Essay from Bibixanifa Jumanazarova

Central Asian woman with long dark hair, white collared blouse, holding a bouquet of white daisies and baby's breath.

The Role of Women in Society

A woman is an embodiment of endless courage, a symbol of beauty, and the flower of society. Though she may carry the burdens of the world behind her smile and feel hunger herself, she strives to show fullness for the sake of her children. She is a creation perfectly and beautifully made, capable of subduing sultans and elevating servants to the status of kings. When we hear the word “woman,” an image of a graceful figure full of unique qualities and strength immediately comes to mind.

Now I want to ask: *What is a courageous woman? What kind of image does the phrase “courageous woman” evoke in your mind?* I approached these questions and the role of women in society by portraying them through the figure of one woman.

Imagine a fragile girl deprived of her father’s love since birth, forced to live away from her siblings, and separated from her mother during the sweetest moments of her life under various oppressions. Although she may seem mature outwardly, she remains a delicate soul deprived of parental affection. Can you imagine how deeply painful such a fate is? Such hardships are trials of destiny.

The most important thing is that in such moments, a person must remain patient and never give up. She was always grateful even in the hardest times, believing that these were trials sent by God and that their rewards would be great.

For example, despite the disapproval of her close ones, she did not surrender and, while appearing to be going to work every day, she took entrance exams for the university she desired. To everyone’s surprise, she was admitted to a state-funded pedagogy program in Physics and Informatics!

Here, I want to highlight the insightful words of Chingiz Aytmatov, who said: “When I speak of an ideal woman, I always put intellectuality first. Mental capacity, of course, too. The ideal is formed gradually, based on long and numerous observations.”

Indeed, to call someone ideal, we must consider that she has been shaped and refined through life’s continuous challenges. However, fate did not always grant her peaceful days. After marriage, she faced separation from her siblings and had to move to a distant region. She endured numerous hardships and even escaped death several times.

Not only did she lose her loved ones, but constant separation from her fragile infants exhausted her immensely. Yet, these hardships strengthened her resilience and motivated her to strive to rise from the boiling cauldron of cruelty. It is often said that every difficulty carries some good within it.

By God’s will, she overcame all obstacles and now feels His boundless mercy, raising her two children with love and instilling good values in them. For 30 years, she has been working in her field, contributing greatly to the development of society and setting a worthy example.

This woman is my jewel, my paradise — my mother. For me, she is the most unique and courageous woman, the ideal human being, and no words can fully express her beauty. She is my light — my mother.

Not only for me but for all humanity, a mother is the most revered figure. We all understand well the invaluable role of mothers in our lives, and through my mother’s life journey, I have realized how powerful mothers truly are.With this short story, I want to say that women are not as weak as some may think. On the contrary, they are strong and perfect individuals capable of achieving every dream they set their minds to and even more. Therefore, every woman holds an invaluable place in society.

I can say this through the example of my mother, Baymuratova Salomat, who, with her patience and courage, overcame all obstacles in her life and reached great heights.

As E. Senankur pointed out: *“If our hearts are pure, the word ‘woman’ becomes a symbol of grandeur for us.”*

By the way, the importance of respecting women has been emphasized by Lope De Vega, who said that *“Respecting a woman is a duty that every sincere person should observe from birth.”* Amir Temur also highlighted this by saying, *“I tried to treat women as kindly as possible.”*

Indeed, women are the backbone of a nation. Every woman, through the upbringing she gives to her children, either lays the foundation for a bright future country or ruins its promising prospects.

Because a woman’s nature is strong, she is capable of performing both noble deeds and, unfortunately, crafty acts. Therefore, the place of women in our society is invaluable.

The Qur’an also recognizes how honorable and precious women are. No matter how much we cherish and respect them, it will never be enough.

After all, Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.

For this reason, I want to express my deepest respect and love to all women, to the unique mothers, and to my own sun-like mother, the source of kindness and warmth in my heart.

My teachers Shokhida Yusupova, Laylo Bakhtiyorova, Sarvinoz Xasanovna, Asrorova Gavhar, Raxmonqulova Saida, and Yaxshiboyeva Yulduz, as well as my hardworking sister Feruza Turdiboyeva, the winner of the “Woman of the Year 2021” contest, all hold invaluable places in my life and in my journey to become a useful member of society.

