Ad Astra Muse - Nozima Qadamova (4K) | Early Bloomer (E65)

We're going to be talking to a very special guest. What's happened is really

special guest. What's happened is really sensational if you ask me. There's this

girl in Tashkin who got overall nine on the ISS test at the age of 16. Miss Nima

Kadamova.

I've been learning English for two almost two years now. Like I never imagined learning English. I actually

hated that subject before that. I took

the exam four times. But the third time was truly something like an emotional scar for me when I got even lower score than the first attempt.

How did you go about improving your listening skills?

I used to lose my focus, concentration while listening, especially when it comes to multiple choice questions and I used to listen to your podcasts because

they are long and quite interesting. So

yeah, I use those. My dad was trying to convince me, no, you should you shouldn't be taking the exam again after the third or second attempt. That's

enough. But I was like, no, I should I should get that. And I'm trying so hard.

If the examiner is trying to say sort of corner you with got you questions, that's a good sign. They want to see if you're qualified for 8.5 or 9. They want

to put your critical and abstract thinking skills to test. So after seeing that result result my hands were shaking because I never imagined that I would

get a nine in writing. I was thinking about 8.5 but not nine. My taste is slightly different and not everyone may like it. So I usually watch something

like it. So I usually watch something that's related to fantasy. Sometimes

Marvel TV shows or mostly I think TV series. Don't do everything that others

series. Don't do everything that others are doing. And if you do that, try to do

are doing. And if you do that, try to do it 10 times better than them. So yeah, I would recommend everybody to do so.

All right, let's let's save some of it for the podcast. All right, so you tell us when to start.

Hey folks. Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Austrian Muse. I'm

your host Muhammad Ali here. Uh we are finally back after a long break. And on

today's episode, we're going to be talking to a very special guest.

Um, what's what what's happened is really sensational if you ask me. Uh,

there's this girl in Tashkan who got overall nine on the ISS test at the age of 16.

Like, if 10 years ago anyone did that, that'd be crazy. It still is crazy if you ask me. And I am I'm super pumped to be talking to this lady. Honestly,

what's happening right now in the ISS community is sort of an evolution. You

see, it's uh we went from sens sensationalizing band 8 to to to this now here. And you you see this history

now here. And you you see this history unfold in real time and all these things happening. It's really crazy. I I Well,

happening. It's really crazy. I I Well, without further ado, I want to introduce to you guys our guest today and pick our brain. Let's do that. Today's guest is

brain. Let's do that. Today's guest is Miss Nosima Kadamova. Hi.

Hello.

Hey, miss. How you doing?

Great. Thank you for having me today.

Yeah, it's uh I am honestly surprised.

Me, too.

Yeah, I when I saw your results and the part where it said you're 16 and I was like, I thought it was for a moment. I

thought it was fake, but but then when I read all the comments and the and it it was kind of going viral everywhere, I mean I got confirmation from people that it was actually real.

I was mind blown.

Yeah.

So, and shout outs to Everest team for making that happen. Obviously, there was a lot of your work and your and also your teachers work.

Definitely.

It was great. It's it's great. It really

is. So, uh where did it all begin? Um

now when when when exactly did you start learning English?

Um I've been learning English for two almost two years now like two years and two or three months and I started learning it in summer. I

still remember it. It happened in 2023.

I went to a kits which for designed for kids under 16 and yeah that's how everything started.

But the important like the most surprising surprising thing is probably that I never imagined learning English.

I actually hated that subject before that because at school we didn't have uh teachers and they used to speak us in

English which we didn't understand.

So that truly made me upset. I can't

understand them. I can't um get even better like grades for that subject and I hated it to be honest. I hated it.

So you didn't have teachers who spoke English or you had teachers who did speak English and you didn't understand them?

Yeah, they used to which one is it?

Uh they were usbs teachers but they used to speak in English but as students we didn't know anything. So how can we understand their language right? So

yeah, that truly made me quite uh angry to English at that point. But after

starting learning it in depth in detail, I truly fell in love with it to be honest. So yeah, that's how all it

honest. So yeah, that's how all it began. And after learning after um you

began. And after learning after um you know um learning new vocabulary and also watching videos I really felt that

English is quite good and easier to learn compared to Russia or any other language. So yeah

right so you started learning English at the age of 14 right? Yeah. Right.

And before that you only had your school education, school background.

So I started English from the very beginning. I I knew only certain words

beginning. I I knew only certain words student, teacher, desk, shelf and words like this. And yeah, everything started

like this. And yeah, everything started from the very scratch.

Okay. Right. And how long did it take you to go from beginner level to um near IELTS level?

um probably less than a year.

Mhm.

Maybe in seven or 10 months if I'm not mistaken because even when we were in pre-intermediate

group they started already giving us listening reading and writing type t type scripts for after listening to the audio. So yeah, we were introduced ISS

audio. So yeah, we were introduced ISS really early.

Right. Right. Right. So you went from zero to almost ISELS level in about in under a year and then it took you another year to go from

C1 to C2. Yeah.

C1 to C2. Right. Right.

Yeah. That's quite a steep learning curve.

That's quite a long time. Two years. Uh

two years. Was there any point you felt like giving up? Like didn't you didn't want to keep learning English because you were doing it so much that you got kind of fed up?

Um maybe in the middle when I was literally stuck at seven. I couldn't

improve my reading because it was always like six 6.5. Listening was great.

Everything else was great but reading.

So at that moment I also had my emotional breakups in my room when I was coming home and but no I think I didn't

think of giving up because I had my goals. I truly believed that I can do

goals. I truly believed that I can do it. I can achieve it. So yeah certain

it. I can achieve it. So yeah certain there were c certain moments when I felt quite demotivated and didn't want to do

but even I think that didn't make me um you know gave up along the way.

Mhm. So, but I think I took the exam four times, but the third time was truly something like an emotional scar for me

when I got even lower score than in the previous like uh the first attempt. So

that moment I thought for a while maybe it isn't worth it taking isles again.

Maybe it's about luck. Mhm.

So yeah.

What did you get in your first attempt?

First attempt was eight.

Mhm.

Solid eight.

You got eight in your first attempt with about a year and a half preparation. Right.

preparation. Right.

Mhm.

Right. Right. Right. Which which is not bad. And once you got eight, what was

bad. And once you got eight, what was the reason for you to keep going to keep retaking IELTS? Like isn't that enough

retaking IELTS? Like isn't that enough to get into university?

We actually had structured uh exams. uh our teacher knew that we were preparing for nine even if that sounds a

bit um insane. We were preparing three students. So we had that structured exam

students. So we had that structured exam test dates.

The first one was just to see observe and you know just to see the format speaking and how everything will go like writing, reading, listening and yeah it

was also great. And the second one was uh when we were aiming higher maybe achieving 8.5 and then maybe nine.

So yeah and then like I mentioned the second attempt was 8.5 after 3 months uh from the first attempt.

Yeah. And the third one happened like two weeks after the the second attempt which was 7.5.

7.5. Yeah.

Right. And who convinced you to get nine in the first place? Like why would you want to get a nine?

No one actually. No one.

Uh deep down I certainly believe that I can. every time I'm studying something,

can. every time I'm studying something, I'm learning something, I had this habit of trying my best to achieve the best uh possible result.

So that happened with English as well.

So why not to try when I have time, opportunities, money and everything. I'm

young, I can do it, you know, memorize and everything. So yeah, it's part of my

and everything. So yeah, it's part of my personality, I guess.

