She was born in 1998 in the village of Ottuk, located in the Naryn district of the Naryn region. “My father chose this name because he was always passionate about reading and wanted to give his daughter something unusual, harmonious with the name of her older sister. This name has Arabic roots and translates to ‘emerald,’” shares Zubarzhad.
“Currently, I live in Balykchy. In 2020, I graduated from Bishkek State University, where I studied European civilization with a specialization in ‘Philological Education’ focusing on the English language. I work as an English teacher,” she adds.
From a young age, Zubarzhad was interested in the English language and participated in Olympiads, achieving high results. “After school, my passion for the English language led me to teaching. My grandfather always supported my interest: he brought me dictionaries and CDs. My school teachers also influenced me, inspiring me with their professionalism and creative approach. Since September 2020, I have been working at secondary school No. 6 in Balykchy. Although I am a novice teacher, I quickly became involved in school life and participated in various projects. I actively take part in city and national seminars, trainings, and forums, which help me gain experience. In my lessons, I strive to make students speak and apply the language in real situations, so I often use the communicative method,” she recounts.
Zubarzhad actively employs critical thinking methods, project-based, and problem-based learning. Students create presentations, conduct research, and participate in creative tasks, which develop their language skills as well as leadership qualities and teamwork abilities. “I believe that a modern lesson cannot be imagined without digital technologies, so I actively use interactive boards, online platforms, and multimedia materials. The main thing for me is to make lessons interesting and inspiring, creating an atmosphere where every student can express their opinion without fear of making mistakes,” she adds.
Situations full of interesting moments often arise during role-playing games and free communication, when students showcase their creativity. “Although my career began just five years ago, thanks to the support of the administration and colleagues, I have achieved significant success. In 2024, I participated in the national competition ‘Teacher of the Year,’ where I won at the city and regional levels, allowing me to reach the national level. Out of 128 participants, I was among the 25 finalists and was awarded the badge and diploma of ‘Excellence in Education of the Kyrgyz Republic,’ as well as the title of ‘Teacher of the Year’ from the Ministry of Education and Science. I was also awarded the nomination ‘Best Year – 2022,’ a commemorative medal for the 85th anniversary of the Jogorku Kenesh of the KR, and letters of appreciation from the Balykchy mayor's office and the education department. These achievements were made possible thanks to the support of my family and colleagues, as preparing for the competition requires great effort. The support from both the older and younger generations has been and remains an important responsibility and honor for me,” says Zubarzhad.
“For me, the achievements of my students are the highest reward. They take prize-winning places in city Olympiads. For example, in the 2021–2022 academic year, my student Aziz Elebesov took third place in the city Olympiad, and this academic year, my student Toktoeva Azhara came in second. Azhara is a determined student who always sets goals for herself and achieves them. She will soon participate in the regional Olympiad,” the teacher reports.
In addition, students from our school have become winners of the FLEX program and are currently studying in the USA. “In my free time, I strive to develop myself by participating in trainings and community activities. In the future, I plan to continue enhancing my professional level, mastering modern teaching methods, and sharing my experience with colleagues to collectively develop the educational environment,” she concluded.
Gallery: Zubarzhad Jalilova.
