The Fate of the Dark Night

 “My child, if I leave, you won’t find me again.”

The sun’s warm and broken rays disappeared. As the world dressed itself in black, owls shrieked with a chilling ugliness. Some people know better than anyone how terrifying an enemy the dark night can be—those are the ones who live in solitude.

When Sveta’s children suggested placing her in a nursing home, she had refused. And now, in a spacious house, she was left utterly alone. With age her bones weakened, seizures grew worse, and Sveta, helpless, longed for nothing more than a kind word. She cursed fate—for taking her husband seven years ago, and for scattering her children far away, like a volcano erupting from her heart, never to return.

Autumn had arrived, bringing a biting chill. The heavy black clouds above seemed to glare down at her. She went inside, intending to watch television for a while. The clock ticked like tireless ants in the field, yet to Sveta, time seemed to have stopped. Nothing on TV brought her joy; she grew bored. Entering the guest room, she slowly searched through the cabinet and found what she was looking for—the only keepsake left from a broken family: a photo album. Opening it, her eyes fell on the first page—a family portrait. In an instant, tears didn’t fall from her eyes, but blood.

Her little son Oleg, who had first spoken with the words “Mum, mum,” and her daughter Marina, who once prepared for a whole week to recite a poem at a holiday, appeared vividly before her eyes. As she thought of it, she realized the sweetest time for a mother was her children’s childhood. She longed to return to those days filled with tender worries. One by one, her memories poured out. Yet the same children who had never been deprived of her love, strength, gentle words, and money, now showed no interest in their mother’s condition—whether she lived or died, whether she was warm or cold, it was all the same to them. Bitterness filled her heart.

    When she saw the photograph from her wedding night, she was struck with yearning for her husband. “If only he were alive now, perhaps I would not be so humiliated,” she thought. Sveta’s soul was gone—only her body remained. Suddenly, a thunderclap split the sky, shaking the windows. Panic seized her. She felt as if she were burning from within, as though left to scorch in the middle of a desert. She longed to turn her face to the rain and rushed outside.

She had lost herself, running back and forth across the yard, as though someone were chasing her but could never catch her. She laughed so loudly as she ran that her voice seemed to echo with the thunder. The old white dog “Belka,” tied in the corner of the yard, barked at her without pause. At one point, she took too wide a step, slipped, and fell backward, striking her head on the ground. Unable to withstand the pain, she burst into tears. Her sobs mixed with the rain. In the embrace of the pitch-dark night, bright days flickered before her eyes.

   Years ago, it had rained like this too. Sveta rocked Oleg to sleep in the cradle, while her husband Ivan read fairy tales to Marina by candlelight. She had not known then that fate’s wheel would turn so cruelly. If she had foreseen it, she would never have let her children slip from her embrace. She would have taught them from childhood that it is not man who chases after sustenance, but sustenance that follows man. At that moment, she felt another sharp pain in her body. A seizure gripped her; her tongue rolled back, foam gathered at her lips. Helpless before fate, she collapsed. In the winter night, no one witnessed her agony—no one but the old dog in the yard.

Ablakulova Dilfuza Komiljon qizi was born on March 8, 2006 in Payariq district, Samarkand region. Currently, she is a 2nd year student of the Faculty of Public Law, group “B” of Tashkent State  University of Law. Volunteer of the University’s Legal Clinic, “Qomus” Clubs, and representative of the student committee.

DEVELOPING SPEECH CULTURE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS                                                    

         Author: Abdulazizova Nigina Faxriddin qizi                                                             Alfraganus University, Group BT 23/3                                                            3rd year student                                                            Email: niginaabdulazizova46@gmail.com             

                                               Phone: +998977363868

Abstract

This article analyzes the oral and written speech culture of primary school students, as well as effective methods for developing correct and culturally appropriate communication skills. It examines techniques for teaching students the fundamentals of proper speech through interactive and practical strategies. The study identifies key problems that arise in forming speech culture among young learners and explores scientific approaches to address them. The role of speech culture in social life and the importance of teaching effective communication are emphasized. The connection between speech culture and real-life situations is also discussed.

Keywords: Social speech, oral speech, methods, culture, written speech, socialization, ability, primary education.