Right. Right.

personality. Was there any point when you just looked around and went like, "Well, everyone is getting a nine. Why

not me?" Was there any element of like comparison with other people?

You're like you're trying to uh sort of catch up with the rest of the crowd probably. No.

probably. No.

Yeah. It was all like self propelled, self-induced.

Um external factors. I can't even say anything about it. Uh probably maybe parents, teachers, they believed me.

That was quite motivation for me as well. But I no I didn't even wanted to

well. But I no I didn't even wanted to be the youngest niner. I never imagined actually maybe because there were so many niners

out there.

So it was probably internal motivation in the first case.

Yeah, internal motivation.

You're very lucky. I have to say that because not everyone out there has that.

Well, you may not be old enough to understand that, but a lot of the adults out there are often driven by external motives, right? Um trying to keep up with other

right? Um trying to keep up with other people, right? They're trying to um

people, right? They're trying to um prove other people they are smart, strong. But there are very few people

strong. But there are very few people who don't really care what other people think and they just do it for the for its own sake, right? And you happen to be one of those

right? And you happen to be one of those people. And that is a real bliss. Let me

people. And that is a real bliss. Let me

tell you that.

Yeah.

Yeah. It saves you so much uh worry and anxiety from uh from falling short of people's expectations or or your own expectations. You just do it for its own

expectations. You just do it for its own sake. It's great. It's a very peaceful

sake. It's great. It's a very peaceful place to be in.

Yeah.

Yeah. I think that quality of yours is way more um rewarding and and admirable than the score you got nine,

right?

Yeah.

And not say that nine getting nine is not a big deal, but it's just the having that um self-drive Yeah.

is is very very uh hard hard to come by.

Yeah. Because it wasn't all about achieving nine because Yeah. There was a moment of euphoria. I mean, everyone was

happy and myself too, but now it doesn't feel like this anymore.

Yeah. Quite fleeting. But along the way, I picked up several inter interpersonal skills in the case of patience, resilience, perseverance. So, I learned

resilience, perseverance. So, I learned how to be patient in times of difficulty when someone uh faces setbacks along the way. And yeah, I think it also taught me

way. And yeah, I think it also taught me a lot in this case.

Yeah.

Right. Right.

We will get back to that later. I really

want to get down to uh what kind of lessons you learned from retaking the test a few times and then eventually getting nine. But before we get to that part, I really want to delve

deeper into the process of getting nine, right? the moments, the days, the events

right? the moments, the days, the events leading up to nine. Right.

So, right. Can you get a little technical here and break down how you uh went about improving your reading, listening, speaking, and writing? It's

like a little bit on each.

So, let's start with reading.

Reading.

Before you answer that, actually, so of all these four modules, which one do you think is is probably the most important one to start with?

probably listening and reading.

Yeah, because they are the fundamentals. Uh

when you have enough of vocabulary, you can understand when you listen to the audio read and it's the most important thing of ISS because at the end of the

day is English still that's why my teacher also recommends students don't learn is learn English

first of all. So yeah, start I would recommend students to start with listening and reading. Um they are hard hard skills I guess.

Yeah. And

so what is what exactly did you do say to improve your reading skills? Was it

just all read read and how did you go about uh reading and how did you go about you know learning new words? The

students watching this podcast they really want those little details.

Yeah. uh reading was the most difficult part for me personally because my reading was lower than other sections in some exams. So I understood it's not

always about comprehension what you understand the text and what it is saying but using the logic because in passage three you have to um

sort of communicate with the writer yourself by reading and understanding what lies behind those words you see

I mean yeah but generally I used to match phrasings finding synonyms and And uh multiple choice questions are really

tricky in part passage three. So I used to uh try to find the exact words that match to to that answer. Unless I can't

uh you know find that I won't pick any like possible answer.

Yeah. And apart from that I used to learn words from passage. So it's kind of helpful to especially those words

that come up quite frequently in many passage especially in Cambridge. And for

listening I used Hang on a minute like what was your approach to learning new words? Did you

use flashcards? Did you make a word list with bunch of synonyms and definitions?

Did you have a say a partner with whom you discuss those words? So what exactly how did exactly did you learn the words?

of for the beginning I had that sort of table I you know write several words that I don't know and then synonyms in

English so definitions sometimes or synonyms that I can use so it also activates uh when you are trying to come up with synonyms in writing

and after that I started using JPT to learn uh new words because certain words can't just stick in my mind. I I'm a

visual learner. So I used to ask Chad

visual learner. So I used to ask Chad GPT to give me uh visual definitions or even pictures of words and maybe

something that I can link that word with uh especially when it comes to uh highlevel words that I can't uh probably

use or even uh remember when I need those. So visual learning is really

those. So visual learning is really helpful.

Mhm. Right.

For me, for example, if you're say trying to learn the phrase buck the trend.

Yeah.

You've familiar with the trend buck the trend. B U C K and then the trend. So

trend. B U C K and then the trend. So

you were trying to learn that phrase.

You'd ask Chad GPT to create an image.

Yeah.

That shows a bunch of different companies and there's a one exception.

Yeah. And then uh it it also shows me um definition and also gives examples and sometimes I

ask it uh explain this word this phrase like you're explaining it to a kid so I can understand it fully. That may

sound a bit you know time consuming but I did that just to understand everything because Yeah.

Yeah. That must have been very helpful right?

Yeah. Yeah.

And and did you have any like uh friends to help you along the way? Like say say you learn a bunch of new words and you want to make sure they actually stuck with you.

So would you have someone to help you confirm like ask you your word list questions like pop pop pop quiz questions?

Did you rapid fire questions? Did you

have any of those things? So we used to ask with friends with groupmates uh in the class they used to ask me for example the definition I would answer

the the exact answer uh and then we also made sentences along the way. For example teacher can ask

the way. For example teacher can ask what this means and then can you make a sentence uh using this word? So that also helps uh not because

word? So that also helps uh not because you're not only you know finding the correct answer but also learning when to use it the correct context for right

and the reason why I'm asking you that is I'm a teacher myself and I see a lot of students what they do is they uh sit in a corner with their word list and just mindlessly repeat and repeat and

repeat hoping that it's just going to stick.

Yeah. and and and the part they are not doing is the part which you did and your teacher did is extraction.

Yeah.

They in in technical terms it's eliciting. When you elicit

it's eliciting. When you elicit information, extract it.

And when you don't really have that when you're not doing that, there's no confirmation. You've actually learned

confirmation. You've actually learned the word. You've actually internalized

the word. You've actually internalized it.

Yeah. Yeah.

And so one of the things that you did do in your preparation is that you had that extraction and you had people to help you with that.

Yeah.

Friends, your teacher, which is really important.

Yeah. It's it's also helpful because uh when a student learns themselves, they don't pronounce the word.

That's that's for sure. But if their friends, teachers, someone asks them, they also activate it and can can make sure that that they can

pronounce it uh when they want to use that word in speaking, right?

Yeah.

Right. Yeah. That's so true. That is so true. And how do you go about questions

true. And how do you go about questions you don't understand in reading? I guess

naturally you'd ask your teacher.

Yeah. Um mostly when I'm do when I was doing it at home again I go to JPT ask it what's the meaning of this and it

presents the meaning in the context for example if you look for certain words you can't match the sentence you can understand fully it but yeah vegetin

has been so helpful along the way as well but there are also certain questions that even AI can't answer properly. So in that case we turn to

properly. So in that case we turn to teacher direction is changed.

