The Effect of Teaching Based on Alash Figures in Translated Works on Human Values and Success

Abstract

In the modernization process of Kazakh society, the Alash movement stands out with its reformist ideas across various domains. It is observed that the intellectual foundations of the movement were nourished by the Enlightenment and nationalism movements rising in Europe, while also incorporating the traditional lifestyle and cultural codes of the Kazakh steppe. Alash intellectuals distinguished themselves not only in the pursuit of political independence and national identity but also in areas such as language, literature, education, and culture. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of activities based on Alash figures in translated works on human values and academic success. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test/post-test control group, one of the quantitative research designs. The study group consisted of a total of 61 third-year students enrolled in the Kazakh Literature undergraduate program at a university in Almaty during the 2024-2025 academic year. The experimental group students were assigned literary translation books created by Alash leaders, while the control group was given books that did not contain biographical elements of Alash leaders. In addition to questions aimed at identifying the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, the Social and Human Values Questionnaire and an academic achievement test were used in the study. For data analysis, the Independent-Sample t-test was utilized, and since the pre-test achievement scores of the groups differed, the ANCOVA test was also applied. According to the research findings, the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores in both academic success and human values compared to the control group. In this context, recommendations have been provided to educators and researchers.