My Life as a Local Chinese Language Teacher – A Lifetime Dedication

My name is Karlygash, and I am a local Chinese language teacher in Kazakhstan. I was born in the serene and beautiful city of Aktobe. Prior to entering university, I had never been exposed to Chinese language. I was seen as a "good girl" by my family, fond of reading and diligent in my studies. In 2005, I was admitted to the Department of Oriental Studies at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, majoring in English as my first foreign language and choosing Chinese as my second. Given the presence of many Chinese enterprises in my hometown of Aktobe, I aimed to work there after graduation. Upon completing my undergraduate studies in 2009, I pursued a master's degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages at Xi'an International Studies University.

Karlygash is the fourth in the first row

After completing my master's degree in 2012, I secured a position as a translator at a drilling company of China National Petroleum Corporation. However, a year later, I resigned and devoted myself to the beloved job of teaching Chinese.

Joining Zhubanov University as a faculty member required a demonstration lecture. I was extremely nervous that day, but as I entered the classroom, I saw a group of freshmen students, with their eyes brimming with thirst for knowledge. Wasn't this exactly how I used to be? Instantly, my heart settled. They were taught by a local teacher for the first time, without any psychological burden. Starting from pinyin and using the methods lectured by my Chinese teachers, I organized my lessons meticulously. I made every effort to refrain from speaking Russian and endeavored to respond to students' questions in Chinese. At the end of the class, my palms were sweaty, but soon I found myself surrounded by students eagerly asking for tips on learning Chinese. At that moment, I knew I had succeeded.

In addition to teaching Chinese, the teachers are also responsible for organizing Chinese cultural activities. I encouraged my students to participate in cultural classes such as paper-cutting, Tai Chi, and Chinese songs, and introduced the charm of Chinese culture to them. The students asked me to give them Chinese names, and I was more than happy to do so. Witnessing their delight upon receiving their Chinese names filled me with pride. The students were diligent and hardworking, making me feel that teaching Chinese was very meaningful. This strengthened my determination to become an excellent local teacher. I only taught this group of students Chinese for three months, but they left a deep impression on me. Whenever I felt tired or faced difficulties at work, I would think back to the scenes of my first teaching experience, casting aside my worries and forging ahead.

I have been working at the university for six years. Despite contemplating returning home to tend to family matters after getting married and having children, the joy of learning and the profound friendship forged with my fellow teachers, alongside the memories of teaching, prompted me to resolutely stay at Zhubanov University and help the students realize their dreams.

The world is like an ocean, and the times are like a swift wind. Today, Zhubanov University is not only the center of Chinese teaching in western Kazakhstan, but also a window to showcase modern China. It is also a bridge for Kazakhstani students to enter China. Over the past decade, more than ten thousand students have studied here, with many outstanding individuals receiving scholarships to pursue further studies in Chinese universities, while others serving in Chinese enterprises.

Apart from teaching Chinese, I closely collaborate with Chinese teachers to organize cultural activities to promote Sino-Kazakh cultural exchanges, participate in international seminars to showcase Sino-Kazakh friendship, engage in HSK training, organize summer camps and "Chinese Bridge" competitions, compile translation materials, and recommend scholarships to students. Confucius once said, "They who love it are better than those who know it, and they who delight in it are better than those who love it." In my understanding, if you choose a career you love, then every day of your life is not merely for the sake of living. I really enjoy the work of translating and compiling teaching materials. Recently, the dean asked me to collect Russian and Kazakh versions of classic poems by the Kazakh "poet sage" Abay Ibrahim Qunanbayuli in comparison with the Chinese versions. At that moment, I suddenly realized: the world's finest culture does not belong to just one nation; they belong to the whole world. Both Confucius and Abay Ibrahim Qunanbayuli exemplify this truth. When our Chinese teachers recite "Aikiliya" in Kazakh, Russian, and Chinese, and the students read "The Analects" in Chinese, I feel that this is the most harmonious melody on earth.

To ensure that local Chinese language teachers keep up with the development of the times, the Chinese government has provided us with the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies in the field of international Chinese language education. My aspiration is to keep pace with the times, get a doctoral degree, and dedicate my life to the beloved international Chinese language education cause.

(Author: Karlygash)