The Uzbek Language Program

Uzbekcha Gapiramiz!

The Uzbek language is taught at the Ohio State University as part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Grant of the Higher Education Act. Indiana University's Center for Languages of the Central Asian Region, partnered with The Ohio State University, has offered Introductory Uzbek courses to students on the Ohio State Campus since Autumn Quarter 2003. Instruction originates from IU as the home campus, taught by Mr. Malik Hodjaev with in-class guidance provided by our local tutor, Hulkar Matchanova.

At Ohio State, Uzbek is offered through the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures as:

Introductory Uzbek I: E EUR LL 671D Autumn Quarter
Introductory Uzbek II: E EUR LL 671D Winter Quarter
Introductory Uzbek III: E EUR LL 671D Spring Quarter

Courses concentrate heavily on practical speaking abilities and an introduction to Uzbek and Central Asian culture and history. Throughout the year, students receive 10 credit hours of instruction.

Uzbek is taught in Hagerty Hall in the World Media and Culture Center's Kermit L. Hall Videoconferencing Center.

*Note: In order to sign up to learn Uzbek, students must first meet with Dr. Jason Vuic, Assistant Director of the Center for Slavic & East European Studies.

Why Learn Uzbek?

• Uzbek certainly qualifies as one of the lesser taught languages in the United States today. By learning Uzbek you can be one of the few native speakers of English to know it!
• Due to changes in the international political situation, Uzbek has become one of the most demanded languages by many governmental organizations. With 1st year Uzbek you could be greatly increasing your chances to find work with one of those organizations.
• Many non-governmental organizations are also looking for qualified Uzbek speakers. If you are interested in providing useful assistance to an interesting part of the world, 1st year Uzbek is a great starting point.
• Uzbekistan has a rich and interesting culture. Central Asia is one of the oldest civilized areas in the world, on which the Silk Road passed for many centuries, exchanging not only goods but also ideas.
• Cities such as Samarkand, Buxoro, and Khorezm are very popular and exotic tourist destinations, and it is almost impossible to travel there without a good command of Uzbek.
• More than 25 million Uzbeks speak this language within and outside of Uzbekistan.

Uzbek Resources on the Web

News:
In Uzbek:
RFE RL Uzbek: http://www.ozodlik.org
O'zbekiston Milliy Axborot Agentligi: http://www.uza.uz/uzb
BBC Uzbek: http://www.bbc.co.uk/uzbek

In English:
RFERL Uzbek (in English):
Uzbekistan National News Agency: http://www.uza.uz/eng
Uzbek Daily: http://www.uzbekdaily.com

More to come!