fast Speak, OLS, Americana, Liberty Education, KAZielts, EAST DRAGONS, Language Room, Rocket Study, and Greenford. Although teaching primarily focuses on English, Russian, and other international languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Turkish, Czech, Italian), a growing number of institutions now integrate Kazakh modules, especially for foreign adults.
Features often found in these schools include: flexible schedules, small groups or one-on-one classes, native trainers, modern textbooks, focus on communication, cultural immersion (outings, cooking or music workshops), preparation for language exams, and sometimes even help with visa procedures and end-of-course certificates.
Public language centers across the country
The Kazakh government has developed a network of “state language” training centers in all regions. They are present in major cities (Astana, Almaty, Shymkent) but also in each oblast and district.
A few examples:
| City / Region | Center | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Astana | KSU “Rukhaniyat” | State Language Center downtown |
| Almaty | “Language” Teaching and Methodology Center | On Tole bi Avenue, offers Kazakh courses for adults |
| Shymkent | Center for Dissemination of Art, Traditions, and Kazakh Teaching | Combines language and culture |
| Akmola (Kokshetau) | Regional Training-Methodology Center | Courses for civil servants and the public |
| Almaty region (Taldykorgan + districts) | “Til” Center Network | Branches in many rural districts |
| Karaganda | Regional Language Center | Central address on Gogolya Street |
| Mangystau (Aktau) | Public and private centers (BEST’, InterClass, etc.) | Very varied offerings for adults |
| Pavlodar, Turkestan, East Kazakhstan | Multiple public and private centers | Almost complete coverage of the territory |
For an expatriate posted in a medium-sized city, these centers can be the most convenient and affordable option. They generally apply standardized programs and have trainers specialized in teaching Kazakh as a second language.
Universities: From evening classes to intensive programs
Several Kazakhstani universities offer Kazakh courses for foreigners, in the form of credited modules or preparatory programs.
Several universities and language centers in Kazakhstan offer structured programs to learn Kazakh, adapted to different levels and learner profiles.
The Department of Kazakh Language and Literature offers bachelor’s, master’s, and short-term programs focused on the language.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences includes Kazakh courses for beginners and advanced learners, attended notably by international students.
The Language Center offers credited and non-credited Kazakh courses, very popular with expatriates working in the business world.
The Foundation Center for Pre-University Preparation offers intensive Kazakh and Russian training for foreign students, with socio-cultural adaptation and a final certificate.
The Innovative University of Eurasia (Pavlodar), Pavlodar State University, and the Caspian University of State Technology and Engineering (Aktau) also have centers dedicated to teaching the state language.
These university structures are particularly suited to expatriates on academic mobility or to families whose children are preparing for long-term local schooling.
Private tutors: The customized option, online or in person
For an irregular schedule or very specific goals (professional terminology, preparing a speech, understanding a contract, etc.), hiring a private tutor is often the most effective solution.
Where to find a Kazakh tutor
Several major international platforms list Kazakh teachers, often based in Kazakhstan but teaching online:
Selection of digital platforms for learning languages with tutors, including Kazakh. These services connect learners with native teachers around the world.
Connects learners to over 100,000 tutors in over 90 languages. An internal study indicates progress three times faster than the industry average, with 94% of learners feeling more fluent and 91% more confident in speaking after 24 lessons or more.
A very well-known platform for individual exchanges, where each tutor sets their own rate, offering great flexibility.
Platform highlighted for teaching Kazakh by native tutors, among other languages.
A platform specialized in language learning, also offering native tutors for Kazakh.
Online tutoring platform highlighting Kazakh courses taught by native teachers.
A service for connecting with native tutors, recommended for learning Kazakh.
Tutor profiles are very varied: some are certified teachers, others are “community tutors” focusing on conversation. There are many profiles of multilingual Kazakhstani people, often also Russian and English speakers, sometimes speaking Chinese, Turkish, or even German.
Prices are very competitive for an expatriate: the observed range is from about $8 to $30 for 50-minute lessons, with many tutors around $10–$15. Some platforms offer packages (10, 14, 24, 42 lessons) with discounts and time validity.
Advantages of a private tutor
The main benefit is personalization. A good tutor:
To progress effectively, adapt your learning pace to your level and workload. Clearly define your priority objectives, whether it’s mastering basic survival skills, acquiring professional Kazakh, or understanding the media. Good support should allow you to immediately correct pronunciation and grammar mistakes and expose you to authentic Kazakh, including its different registers and idiomatic expressions.