Yeah. Most mostly yes.

Chad GPT is massively helpful. Right.

Do you think you would have been able to pull off nine on isles without Chad GPT?

Would that have been possible?

Maybe no. Maybe no.

Yeah.

Because I learned a lot for my speaking for my writing words vocabulary because I can read my essays improved versions

with TGBT all the time. So yeah, it's been really really helpful.

Yeah. Right. Right. Because if you look around, you see a lot of people getting nine. It's no coincidence that it it's

nine. It's no coincidence that it it's happening around the time chat is taking off.

Yes.

Which is a big help if you ask me.

Easier to find new words, chunks for writing or speaking. So yeah,

definitely.

Right. All right. Moving on to listening. How did you go about

listening. How did you go about improving your listening skills? um to

find you I never got a nine in listening in my exams it was always 8.5 so two mistakes three mistakes but

generally uh I think I used to watch and listen a lot of podcasts just to improve my listening abilities I used to lose my

focus concentration while listening especially when it comes to multiple choice questions so that's when I try to

uh keep my focus and listen to long podcasts and try to understand everything. So yeah, and I used to

everything. So yeah, and I used to listen to your podcasts because they are long and quite interesting. So yeah, I use those as well.

Great. So what which one is your most favorite by far?

Favorite probably with Mr. Alex. Yeah,

it was so funny.

Yeah.

And also fun. It was great having him on the podcast.

Yeah.

He told me he wants to come back on episode number later later on some sometime in the future. We'll hopefully

have him on the podcast again.

I will definitely watch it again.

Yeah. Right. Listening. How about how about your speaking then? speaking. Um

it it was also quite interesting for me because I got 7.5 in my first attempt for speaking and then I like I mentioned

I practice with Shahru teacher. So we

used to have speaking sessions.

Yeah. For those who who are wondering Yeah.

who who Shah Mr. Shah is he's a former Adestra teacher is now working at Everest school. He's been there for

Everest school. He's been there for almost two years now.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, we used to practice and his pronunciation is so perfect for me and he used to also tell about your

lessons, how you taught them pronunciation lessons specifically.

That's why he also helped me a lot to correct my pronunciation mistakes and that was also great. So mostly we practice spontaneous questions we didn't

know just to improve our fluency and answer on the spot without anything AI or prepared answers. So yeah but apart

from that we also uh did uh homework at home. We prepared vocabulary with Chad

home. We prepared vocabulary with Chad GPT improved versions of our answers. So

we also wrote them down and sent a video uh I mean voice message and then edited that voice message with new words. So it

you truly um you know wrote I truly wrote down everything to there. Yeah.

So yeah.

Were you also like in the habit of speaking English to myself?

No. I I mean in general like did you like one of the things I've done to improve my English and my speaking skills

is to basically speak English most of the time like majority of the time uh when I'm well at work 100% of the time

outside work with my friends and people who know English I speak in English. So

that's one of the things that that's been a game changer in my preparation. Mhm.

preparation. Mhm.

So, have you done anything similar in your practice as well? Like where you go the entire you go an entire week just English?

Um, right. Minimal usbc, minimal Russian.

right. Minimal usbc, minimal Russian.

Have you tried that as well?

Maybe. No, because I used to I mean I used to speak English mostly when I went to Everest or did my homework because people around me were always speaking

Usuzbek and they didn't understand English or Russia. So I was mainly speaking inspec for for for the majority of time but I wanted to improve my

speaking and mostly speak in English. So

I talked to myself.

I talked to myself because I had no one to talk to. That's why when I'm thinking or uh thinking about my ideas in

generally I used to talk to myself in English, right? Yes. Yes.

English, right? Yes. Yes.

Mhm.

Yeah. Yeah, as crazy as as it sounds, it's really helpful. It does help.

Definitely. And I have my thoughts, different things that I'm thinking and it's really helpful. And I say something

out loud and yeah, when I'm alone, someone might think I'm a bit crazy, but yeah.

Right. Right. Uh, so in your first attempt, you got 7.5 in speaking, right?

Yeah.

How did you do in your subsequent attempts?

What scores did you get in speaking in your second, third and finally the fourth attempt?

So the first attempt was 8.5, 8.5, 8 and 7.5.

You mean in speaking or you mean in speaking right?

Speaking yeah speaking 7.5 first attempt.

Yeah.

Okay. And then second attempt after three months we prepared speaking everything and it was again similar 8.5 8.5 8 8.5 so there was

I guess you were talking about the sub scores right?

Yeah.

Yeah that got a little confusing here.

So can we uh for now like focus on speaking only um okay so in your first attempt you got 7.5 in speaking right?

In the second attempt it was 8.5.

Mhm. So you made one point jump from 7.5 8.5 within 3 months.

Yeah.

Right. There's a 3 month space between your first and your second attempts.

Right.

Okay.

It was great. And I'm taking the exam.

The examiner is Tim.

I think many people know him.

And I actually really enjoyed talking to him.

After seeing him, my face literally lit up. I was so happy and talked to him

up. I was so happy and talked to him like I was talking to my grandpa.

So I really enjoyed the session with him.

Did you have him in all your attempts?

No. No.

Right.

Only once.

But he was the one to give you 8.5.

Right.

Yeah. The first one he gave me confidence though.

Yeah. uh like I mentioned after practicing a lot and doing speaking with a bunch of people because for speaking confidence was a bit problem for me

talking to strangers I felt a bit not a bit a lot anxious and anxiety so I couldn't speak

up and show my something that I know you know show my vocabulary and everything so yeah I think talking to strangers really helped helped me

to uh improve and my confidence.

But you didn't actually talk to a lot of strangers, did you? The only stranger you talked to was Tim.

No. Uh some others uh teachers from Everest. My teacher knew that I had that

Everest. My teacher knew that I had that problem with speaking. That's why he said you'll be giving and having speaking with other teachers at Everest.

So yeah.

And do you actually have that option at Everest? Do you can you just go up to

Everest? Do you can you just go up to any random teacher and say, "Hey, I want to practice English with you. Can we do that or do you guys sort of arrange it?"

Yeah, we arrange it. A teacher asks uh a teacher when they have time and I mean 15 minutes is enough I guess to have speaking. So yeah, it was all

have speaking. So yeah, it was all arranged.

Right. Right. Right. So in a way you can say that the a lot of other teachers at Everest had uh had had had contributed to your results.

Yeah, definitely.

Right. And

and what score did you get in your third attempt in speaking?

In speaking.

So you got 7.5 first attempt, 8.5 the second attempt and third attempt was 7.5 again.

Yeah. Right. after two weeks.

It was a shock for me to be honest because I was expecting nine for speaking for the first time because everything was going so well.

Questions were so easy and I I think I didn't sound like I memorized everything.

I tried to be natural and the examiner was a lady and she was so helpful and kind. We were having a heartfelt

kind. We were having a heartfelt conversation and I was again happy to have that conversation but I'm seeing the result. It's 7.5.

the result. It's 7.5.

Mhm.

I have no comment to be honest with this.

Right. Right. And you decided to go for your fourth attempt.

Yeah. After 10 days.

Literally after 10 days.

Yeah. Literally after 10 days. I really

wonder like who were your parents on board with that idea you of you like taking the tests again and again non-stop or was it something um your teacher encouraged you to do?

Uhhuh.