Moreover, thanks to the initiatives of our country’s leadership, the high attention paid to women is continuously increasing our role in society’s governance, and all the created opportunities are yielding positive results.

Every woman’s awareness of her rights and finding a worthy place in society is a key step towards the rise and progress of every nation.

Bibixanifa Jumanazarova Uktam’s daughter was born on May 15, 2007, in Zomin district, Jizzakh region. She is the holder of multiple international certificates. Additionally, she holds a B2 level CEFR certificate in English and a B+ level national certificate in Uzbek language. Due to her excellent academic achievements, she graduated from school with a gold medal.

She is the author of The Diamond Pages anthology and has written numerous scientific and journalistic articles.

Poetry from Amirah Al Wassif

A Second Before the World Ends

A second before the world ends,
I caught a cat in the act—
carefully building a nest
for a pregnant dove,
bit by bit…

Right then, a politician sneezed
on his way out of peace talks
that had birthed eight wars
and five famines.

My dead father asked:
“What are you doing?
Come on, you’ll be here with me soon enough…”

I turned his word “there” over in my head.
Will I return to my mother’s womb?
Go to some nameless place?
Become a fish with wings
and one lone eye
in the middle of its head?

I’m not trying to sound surreal—
That’s just where my thoughts live
since I graduated from public high school.

Maybe it’s the government schooling.
Maybe the dirty water.
Maybe racism.
Maybe the fear of belonging to any “minority.”

Before I go,
I plan to release a poetry album.
Free entry for all.
And at every reading,
I’ll kiss the hands of infants,
of the mad,
of women whose men still ridicule
the shape of their breasts
or the bags beneath their eyes.

My father’s calling again—
this time, with mango gelato.
He wants me quickly.
I’m not sure what the hurry is.

A second before it’s all over,
my neighbors wrapped their heads in papyrus,
claiming it’s the only cure
for the “migraine of civilizations.”

Then the monkey—“Mousa”
leapt into my chest and said:
“I write poetry too.”

I saw the sky fall
and shrink down
to the size of a fingertip.

My father called out again:
“I’m coming!”

I say it too,
as I write this final poem—
hallucinating.

When My Arm Flew Into the Air

When my arm flew into the air,
I calmed myself by believing I must be dreaming.
Any moment now, I would wake to the sound
of the gecko that’s been living in my room
for the past four months.

I haven’t killed it.
I don’t want to.

I didn’t feel like I was flying.
I felt like I was disappearing.

You know that strange training—
when you teach your body to die,
and bit by bit,
you start to feel each part fade?

I smelled the okra stew
our ninety-year-old neighbor was cooking.
I saw a large yellow butterfly
telling a joke in Salvador Dalí’s ear.

He was trapped inside a painting
hanging across from the neighbors’ window.
I saw him laugh.

And I thought:
He really was mad.
Or maybe I’m the mad one.

It’s not easy to watch your arm
lift off into the air.
Not easy to ask:
Did you really detach from my body?
and hear it answer
in a voice beyond logic—
the voice of a muffled child,
as if his parents had rushed the burial,
believed he was gone too soon,
sealed the coffin,
and drove away.

When my arm flew up,
I thought:
This is delirium.
Maybe I’m dying.
Maybe I’m about to write a new poem—
one that will be rejected
by many editors
but adored by one person,
who will carve it into the bark
of a massive fig tree.

And after he walks home,
the fig tree will stir from its long sleep
and finish writing the rest of the poem.

I don’t know exactly what happened.
But I do know this:

Whatever part of you flies off
becomes braver
than it ever was
before.

Yesterday, I Met My Jinn Double

Yesterday, I met my jinn double.
Her fingers were shaped like forks.
She smiled at me three times—
with an upside-down mouth.

The roughness of her skin reminded me
of the last time I touched a leaf with my bare hand.
A long time ago,
back when trees could still be touched,
back when trees belonged to the earth.
Back when grape clusters were earrings—
and ropes to escape.

I knelt before her and whispered:
“How many times have they killed you?”
And I heard the echo:
“How many times have they killed me?”