Living in Kazakhstan, you can combine in-person and online: work online with a tutor who gives you homework to practice later on the street, at the market, at work.
To get the most out of this modality, it is advisable to clarify your goals from the start (being able to handle shopping and administrative procedures, follow simple meetings, etc.), maintain regular communication about what works or not, and prioritize a sustained frequency (2–3 short sessions per week often produce more effect than one long weekly lesson).
Learning through immersion: Clubs, cultural centers, homestays
Living in Kazakhstan is in itself a major asset: the language is everywhere; you just need to know how to put yourself in situations.
Language clubs and cultural centers
In many cities, Kazakh Language Clubs organize meetings, debates, and cultural activities. These clubs are sometimes attached to universities or cultural organizations.
In Almaty, for example, centers like the Kazakh Cultural Center or the Irtysh Cultural Center offer language courses and events. The Irtysh Center stands out with a structured offering of Russian courses (from level A1 to C1), but these structures are also natural places to practice Kazakh, meet local students, and participate in traditional, music, or cooking workshops.
Language groups organized by universities (language cafes, movie nights, debate clubs) are important opportunities for expatriates. It is often possible to participate directly or, failing that, to accompany Kazakhstani colleagues or friends.
Homestays, exchange programs, and study abroad
Some Kazakhstani language schools and universities offer homestay programs, where you live with a Kazakh-speaking family. For a recently arrived expatriate with little local network, this is a very powerful way to immerse yourself: you are constantly exposed to the language in daily situations (meals, shopping, family visits, celebrations).
Study abroad programs organized by foreign universities or language centers typically include:
This comprehensive program combines intensive Kazakh language learning with authentic cultural experiences for total immersion.
A substantial amount of class hours to master the basics and deepen practice of the Kazakh language.
Discovery of museums, historical sites, and participation in traditional celebrations like Nauryz.
Activities and meetings organized to foster exchanges and integration with the Kazakh student community.
Even if your stay is not academic, drawing inspiration from this logic (combining classes, outings, guided practice) is a good guideline.
Expatriate clubs: Social support and linguistic springboard
Structured expatriate communities can serve as a decompression chamber but also as a springboard to the local language.
– In Almaty, the Almaty International Women’s Club brings together a large English-speaking community and organizes many activities.
– In Astana, the Astana International Club is presented as the largest expatriate club in the capital.
These networks facilitate the sharing of good tips: which public center is the most serious for beginners? Which private tutor is truly pedagogical? Where to find a motivated Kazakh–English tandem? They also allow for organizing informal study groups.
Online resources: From apps to complete courses
Even when living on-site, it would be a shame to forgo the very rich ecosystem of digital tools for Kazakh. The main challenge is not so much a lack of resources but a certain fragmentation.
Generalist apps with Kazakh courses
Many mainstream apps have added Kazakh to their catalog:
| Application | Content Type | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Gamified short lessons | Reading, writing, listening, speaking + voice recognition |
| Memrise | Vocabulary and phrase courses | Videos of natives, spaced repetition system, community courses |
| Mango Languages | Real-life situation dialogues | Cultural notes, pronunciation comparison |
| Mondly | Vocabulary + dialogues | Gamification, chatbot, augmented reality |
| Pimsleur | Audio courses (30 min / day) | Purely oral approach, spaced repetition |
| Drops | Visual vocabulary | 5-minute sessions, very easy to integrate into daily life |
| uTalk | Vocabulary (≈ 2000 words) | Playful approach, listen & repeat mode |
| 50Languages | 100 basic lessons | Native audio, complementary eBooks |
Many rely on spaced repetition to foster vocabulary memorization and on multiple-choice, text input, or pronunciation exercises.
Other tools are more specialized:
– Clozemaster: learning in context, with fill-in-the-blank sentences.
– Glossika: method based on repeating thousands of whole sentences to work on implicit grammar, ear training, and fluency (progress measured in “reps”).
– LingQ: immersion through reading/listening to authentic content (articles, stories), with the ability to highlight words to create your own vocabulary.
This is the price range in US dollars for a monthly subscription to most language learning apps, depending on options and number of languages chosen.
Apps dedicated to Kazakh
Among specifically Kazakhstani initiatives, one can mention Aıtý, an app designed for beginners that teaches Kazakh from the most frequent words, in Cyrillic and Latin. Its philosophy: master 300 words to understand about 50% of daily usage, 3000 words to reach around 90%. The app addresses both Russian-speaking Kazakhstani people and foreigners.