Like how did you afford to pay for all those exams in the first place?

Um I feel my teacher paid for two exams the second and third and and you're talking about your main teacher Mr. Right. Right. He offered to pay for your

Right. Right. He offered to pay for your exams. Two of them. Yes. Why? Why? Why

would he do that?

He was also trying to get, you know, um have an honor student probably.

Oh, right. Right.

Yeah. He was also believing his students that they can.

A very generous teacher.

Yeah.

Sounds like a great guy.

Should totally have him on the podcast one day.

Definitely. You should. And yeah, I he also paid for OSR when I was retaking reading for my fourth attempt. Yeah. Uh

the rest Yeah. My parents they were also believing but my dad actually was trying to convince me no you should you shouldn't be taking the exam again

after the third or second attempt.

That's enough. Why would you need nine?

that's already enough and quite great for like a girl like you. But I was like no I should I should get that

and I'm trying so hard and teachers believing paying for the for exams and everything.

So yeah.

Wow. Cool. Cool. So you got nine in speaking in your fourth attempt, right?

No, again 8.5 8.5 I mean which is not bad which is pretty good. That's 8.5 in speaking.

pretty good. That's 8.5 in speaking.

Yeah, that in my fourth attempt I actually thought this the examiner would again gave me 7.5 because she was literally again

pushing me to the corner especially in part three. I was confused.

part three. I was confused.

It was already late as well late too at 6 I guess.

So I was tired. I was confused with everything. But yeah, it turns out it

everything. But yeah, it turns out it was No, if the well, if the examiner is trying to say sort of corner you with got you questions, that's a good sign.

It's not a bad sign. It's a sign uh they want to see if you're qualified for say 8.5 or nine.

Yeah.

They want they want to test put your critical and abstract thinking skills to to test.

Yeah.

Right. If you can pass that test, they'll reward you with a nine. If you

failed that test, you'll walk away with an eight.

Okay.

Right.

I see.

So, but if they if they uh level down the questions, that's a sign that uh they think you can't really cope with high level questions, so they take it easy on you.

Okay.

Right.

Great.

Yeah. It's so I'm I'm saying that so if there's a student ever wondering why examiners do that they start asking all of a sudden tough questions about philosophy life. There's so much

philosophy life. There's so much abstraction and you wonder like am I supposed to get a question like that?

I'm just 16. That's that's normal.

Yeah.

That's that's totally normal.

Yeah. That's part of the deal.

Now, so with speaking, you learned lots of phrases. You freestyled with bunch of

phrases. You freestyled with bunch of different teachers. got a lot of

different teachers. got a lot of experience talking to uh strangers, but they weren't exactly strangers. They

were teachers working at Everest, right?

How about writing? What did you exactly do with writing?

That's the most uh my my favorite part actually. I love writing in any

actually. I love writing in any language. I won several competitions and

language. I won several competitions and writing essays in so I think it also uh you know translated to English as well.

Uh come again.

Um how I can explain it? My love for writing probably also passed to English and yeah I you actually love writing in usbach.

Yeah and that sort of carried over into your English preparation is preparation. I

see that explains. Anyone want to speak closer to the mic?

Yeah. Um so yeah I started everything by reading a lot by reading articles because journalists they write in such a creative way that I wanted to do the

same thing and and for task one I used to read a lot of reports from your channel I can still remember it and learning new

vocabulary again and learning how to um pick certain features for task one and everything. Yeah, I actually I didn't

everything. Yeah, I actually I didn't limit myself to only certain essays or just essays, IELTS essays, but passage, articles in general. So, I truly enjoyed

that part.

So, right, maybe getting a higher score is also to do with uh loving writing in general.

So, yeah.

Right. And also reading.

Yeah. And also reading like that's that's u something you know what I always say you're right what you know.

Yeah.

And what you know is what you read and or what you learn firsthand by experiencing things. And students

more often than not have a hard time writing a good test essay with good points logically connected simply because they don't don't know much about the topic. If they knew a lot about the

the topic. If they knew a lot about the topic, they'd have a lot to say, right?

So, it doesn't just boil down to their English if that's what they think. If

I'm just going to learn bunch of useful structures and phrases and I'm going to be good, but it doesn't really work like that right?

Writing task two actually challenge your thinking.

It I got several challenging topics for task two in my exam. So it definitely also uh makes you think about the world

in general about economy, about tourism, about different things.

So yeah, reading a lot is really helpful to broaden one's horizons and think and see a situation from a different angle.

So yeah.

Right. And did so you did some reading outside iss right? Yeah.

Would you say it's necessary like to do reading outside iss if students want to get a higher score?

Yes. M

because I iss like I mentioned is also about um outlook and language whether

you know certain words or are actually aware of uh certain situations and uh events that are happening around the globe. So yeah actually reading a lot

globe. So yeah actually reading a lot and staying up to date is really helpful. So my advice is not to stick to

helpful. So my advice is not to stick to always isles but also to explore English in general.

Mhm.

Yeah.

Right. Yeah. I totally agree. But but at the same time I want to make the point here that with just IELTS reading if you just pay attention there's so much you can learn.

Yeah. You get three passages on three different topics and you multiply that by however number of practice tests you do and that's so much reading.

Yeah. I'm saying that because I'm looking back, I personally did not do much reading outside IELTS. Still could

pull off 8.5 in writing.

That that might actually be the reason why I never got nine in writing because I didn't do any reading outside IELTS reading.

Should probably start doing that as well.

That Yeah, definitely. Actually, like

you mentioned, reading passage are so good. I didn't notice it until I read

good. I didn't notice it until I read them with intention until I understood everything what's going on in passage. I used to look for

answers only in uh reading reading to be honest. But after understanding and

honest. But after understanding and being interested in reading, you get that um you know passion for reading more

for learning about whether it's biology, psychology, humans, human mind and animals. So yeah, it's definitely quite

animals. So yeah, it's definitely quite interesting about businesses have certain topics and passets. So yeah.

Yeah, it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun. Now, uh, let's move on to the

fun. Now, uh, let's move on to the events that happened right after you got your results. Your fourth attempt

your results. Your fourth attempt results, you got nine, right? How did

you find out you got nine? But let's

start with that.

Actually, we waited for that result for 20 or 21 days. It's so long.

Oh, it's because of the OSR, one skill retake.

No, actually OSR happened after two days after the main exam. Mhm.

And we also So your results came out in two days and it was half a point short of No, I didn't see my OSR result as well.

So it was like this.

I'm taking the exam on 25th of August.

After 2 days I have uh OSR. Did you apply for OSR before knowing your results?

No. No.

So you must have seen your results from your fourth attempt and then decided to go for OSR, right? Yes. So what did you get before OSR?

Um so it was one uh one point short of nine I guess because reading was eight.

Yeah. Right.

Listening was 8.5 and writing was nine and speaking was 8.5 again. So after

seeing that result my hands were shaking because I never imagined that I'd get a nine in writing

I think I was thinking about 8.5 but not nine. So when I saw it, I was crying and

nine. So when I saw it, I was crying and so happy and my teacher was also really happy with that and yeah and then we tried to uh apply

for OSR for reading and we had only two days to prepare and I was thinking only magic could help me to pull off that

nine in reading as well. Mhm.