I’m not her.
I don’t want to be her.
I’m free.
I flutter from flower to flower,
tasting mulberries,
playing with clay.

She points to the moon,
trying to pull it down with a rope.
I got scared.
I wet myself.

I’m not a child—
but fear makes everyone do that.
The baby next door does it.
So did my grandfather—
and he was a bank manager.

No one is bigger than fear.

She comes closer.
Her feet were shaped like hooks.
I step back.
Then again.
And again—
until I disappear.

Or wake up
from the dream.

Poetry from Xavier Womack

our call

what are we if not real?

i propose this question now,

here in our present day

begging for an answer.

we yearn to pick apart

the people surrounding us

leaving our nails covered in 

soot, yet we never clean them.

we long for residue of

others, dream for some

remnant of their life inside ours.

we are layers upon layers,

circles in the trunk of a 

redwood tree, and are made

human by the ones who

came before us, ever

lasting our own thoughts.

i ask you this question

to spur what you believe.

we can never wipe our

slates clean, every choice we

make cemented into the 

roots that travel throughout

our being. it forces us to 

make our own choices, 

spawn our own thoughts,

create what we believe will

have an endless effect on

what we call our existence.

we are human, allowing us to

conceive our reality. if we can

manifest our thoughts, than 

what are we if not real?

Essay from Sattorova Mokhinur

Central Asian teen in a long embroidered blue coat with silver designs and trim and a light blue dress and a headband in a room with Islamic style decorative architecture.

Teacher: Fazliddinova Zukhra Muxiddinovna

NDKTU akademik lyceum English language teacher

E-mail: zukhrafazliddinova@gmail.com

Student: Sattorova Mokhinur Laziz qizi

NDKTU akademik lyceum first year student

E-mail: muhinursatorova@gmail.com

                                                 ABSTRACT  

In this article, I will investigate the importance of language within the framework of an international language and the increasing number of people communicating in English worldwide. The reasons behind this growth are analyzed in depth. Additionally, the significance of English in communication is described.  

Key words: international language, experience and qualification, learning English, native language, specific and academic language.  

Nowadays, a large number of people speak English. The number of speakers has reached 1.5 billion. Additionally, approximately 500 million people are learning English as their native language. The figures indicate the widespread use and learning of English as an international language. Our young generation is excelling in oral proficiency in the language, attaining significant milestones and outstanding achievements. Language can be learned for two main purposes, namely specific and academic. Knowledge of a language offers individuals an abundance of opportunities. For example, traveling overseas without guidance.  Moreover, applying for a job can result in a 50% salary supplement, effective professional interaction, career advancement, and opportunities. Effective professional interaction-English for Specific Purposes (ESP)-enables professionals to communicate accurately and efficiently in their specific fields, such as medicine, engineering, and law.  Career development and opportunities: mastering ESP enhances job prospects, as many multinational companies require English proficiency. Furthermore, when some people are applying for a job, they must know English and obtain a language certificate. As industries become more interconnected, ESP helps professionals engage in international projects, conferences, and research collaborations. Scientists, for instance, publish research in English to reach a global audience, while engineers use ESP to discuss technical designs with multinational teams. This linguistic proficiency promotes knowledge exchange and innovation. English ranks third among the world’s languages.  

In today’s world, all humans learning the language can earn money and achieve profit. In fact, teenagers and older people are obtaining a high-level certificate while they conduct an English course, despite being in childhood. As for academic purposes, awareness of foreign languages allows for gaining certificates through which people can achieve qualifications. If a teenager enters a university, they meet admission requirements and may obtain a C1 level certificate. Other students want to gain knowledge; therefore, they apply to universities and schools abroad. If they obtain a B2 language certificate, they may be accepted to the universities to which they applied. When some people and students are increasing their experience and qualifications in school, university, and work, they might receive a supplement and scholarship. Nowadays, English belongs to the category of modern languages. When I was learning German, there were many programs associated with studying abroad, where people from all over the world studied German because they were engaging in various fields of science. In statistics, English for academic purposes plays a pivotal role in global communication, particularly within the realms of science, education, and research. A significant majority of scientific publications are authored in English; for instance, in 2022, 95.86% of the 28,142,849 references indexed on the Web of Science were in English. English for academic purposes is vital for global communication, as it enhances access to knowledge, promotes international collaboration, and supports career development, making it a key tool for students, researchers, and professionals worldwide.