Other apps like LinGo or Lingodeer also integrate Kazakh with structured paths focused on grammar, vocabulary, and communication in context.
Structured online courses and content
On major learning platforms, you can find dedicated modules:
– Udemy, for example, offers a free “Kazakh for beginners” with about ten videos covering alphabet, pronunciation, and basic grammar.
– Cudoo, Bluebird, 17 Minute Languages, or Instant Immersion sell courses of levels A1–A2 or higher, often accompanied by certificates.
The maximum price for course packages can reach $100, depending on content volume.
A very dynamic part of the Kazakh ecosystem is on YouTube and social media.
Emblematic example: “Kazakh language with Zhannur”, which offers educational videos, an online course “Kazakh language for Beginner”, and private lessons. The creator also distributes content via Telegram and Patreon (course sheets, exercise worksheets) and offers follow-up by email or WhatsApp.
Other channels like “Speak in Kazakh” feed Instagram, TikTok, and Italki. You can find grammatical explanations, thematic vocabulary, acted-out dialogues, often in a short format ideal for daily practice.
To complement, you can draw from:
– popular songs (notably those of Dimash Kudaibergen),
– children’s tales,
– TV shows and cartoons,
– news broadcasts or public radio in Kazakh.
This media immersion helps to naturally integrate prosody, phrasing, and language register, while giving a vivid glimpse into society.
Language exchanges: Practicing with natives in Kazakhstan
If there is one area where an expatriate on-site has a huge advantage, it is language exchange. Kazakh is still little studied worldwide, but curiosity for English, French, or other languages is very strong in Kazakhstan.
Global exchange apps
Major exchange platforms like Tandem, HelloTalk, Speaky, MyLanguageExchange, or ConversationExchange already have thousands of profiles located in Kazakhstan. Tandem, for example, lists nearly 10,000 members in the country, with over 3000 in Almaty alone. Many are ready to exchange Kazakh or Russian for English, French, German, Turkish, etc.
These apps offer varied communication functions (text messaging, audio, calls), often with integrated tools like correction or partial translation. They allow bypassing schedule constraints through asynchronous voice messages and facilitate finding compatible partners based on level, interests, and availability.
In-person meetups in Almaty and Astana
On the in-person side, weekly meetups already exist, for example in Almaty with “Language Exchange & Party” evenings in pubs, or ESL meetups organized by English speakers. While these events often target English, simply mentioning your interest in Kazakh can spark curiosity: many young Kazakhstani people are Russian speakers and want to improve their English, while being delighted to help you practice Kazakh.
Universities, cultural centers, and certain libraries, like the National Library in Almaty, are prime spots to spot announcements and join conversation groups.
Building an effective Kazakh tandem
Once a partner is found, a few simple rules maximize efficiency:
– Define a format: for example, 30 minutes in Kazakh, 30 minutes in your language.
– Prepare topics (daily life, work, cooking, current affairs) to avoid awkward silences.
– Collect language questions during the week from your real life (phrases heard at the market, at the office, on the bus) and bring them to the tandem.
– Accept error as an integral part of learning and ask for kind correction rather than judgment.
For an expatriate, language exchange is also a door to the local social fabric: invitations to events, parties, trips, etc., all opportunities to practice.
Learning strategy: How to organize your Kazakh daily
The abundance of resources can be paralyzing. Living in Kazakhstan additionally imposes time constraints, often linked to demanding work. Hence the importance of a clear strategy.
Setting realistic goals
The CEFR frameworks (A1 to C2) provide benchmarks, but for an expatriate it is often more tangible to think in terms of concrete tasks:
– In 3 months: be able to greet, introduce yourself, ask for directions, order at a restaurant, read basic signs.
– In 6 to 12 months: follow a simple exchange about the weather, family, work, participate in informal conversations at social gatherings, handle Kazakh “courtesy” phrases.
– In the longer term (1–2 years): understand the TV news, read simple articles, express yourself on professional topics.
It is often mentioned that a base of 1000–1500 well-mastered vocabulary words is enough to hold free conversations on many daily topics.
Building a daily routine
20 minutes a day is better than 2 hours once a week. A typical template for a busy expatriate might look like this:
An effective 20-minute language routine, divided into three targeted activities for rapid progress.
Use apps like Anki, Memrise, Drops, or Aıtý for review with flashcards.
Listen to a podcast, song, or news clip, then repeat a few phrases out loud.
Read a brief, an Instagram post, or a simplified short article with a contextual dictionary extension like Google Dictionary.