So we also give remark for speaking. uh

we thought that's because of these two factors uh the result uh was uh you know was not released too fast but turns out

yeah yesterday when we talked to IDP uh they take they took my photo twice for OSR and the main test and because my

outfit was similar that they thought uh they didn't uh take picture of me that's why there were certain technical

issues that uh you know made the results ma made us wait too long I guess. So after that um hopefully

I guess. So after that um hopefully actually for the first two week two two weeks we're waiting and checking our

email every two minutes but after 15 like days we gave up

waiting because it was so long and one day I woke up and u in hope of finding

anything I I was opening my email and seeing uh you know that message that my result is out and I was literally

shaking at that moment and I'm opening I didn't see uh I mean sub scores everything just overall nine

that was a moment of truly like happiness and I cried I told my parents they were also so happy so yeah

right Right. Right. It must have been

right Right. Right. It must have been very joyful that moment.

Yeah. Long awaited result for everybody.

Mhm.

I was calling to my teacher. He was

literally sleeping and and after some time he also called me me back. And seeing that result truly made everyone so happy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It Yeah. It was it was wild. It was wild

Yeah. It was it was wild. It was wild seeing that.

And and next thing you knew, you got invited to a podcast, right?

Yes.

Bunch of podcast.

A bunch of podcast. How many podcasts have you been to so far?

Two so far.

And three, including this one.

Yeah, this this is the third one.

Third one. So, and how how does how does it feel going on different podcasts and sharing your stories? Actually, I

thought everything will be quite similar answering to the same questions, but uh I think it's different now.

First podcast was totally different. The

second was also different and this one is also great.

Yeah, totally different.

Oh, great. I I love that. Thanks.

Right.

And what are some habits do you think you need to sort of

excel in your studies? What are some habits do you think you had that attri that you can attribute to your success?

Uh just let's start with like the first thing that comes to your mind, right?

Number one habit you got to have if you want to become an overachieving student.

Probably the first one is consistency.

And break it down. What is what is that?

Uh doing um English studying English on a daily basis on a regular basis. For

example, some students may study for several hours in a day and then they have rest day the next day. Mhm.

So I think it's better to be consistent instead of uh you know trying to learn everything in one day and then having allowing yourself to enjoy life the next day. Right.

The next day, right? And yeah, I think sometimes it's also comes down to sacrificing your social life. Maybe for

example, not going to parties that much, but staying consistent and committed to your goals. So this is what I did. I

your goals. So this is what I did. I

personally skipped certain parties, family gatherings just to study and focus on uh my um you know improving

skills. So yeah and also not giving up

skills. So yeah and also not giving up even when a student faces difficulties and they feel they stuck at a certain

level. I think it's better to again

level. I think it's better to again learn and stay consistent.

Yeah, it's difficult just to say it but yeah I think one should keep their eyes on the prize and continue doing everything.

Right. Right. Yeah.

Yeah. And progress and students think that they are not pro they are not making any progress but prog progress is

slow but inevitable let's say. So yeah,

it's all comes down to consistency first of all and the second is probably being more mindful. Uh I mean reducing

your screen time. Um when I think about it, I think it's I love being in nature.

I love walking a lot. Even if I'm going home, I used to I usually uh let's say before like one station to my to my

home, I prefer to walk instead of going on transportation. So yeah, it it helps

on transportation. So yeah, it it helps me clear my mind and also think about what I need to do and yeah, it truly helps to unwind and feel better for me

personally. So yeah

personally. So yeah and third one is probably related to um

what I can say consistency be mindful and following the the instructions of your teacher

right and I think teachers know better and they have um a lot experience in the field and some students try to uh you

know discover something new for them for themselves. But I think it's better to

themselves. But I think it's better to follow the instructions of the teacher and stay committed. Yeah, I think these three things really helped me.

Right.

I I hope kids watching this podcast right now taking notes and you really uh once again impressed me with the order in which you

listed the these things. Consistency

comes before a lot of things, right?

You're uh putting in the work day in and day out, no matter how grueling it is or how mundane it seems, just keeping your

eyes on the prize. And

here's what I say to students or other people who are seem to be struggling in life and feel like giving up. If and

that's kind of my own moto I have when I feel stuck myself in the rut. I tell

myself when I when I'm stuck, I say to myself, crawl until you can walk and walk until you can run.

Yes.

Run until you can fry.

Definitely.

Yeah. That's that's sort of my that's sort of my moto. when I when I don't feel like getting any work done and I know I'm not as productive, I just

get it done anyway. Even if I don't like I I don't like the outcome in the end.

But what is important to me is that I got it done.

Yes.

Yeah. And the next day I don't feel like doing it, but I get it done anyway.

What's important to me, I got it done.

And I see that you had the same thing.

And if you didn't have that thing in the first place, you wouldn't be here right now.

Yes.

Right. If it weren't weren't for being consistent. Yeah, definitely.

consistent. Yeah, definitely.

Consistency is again the key.

Yeah. Right. Right.

So, you're uh something else I think we should briefly touch on is your exam experience.

Mhm.

So, how did that whole experience go?

Like let's talk about the final one. The

the fourth attempt.

Okay.

Right. Your all your attempts were on computer right?

Yeah. CD. And I think it's a lot easier and more comfortable to write.

So the experience was quite different. I

was definitely on that revenge mode for after getting a 7.5.

So I was not that happy because I was that girl who is happy taking the exam each time. But this time it was

each time. But this time it was different. I put a goal to at least get

different. I put a goal to at least get 8.5 just to prove myself that I it wasn't all about luck when I uh got my

previous uh higher scores in my pre previous attempts. So yeah, it was

previous attempts. So yeah, it was slightly different and I was taking it not to get a nine but to get at least

8.5 and yeah I went to the exam hall and everything started again mostly I focus on writing maybe because it's my

favorite part and but I also did my best for listening and reading as much as I can and yeah it was totally different we said the exam everything was quite fine

and writing topics were also quite fine and for the first time I got pie charts in my task one because I used to get only bar charts. So yeah, I wrote

everything as my teacher taught and everything. So yeah, I was not thinking

everything. So yeah, I was not thinking about getting a higher score at at that point. Maybe because I was confused and

point. Maybe because I was confused and a bit stressed, let's say. And then it was speaking part. It was a lot later

than my after my main exam. So maybe I I exhausted with ITP and then um I was uh

in the exam center and into action. I

was sitting I was listening to some answers and also some music. I love

listening to it and yeah and to be honest I was again expecting to get team as my examiner but he sits on the fourth

floor but they um took me to the third floor. I knew that he wasn't a I mean my

floor. I knew that he wasn't a I mean my examiner wasn't him.

So I was a bit upset from that. And I'm

saying that examiner she was I mean she was a female. The examiner was female again. She was from Kazakhstan. I guess

again. She was from Kazakhstan. I guess

her name was Aarim and yeah maybe both of us were tired.

We're speaking literally in that uh slow and mode let's say. But again like I mentioned I was not expecting 8.5 from speaking as well

because of everything.

Yeah I felt a bit upset. Yeah. But after

seeing that result it truly again light a fire under me. So we tried for reading which was the most difficult part for me

personally because I even when I was preparing I didn't get a single nine which truly broke my heart because if

I'm not getting it even like once before the exam how I will do it in the exam so yeah it was really

uh I felt that pressure let's say right Right. But against all these odds,

right Right. But against all these odds, you just kept I'm getting a call in the middle of a podcast. It's It happens sometimes. So, but against all these

sometimes. So, but against all these odds, you kept pushing, right?

Yes.

