Contextual Approach to Kurdish Language Teaching in the Caucasus

Abstract

The Caucasus region has historically played a significant role due to migration, linguistic diversity, and socio-political dynamics. During the Soviet era, initiatives supporting ethnic languages, including Kurdish, gained prominence. This study examines the historical and contemporary efforts to establish, sustain, and institutionalize Kurdish-language education in the Caucasus. It explores key challenges, pedagogical strategies, and the role of both formal and informal institutions in language preservation. Kurdish education programs in the region date back to the early 20th century, marked by the introduction of the Kurdish Latin alphabet (1925), and the rise of media and academic institutions. These efforts played a crucial role in safeguarding the Kurdish linguistic heritage. The research examines multilingual education policies, the challenges, and the impact of social, cultural, and political factors. It assesses the role of bilingual education, digital integration, and cultural heritage in language learning methodologies namely contextual education. As a result, the general recommendation is to teach within a context has been resultant.