To this add micro-practices integrated into daily life: talking out loud in Kazakh while tidying up (“this is the cup, this is the table, I put the cup on the table”), describing your commute, noting words seen on the street in a notebook to check later, etc.
Mixing resources
Pedagogical research, including in Kazakhstan itself, emphasizes the importance of varying sources. An effective combination might be:
A selection of essential tools to start and progress effectively in learning the Kazakh language.
Use a pedagogical guide like the “Colloquial Kazakh” series or another beginner’s textbook to acquire grammatical basics and fundamental vocabulary.
Strengthen your lexicon with an app using the spaced repetition method for lasting vocabulary memorization.
Work on your speaking and listening comprehension with a tutor, who can correct and guide you in conversation.
Immerse yourself in the language through music, videos, and newspapers in Kazakh to train your ear and discover the culture.
Some specialists suggest working simultaneously with two beginner-level textbooks, to benefit from different presentations of the same grammar.
Managing Kazakh specificities: Cases, vowel harmony, two alphabets
Common difficulties are well identified:
– confusion between similar sounds (Ө / О, Ү / Ұ),
– incorrect application of vowel harmony in suffixes,
– tendency to keep an SVO order as in English or French,
– hesitations about cases (where to put the dative, locative, etc.),
– coexistence of two alphabets, Cyrillic and Latin.
To address these, some concrete pointers:
– create very visual declension charts by case, linking form and meaning (to, from, in, since, with, etc.),
– color or highlight vowels in words to visualize harmony,
– regularly write mini-sentences and have them corrected by a tutor or correspondent,
– work on only one alphabet at first (ideally Cyrillic), then gradually add Latin via sites like Qazlatyn.kz.
Culture and language: An inseparable duo
Understanding Kazakh also means entering a very particular cultural universe, marked by nomadic heritage, oral poetry, epics, and proverbs. The policy of switching to Latin is moreover perceived by many as a way to “turn the page” on the Soviet era and claim a distinct identity.
For an expatriate, linking language learning and cultural discovery is often what sustains motivation over the long term:
To immerse yourself in Kazakh culture and language, you can for example read simplified versions of epics like “Koblandy Batyr,” discover jokes around the popular and mischievous character Aldar Kose, or pay attention to proverbs that grandparents, taxi drivers, or colleagues sometimes slip into conversation. Finally, closely following major celebrations like Nauryz, where public speeches, songs, and traditional games are very Kazakh-language-oriented, is also an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the language in its lively and festive context.
Universities and language centers are indeed developing integrated approaches, combining cognitive, psycholinguistic, and cultural dimensions for teaching Kazakh as a foreign language.
Integrating Kazakh into the practical life of an expatriate
Finally, learning the local language inevitably interacts with the concrete realities of life in Kazakhstan: highly contrasted climate, residence formalities, social codes, celebrations, etc.
Learning basic Kazakh expressions like greetings (Sälem, Qayırlı kün), thanks (Raxmet), or useful phrases to ask for directions, the price of an item, or to ask someone to speak more slowly, significantly improves your daily interactions, whether in transportation, government offices, or during national celebrations like Nauryz.
While driving, quickly catching Kazakh signs can avoid inconvenience: speed limits, residential zones (20 km/h), detour indications, etc. At the hospital, recognizing a few basic words related to health is reassuring, even if you resort to a private English-speaking facility.
Local media, even consulted in small doses, become more accessible over time. Pairing an English-language newspaper like The Astana Times with Kazakh-language sources allows for a more nuanced view of political and social life.
In summary: Leveraging the Kazakhstani opportunity
Learning Kazakh as an expatriate in Kazakhstan is neither an exotic whim nor an absolute obligation: it is a lever. A lever to step out of the expatriate bubble, to reduce the symbolic distance with the inhabitants, to better understand the issues of a country redefining its identity.
Learning Korean, although demanding (Cyrillic alphabet, vowel harmony, agglutination, two writing systems), is entirely achievable with a structured method. This method combines a bit of theory, lots of daily practice, and gradual immersion through media and exchanges. To support you, South Korea provides many resources: specialized schools, regional public centers, universities, online tutor networks, mainstream apps, language clubs, and experienced expatriate communities.
For an expatriate who knows how to take advantage of it, Kazakhstan is not just a place of assignment: it is an ideal laboratory to learn an official language still little taught worldwide, while opening up to the entire Turkic space.
And often, the key starts with a simple word, delivered with a smile: “Sälem!”
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