I'm going to disable my Telegram real quick. Um I apologize to our audience

quick. Um I apologize to our audience for this. It's okay though, right?

for this. It's okay though, right?

Yeah. It's uh it's it's interesting that in Tashant you get to have face-to-face interviews with examiners, right?

Yes.

But you don't have that in most regions like in if in Bkara if you're to take IELTS test.

Uh you wouldn't be able to talk to an examiner face to face. I guess I guess that's not an option anymore. Yeah, it's

mostly through zoom and we visited a do action yesterday and they told us in regions inbakistan it's mostly through zoom.

Uh but in taskin it's face to face most and in all your attempts you had face to face interviews right the first one was zoom.

Uhhuh. And which one did you like better face to face or you prefer the face to face?

What what about you?

I I mean to me it makes no difference at all.

Yeah. I'm used to both. I've taken the test about 20 times. Oh

yeah.

Um I think I love that human touch speaking to a a real human even if in the computer in computer you you will have you know a person talking to you

but again having face to face conversations is definitely different.

Yeah. Yeah. You're right. You're right.

Now now that you got nine and are you ready to sort of close this chapter and move on? What are you planning to do next if it's not a secret?

Or are you gonna hold on to isles for a little longer?

I started actually not teaching but I was hired as an assistant to my teacher. So I'm

learning. I'm again studying math as well.

So yeah, I won't teach or be in the field for so long. It's just maybe short term, let's say. But generally yeah I started doing it just to help my teacher

and other students to get higher scores and also preparing for university which is not abroad.

Oh you don't want to go abroad to study.

Why not?

Everyone is asking this question but the first reason is probably comes down to me is I think I don't have that confidence.

I think I'm not enough to go abroad yet.

So yeah, but but you may have that confidence in two years from now. You're not going to university anytime soon, are you?

But you're still in high school, right?

Yeah. Yeah.

You're junior, senior, 11th grade.

Yeah, that kind of final year. The final

year. Senior. So

it's your final year. That means

this year you're you should apply to university.

You should go somewhere to university.

Maybe I'll I'm planning to study a master's degree abroad when I will be more mature, improve my confidence.

I mean, you you you seem very mature.

You're you're quite mature your age.

Okay.

Well, where where exactly do you want to go to study here in Isbakistan? What

universities do you have in mind?

Um or you haven't yet quite decided that?

We Webster maybe Westminister Inha several uh universities in Tashkant.

So I think they are also quite good.

What do you want to study at university?

Um maybe international business. I'm not

sure about this part though.

So still picking and choosing because I haven't decided what I'm going to do in the future. So totally confused myself.

Right. Right.

So, do you have any interests outside studies?

What do you find yourself doing when you're not say doing your IS homework or learning math? What what do you do in

learning math? What what do you do in your spare time? You did say you listen to music.

Uh yeah, I also love art in general.

So, listening to music, watching movies, so also drawing. Uh that that's a skill that I had I mean it came natural to me

uh since childhood. I used to draw a lot of picture pictures pictures and yeah I think I had a talent for that too.

So yeah I really loved it. I was

actually going to be an artist drawing pictures and everything.

It's still not late. You can still keep doing it as a hobby. I mean maybe my priorities have changed but now sort of no I don't want to do it. It

can be a hobby but not as a job let's say.

Obviously not as a job but like as a hobby can still hold on to your you know your interests.

You said you like watching movies right?

Yes.

Do you what kind of movies do you like to watch or are you more of a TV show girl? Uh I'm mostly at TV shows in

girl? Uh I'm mostly at TV shows in Turkish but I don't mind watching movies as well. I love all of them.

as well. I love all of them.

Yeah, just watching because again even as a child I used to watch a lot of cartoons and I mentioned that I'm a visual learner so love everything that's

related to movies and interesting stuff.

Do you watch them in English or in their in different languages? when I was learning English, I used to watch them in English. But after getting that

in English. But after getting that result, I'm started watching in Turkish, invited.

It's now different.

Right. Right. Right. What are your top three movie recommendations for students watching this podcast or other people might be interested

or all the movie buffs out there?

I actually don't watch horror movies that much. I I

mostly watch movies on my own. So, I'm

sort of afraid of watching it myself.

So, I usually watch um something that's related to fantasy, sometimes Marvel TV shows or

uh talk shows sometimes and mostly I think TV series. Yeah.

Yeah. I can't name a few because my taste my taste is slightly different and not everyone may like it.

Yeah. Cool. I'm into I'm into movies. I

used to watch movies a lot while I was learning English. In fact, I probably watched like 500 or so movies.

I have a collection of those movies.

Most all of them in English, nearly all of them in English. And that

helped a lot pick up a lot of cultural terms, understand the uh the the language better and you know learn you learn what's called context something you don't have when you're

learning language from textbooks but when you watch movies and you know TV shows you actually have some of that context you see you get to see where those phrases are used and everything. So yeah, it's a lot of

and everything. So yeah, it's a lot of fun.

And the only TV series that I watched in English was probably Suits about lawyers.

It's a great one. It's a great one.

It's a It's a great one. But some uh when I recommend some other like students or teachers, they say no, it's not interesting. So I'm afraid to talk

not interesting. So I'm afraid to talk and give any suggestions. In this case, I I think watching suits is a lot more useful and fun than watching friends.

Oh, I see a lot of these people they're mad about uh friends or How I Met Your Mother, all

those romcoms. But I think it's a lot more helpful to watch uh more serious toned TV shows like Suits um

because it's uh it was made mainly for natives. So it helps you naturally like

natives. So it helps you naturally like pick up natural vocabularies that natives uh throw.

I think I'm saying suits is a lot more useful than watching friends because uh you see they are more corporate language being used. there's more academic and

being used. there's more academic and there's there are a lot of phrases and metaphors that people use on a daily basis in in the in in a more technical

context as well and that sort of is in line with the what what you need for IELTS.

Yes.

Which is academic. You need a lot of technical vocabulary for that as well.

Right.

Right.

And and that that was my sort of uh that that was my sort of uh take on it. That

is my sort of take on it. And the other reason why I like loved watching suits was is that this because the TV because this TV show is uh detective themed.

It gets you to think.

Yes.

It gets you to sort of uh wander what's going to happen with the characters and how the story is going to unfold.

So that really gets your thinking going unlike romcom which is more laid-back and chill and you don't really have to think. So it gets you too lazy. And

think. So it gets you too lazy. And

that's probably why I don't like comedy shows and romcoms. Right.

Definitely.

So you you want if you want something like stimulating and thoughtprovoking, watch suits.

Yes.

Right. Right. You're right.

Right. Um going back to your studies, something I forgot to ask you is uh your experience at Everest school. So what is

it like going to the school? talk a

little about what being a student at Everest is like.

Uhhuh.

Yeah. I've heard a lot of great things about the school. I had Everest CEO Mr. Hushid on the podcast long time ago when this podcast was still new.

It's a pretty long podcast. Four hours

long.

I'm not sure if you watched it, but the there was a there's a big let there was a big letd down.

Half the time the microphone wasn't recording.

Oh, yeah. That was so embarrassing. has so

yeah. That was so embarrassing. has so

bears to tell him afterwards the mic wasn't working.

We had another guy from Everest on the podcast Mr. Beck.

Delroat. Yes. Delarro.

Yeah.

Uh, one of the niners in his Pakistan.