In conclusion, ESP and EAP contribute significantly to the advancement of international communication, bridging academic spheres. As global connectivity continues to expand, the demand for specialized English language proficiency will remain essential for success in various disciplines.

REFERENCES

1.Jainkwellpublishing.com

2.Lc International language centres.

3.Wikipedia

4.https//ilcentres.com

Poetry from Mirta Liliana Ramirez

Older middle aged Latina woman with short reddish brown hair, light brown eyes, and a grey blouse.
Mirta Liliana Ramirez

One moment 

a moment of hope saved

in the pocket of my heart.

another wait

broken word

makes room for me

locks to the beats.

the illusion spills over

clotted blood smell

means that the wound

will close eventually.

In a moment

give me the galaxies

and the next

you snatch them from me

like hurricane

decide

What do you want?

What are you going to do?

Life is a moment

mine

have an expiration date

like your words.

Mirta Liliana Ramírez has been a poet and writer since she was 12 years old. She has been a Cultural Manager for more than 35 years. Creator and Director of the Groups of Writers and Artists: Together for the Letters, Artescritores, MultiArt, JPL world youth, Together for the letters Uzbekistan 1 and 2. She firmly defends that culture is the key to unite all the countries of the world. She works only with his own, free and integrating projects at a world cultural level. She has created the Cultural Movement with Rastrillaje Cultural and Forming the New Cultural Belts at the local level and also from Argentina to the world.

Tan-renga from Christina Chin and Jerome Berglund

Collaborative Renga 

Jerome Berglund (italic) 

Christina Chin (plain) 

chalk outlines

never an artist

to applaud

round the bend 

a Banksy graffiti

jewelweed

survival 

as defiance

giant caterpillars

on the leafless plants

rainstorm 

brewing tea after 

an afternoon nap 

ants jostling

for egg salad 

mango tree 

a bat clicks round 

the darkness

he doesn’t think of

deer ticks ‘til later

rainy night 

a sniffing snake 

at the window 

sometimes got to use

decorative towels 

Poetry from James Tian

Young East Asian man with short dark hair, clean shaven, with reading glasses, in a tan suit and red tie and corsage.

A Pair of Feet “Caring” for a Lawn

There exists a strange group of beings,

Whose brains are said to have been blown away by the wind,

Whose souls are said to have been eroded by the rain.

They have only a pair of eyes,

A pair of feet,

And a mouth that claims a “free spirit”.

They love stepping onto the lawn,

Then stare at each other,

And keep using their mouths to accuse the sky—

“Follow the sound of my voice and look at me,

I’m the one most deserving to exist.”

Take one of them, for example:

It saw a pair of feet among the others,

Trample a blossom,

And its mouth instantly cried out:

“The flower is innocent,

The flower is pitiful,

Let’s speak up for the flower!”

Then it kept wandering,

Saw another pair of feet crush a foxtail grass,

And its mouth again cried out:

“The foxtail grass is innocent,

The foxtail grass is pitiful,

Let’s speak up for the foxtail grass!”

A large tree reminded it:

“Hold on—before you care about the foxtail grass,

That flower hasn’t been helped back up yet.”

Its mouth immediately cried out:

“The flower’s issue is in the past,

The foxtail grass is today’s breaking news,

Stop moral coercion,

Be like me—call for truth, goodness, and beauty…”

The tree continued:

“It seems like your kind says things like this every day.”

Its mouth instantly cried out:

“I don’t know,

I didn’t hear it,

I am what I am,

And I love peace…”

The tree covered its face:

“Then what about the grass you yourself trampled in the lawn?”

Its mouth instantly cried out:

“I’m only ‘caring’ for the lawn with my feet,

I never harm,

The fallen grass is a setup, a malicious frame-up…”

The tree said:

“I’ve had enough.

Each of them paces the lawn every day,

Blaming each other, bragging about themselves,

All believing their behavior is original…

I’d rather rot at the roots,

Than stay here any longer…”