So, a lot of Everesters come on this podcast. Now, you're the third. So, what

podcast. Now, you're the third. So, what

is it like going to Everest school? Talk

about it. Um I think Everest is not similar to any other learning centers in Tashkant in terms of quality.

Uh I think it's also great that to see many students who are really dedicated and want to study and yeah I love the team. I love team

teachers and everyone because they are so supportive of each other. Even when I mentioned that my teacher wanted me to have speakings with other teachers, I

saw how they um treat each other and also offer a helping hand in times of need and when they ask something to do.

So I really enjoyed that part and admired Everest as as a team as a learning center. So yeah, I think it's

learning center. So yeah, I think it's also great to have mock sessions on uh Sundays and yeah and teachers are so

helpful like I mentioned they pay for uh tuition fees or even exams when they see that a student is able to and reach a

higher level. So yeah, I think it's

higher level. So yeah, I think it's totally different and I'm also happy to be a part of it right now. Mh.

So yeah, supportive and quite harmonious, I would say.

Mhm.

Yeah, it's a lot of fun. They they they've they've built something very incredible.

It's very incredible.

Last I talked to Mr. Hos, I remember him saying they have um they have 20 or something branches all over. They keep getting bigger and

all over. They keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Certainly even

about 500 teachers.

Yes, that's a lot.

Yeah, it's like a whole uh army.

It is. It is. It's like a whole army.

It's an empire they're building.

Yes. Empire.

That one's like Yeah, it is fun. Do you guys do any sort of uh social activities outside your studies

at Everest school? Um, I think we planned to have parties after graduating from this course, but we didn't still,

but outside I think.

No.

All right. Quick question here. Like the

average group size at your school is about 30. That's what you told me off

about 30. That's what you told me off the record, right?

Yeah. So what is it like like being in a class with 30 students and h how do you guys like do you have like lecture kind of lecture um

lessons in lecture format? How do how does the teacher go about like teaching this many students in a single session?

Um when I first went to Everest I was also amazed by the number of students.

There were so many.

Were you amazed or were you kind of shocked? shocked.

shocked? shocked.

You're shocked. It must have been shocking.

Yeah, because I was thinking how I would catch up with everyone and you know listen to the what teacher is saying in that crowd. But I understood um during

that crowd. But I understood um during the lesson when you sit closer to the teacher, it's easier to keep up with everything. But actually turn turned out

everything. But actually turn turned out teacher allocates and has assistance to help him. uh they check they check

help him. uh they check they check homework and also help students and uh you know to have speaking mock sessions.

So yeah and teacher himself also goes around the room and checks whether students are doing their homework and also personally asks questions why you

you missed that class yesterday for example the previous lesson. So yeah uh even though the class is that huge

teacher teachers try to be active and communicate with them uh personally and yeah I think the my teacher recently got

this um how I can explain it uh this thing um near his table so he can stand and see everyone. It's like someone

giving speech in public meetings.

It's like a podium. Like a podium.

Yeah, definitely. It's like a podium.

So, everyone can see him and he can see everybody. So, it's quite different now.

everybody. So, it's quite different now.

Yeah. Cool.

And when he wants to check or make students talk to or speak, practice speaking, uh he uh pairs students with

two three students talk to each other.

So, I know that's quite like noisy at times. Noisy, but yeah, that's how the

times. Noisy, but yeah, that's how the lessons go.

Right. Right. I've actually seen some videos where teachers pair up students in class and there are a lot of people and it does get noisy though.

Yeah, that's can't hear yourself.

Noisy. Yeah.

Talk about the but that that's the only way how they can manage the whole class.

Yeah.

Right.

It is uh it is it's somewhat of a some somewhat bizarre to me because the way things work in Bkara uh as I told

you before the podcast is we have uh 10 to 12 student groups in a single group there there are there are 12 students at most.

Yeah.

One to 12 not 20 12 and that's like the group cap. you can

go past that limit and that sort of it is not probably the most lucrative way to go about running a learning

center but it does pay off in term in terms of results and student satisfaction. Definitely

student satisfaction. Definitely right. And that's probably why if I I I

right. And that's probably why if I I I think to myself sometimes if ever a learning center from Tashkin decide to come to Bkara and set up shop, they're not going to be able to replicate what

we're doing because it's so not it doesn't pay well.

That's what it is. We have so small number of students in a single class. uh

never 20, never 30, never because I've heard some schools actually had that many students, but we haven't really quite figured out the figured out the lo logistics of how we

go about teaching that many students in a single class and and make sure they all stay engaged and get the most value.

Right.

Yeah. And in Tashkant, I think there's also a high demand for English. Maybe that's why

for English. Maybe that's why classes are sometimes crowded.

Yeah. That can be another reason too, right? I mean there's a lot of demand

right? I mean there's a lot of demand for English in Bkara too.

It's just uh that's just the way system has been since uh the beginning with mainstream learning centers and any learning center that tries to do the opposite.

They would probably be out of business because uh students are accustomed to getting six classes a week. They're

accustomed to being in 12 student groups. So, they go to a learning center

groups. So, they go to a learning center and they see u a large crowd in classes less frequent, they're not going to want to stay there because they know there's a school out there that gives them more

uh input that that that provides better conditions.

So, they they probably won't stick around.

Yeah.

But in Tashkin though, that totally work that probably would work.

Yeah. is this system is not as um probably as it's not as uh

it's not the system is a lot less it I I don't really know how would you how would you describe that system where you have a lot of students

system is not as uh light Mhm.

And and with few people as it is in as it in as it is in regions.

Yes. So,

but we've lately been thinking a lot about how we can sort of increase our group capacity so as to include more students in the class because what's

lately been happening is we have a lot of demand but not enough teachers. Did

you notice that I've lately been putting out a lot of vacc posts post after post after post after post post like please come and join our team. We need teachers looking for teachers,

right? There's simply not enough

right? There's simply not enough teachers to meet that much demand having 12 students in a single session.

Unless we start having 20 30 student classes, we're not going to be able to cope with that sort of demand.

But we don't know if that system is going to work because that and that makes it very risky.

Yeah.

A little more on those vacancy posts.

Actually, a lot of people sign up. They

do sign up. I on average get 30 to 40 applications and the majority of them are underqualified.

They're underage, meaning they're under 18 and we don't hire anyone who's under 18.

We might make some exceptions if their application stands out, but it's rarely the case is the parents would not be okay with having their kids taught be taught by uh

an underage high schooler. You see,

you could work as an assistant teacher, but there's no such thing as an assistant teacher in Bkara.

We don't have that.

Yeah, I know you told in the podcast. I

guess you did watch the Okay. Yeah, we don't have assistant teachers. Only

uh one teacher or two teachers responsible but no helpers, right?

I totally agree with this part when it comes to teachers under 18. Mhm.

Definitely the parents won't uh you know trust that teacher how that teacher can they wouldn't want them just to be good at English. They'd also want them to be

at English. They'd also want them to be mature. Yes.

mature. Yes.

They would want their uh their them to be telling their children the right things, not something an impulsive teenager would say.

Yeah. They would want someone well-mannered. M

well-mannered. M they overall they want someone responsible and they think when someone is young they're not as responsible because they don't have worries they don't have kids to look after

their own kids I mean so are you thinking about uh launching third campus well

I think that's that that's a question I get asked a lot I've lately been getting asked a lot and people sometimes ask is that the reason why you have so many vacancy posts

uh no not exactly We we could do that.

I think that's where where we are headed.

Uhhuh.

Cuz the natural course of u of movement natural

uh way to go for any company is growth. Mhm.

growth. Mhm.

So any business entity, it's it's goal, its purpose is to grow.

So it's natural that one day we're going to branch uh out to third campus and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth.

That's a natural way to go. But there

are a bunch of important questions we really get to before we go about opening new schools. One is

like um one would be I think the most important question to me is why would I need that?

Mhm.

I would I is is that something I want to be doing because I know I'm going to be very involved in that expansion uh project.

Uh and is that something I see myself doing in this stage in my life?

I am not as obsessed with uh running schools and expanding and uh or chasing scores. I I'm um I'm a very I think I'm

scores. I I'm um I'm a very I think I'm very I look for meaning in things.

If I don't see meaning in doing something, I don't go and do it just because I'm supposed to do it, just because everyone else is doing it. I do

it if it it feels like the natural thing to do. And right now at this moment, it

to do. And right now at this moment, it doesn't feel like the natural thing to do because I have more important things to do, right? I I really know my priorities and

right? I I really know my priorities and but I have a hunch strong feeling that eventually we're going to branch out to

third campus and then fourth. But uh

assuming we're doing that, we need to do it right. we need to probably rethink

it right. we need to probably rethink some of the things we're already doing like the group size, the programs and everything. But yeah, that's where we're

everything. But yeah, that's where we're headed. And um going back to my point

headed. And um going back to my point about vacancy posts. So majority of people get turned down because they're they don't qualify in terms of age or

they're just they don't have good enough score or they have zero teaching experience even though they have good score. So

score. So yeah, I think the solution here would be is to uh which is something we might be doing or we're very likely going to do. I I I

I'm not confident to answer that question yet because I would probably think about that once we're done with this podcast and done

with bunch of other things. So the right thing to do would be is to uh bring in people who are

who would like to become teachers and train them for a month or so and then have them start work before we'd have them just sign up

sign up for our program. But I think that's not an option anymore because the program is too lengthy. It's four months long. And if you want teachers say the

long. And if you want teachers say the next month or the month month after we need to shrink down the program and put all the the most important things and get the teachers up to speed as soon as

possible. So we have a few things in

possible. So we have a few things in mind like strategies and ways uh of how we go about growing and and and expanding

but uh it it just takes a little bit of thinking and work and time. So but we're we're going there.

Yeah. Yeah, the idea of uh training teachers themselves and then making them teachers at at Astra, I think that's quite uh a really good idea.

No, it's a risky idea.

Risky.

I'll tell you why it's a risky idea.

Why?

Um usually when teachers don't go through our program, they don't quite understand the essence of what we're doing here.

They're they're taught superficially.

They know things on the surface, but they don't really deep down understand why we're doing those things unless they've gone through it themselves.

Yeah. So like um we have teachers who've been with us for couple of years and we have some new recruits who are outside teachers. They they've

come from different schools. And when

you compare the two, they're totally different kind of teachers type types of teachers. It's like uh someone who has

teachers. It's like uh someone who has gone to Everest school then goes on to become an Everest teacher and then there is someone from Adestra and goes on to become a teacher at Everest like Mr. Sh.

I mean he's an exception though he turned out to be a good teacher but with majority of teachers who come outside Everest to work at Everest they they may not cope well with the workload or they just have a hard time getting

along with the system and the people there.

I see. I see. So

ideally we have to have them come and take our program for uh for at least four or five months and then have them start work. You do that they're set for

start work. You do that they're set for the next three four years.

Yeah.

Without that you keep going back to training sessions. You need a training

training sessions. You need a training session every weekend.

Yeah. And that's not quite efficient.

Yeah.

You see I see. I see.

Right.

Great.

It's uh but it's a lot of fun. That's

one of the uh fun things about to do about running the school. Yes.

That we got all these cool ideas and strategies we got to go and implement.

Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But whatever happens, we never

don't. But whatever happens, we never stop trying.

Yeah.

Like you never stop trying. It's really

important.

Right.

Okay. So, uh before we wrap it up, there are a few questions I want to ask you.

Right.

What is something you would tell your younger self, your 14year-old self or other 16 year olds out there? What's one

piece of advice you'd give them?

I think it that's the age when um you know young people have to focus more on their goals and

I think again set goals and never give up and life is full of surprises and different opportunities. you have to

different opportunities. you have to explore them. You have to always give

explore them. You have to always give your best when you're trying something.

So I also uh have that priority for myself. Uh that's from you from your podcast you mentioned what um

don't do everything that others are doing and if you do that try to do it better 100 times 10 times better than them.

So yeah I would recommend everybody to do so. That's why I mentioned why

do so. That's why I mentioned why English why nine why not because uh 8.5 was al again important but why not to

try right so when you have opportunities and everything so don't stop never stop I mean never never giving up is the best thing I can recommend others

wow yeah I hope you guys are listening now next question what is something you would want to tell your future yourself who's going to be

watching this podcast. So in one week from now when the podcast is ready and out what is something you would want the future you to hear from you so you can look at her Mr. So Malik is that camera rolling?

Yes, it is rolling.

So I think it's quite difficult to say something but for my future myself again I believe

that I can again make something quite fantastic like this and make um unique and discover unique

opportunities for myself and again uh improve and grow as a person. grow and

probably I mean yeah again yeah difficult to say anything what would you say to to yourself to my future self okay

she's throwing a question at me well I would the future me if you're watching me right now I hope you're

still alive and you're still in good health and that you are you haven't given up on us Yeah, that's what I tell my future self. I hope you haven't given

up on us.

Yes, that's something I I want the future me to know because there are a lot of times I feel like giving up. A lot of times I think it gets

it gets harder as you uh go through life as you get older because you just start learning so much more about the world and there plus there are so many distractions and you open up to a lot of

distractions and there are times you go like well man I just I don't feel like doing it anymore. I don't want to do it.

I'm done. I I've been a good player for so long.

That's what I tell myself sometimes.

I've been a good player for so long. I

can take it easy now. But I had to remind myself that's not how legacies are made.

Yeah.

That's not how you make a legacy. All

right. Now, get your butt off the chair and get back to work.

Yes.

Yeah. I hope you're still doing that and I hope you still have that mindset.

That's something I'd want my future sold to know.

Yeah. I would also again u hope that I will be the same passionate about life and try my best in the future as well when it comes to studying or doing my

job let's say so yeah I hope I won't give up and stay consistent in everything I I am doing in the future

right Miss Nazima it was great talking to you today I had a lot of fun me too thank you it was uh it was one of The best podcast we've had so far, right, Mr. Mohamad

Aiz, did you like it?

Our small audience here likes it. We

have audience consisting of two people.

Yeah. And they liked it.

Yeah. And thank you for you too. That

was a lot of fun and great.

Yeah. I I thank you a lot too for coming all the way from Tashkan to be on the podcast and hope you guys like the today's episode.

Yes.

So, do you have any final points you want to make before we end this?

Um, probably. Mhm.

What I can say?

I don't know. Maybe just hi to your teachers and wish good luck to Everest team.

So I would send my hi and hells to my teachers, everybody I know, my classmates and also thank you for my

parents who allowed me to be here and to achieve these amazing results. Yeah.

Yeah. All right.

Bye.

All right, guys. Hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you liked our

today's episode. If you liked our podcast, please like, subscribe, and leave your comments in the comment section below. I'll see you in the next

section below. I'll see you in the next one. Peace.

one. Peace.

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