Introduction: The primary education stage plays a key role not only in imparting knowledge and skills, but also in shaping students’ oral and written speech culture. The ability of a child to clearly and logically express thoughts is directly linked to future academic success and active social participation. For this reason, the development of speech culture in primary school students is considered one of the priority directions in modern education. However, in practice, students often face difficulties in both oral and written speech. These include limited vocabulary, poor grammar, pronunciation errors, and difficulties in expressing ideas coherently. Such issues demand the use of innovative pedagogical approaches by primary school teachers.

This article provides a scientific analysis of the main challenges encountered in developing oral and written speech culture in early grades, as well as their causes and possible solutions. It also highlights the significance of interactive methods, communicative approaches, and pedagogical technologies rooted in national values.

In recent years, important reforms have been implemented in Uzbekistan to promote the status and use of the state language. For example, the Presidential Decree “On the further development of the Uzbek language and improvement of language policy” (October 20, 2020) approved the “Concept for the Development of the Uzbek Language and Improvement of Language Policy for 2020–2030”.

The document aims to ensure the full use of the state language in all areas, raise public speech culture, and expand the scientific, educational, and cultural use of the language. From this point of view, forming the speech culture of students in primary education is not only a pedagogical issue but also a matter of social and spiritual importance, contributing to the strengthening of the status of the Uzbek language in society. The research findings offer practical recommendations for effectively developing speech culture in students.

Main Part

Raising well-rounded and competent youth — the future of our nation — is a top priority. Children should be able to freely and correctly express their thoughts in any setting, regardless of whom they are speaking to. For this, developing proper speech habits from an early age is essential.

When a child starts school, their vocabulary begins to grow. At this stage, the teacher plays a vital role in guiding students towards proper speech and explaining the concept of speech culture. But first, we must understand what “speech” is, how to develop it, and the requirements it must meet.

Speech is a form of human activity that utilizes language tools — words, phrases, and sentences — to express thoughts, convey emotions, and influence others. It is divided into two main types: oral and written speech.

Oral speech involves verbal communication between individuals. It is one of the primary forms of speech, typically occurring in real-time interaction. Its features include immediacy and the lack of editing opportunities.

Written speech is a more complex process that requires time and focuses on literacy and content clarity.

Vocabulary development methods include: • Direct observation of the environment; • Use of unfamiliar or rarely seen pictures; • Reading literature; • Showing educational and documentary films. A child’s lexical reservoir expands as they are introduced to their surroundings. A word is memorized when the child can mentally associate it with an object or action.

Educational games should consider children’s age and individual traits. The pace and rhythm of the game are crucial — if too slow, children become bored; if too fast, they become overexcited and distracted. Types of games include: • Games with objects and toys; • Table games; • Oral word games.

There are several effective methods for developing students’ speech culture: • Organizing events outside of class; • Using visual technologies; • Performing stage plays related to speech culture. These help instill moral values and communication skills. Using visual aids in lessons helps form lasting impressions in students’ minds. Extracurricular reading also plays a vital role in shaping students’ speech. During reading sessions, students: • Learn reading etiquette; • Build reading habits; • Understand characters’ behavior; • Express impressions using vivid language.

As Alisher Navoi noted in “Mahbub ul-qulub”:“Although language is an honorable gift, it becomes a curse when misused.” This implies that while speech is powerful, its misuse can be destructive. Therefore, developing children’s speech also involves cultivating their linguistic abilities.

In contrast, Al-Biruni stated that:“…In such a language, a number of foreign words appear which are understood by few and disliked because of their obscurity.” He believed people often reject what they do not understand.

Analysis and Results

To assess students’ speech culture, 31 third-grade students participated in a test. Based on their responses: • 22 students achieved excellent results; • 6 students performed satisfactorily; • 3 students showed unsatisfactory results.

While the results were relatively positive, there is room for improvement. To enhance outcomes, it is recommended to: • Organize more cultural events on speech culture; • Conduct stage performances; • Use various methods and technologies in class.

Conclusion

At the primary education level, shaping students’ speech culture is crucial for developing their thinking, communication, and social skills. Research shows that during this stage, students can effectively learn to: Speak clearly and fluently; Express thoughts logically; Engage appropriately with listeners.

The article analyzed the content, significance, and methodology of teaching speech culture step by step. Interactive methods, dialogic and monologic exercises, and the use of multimodal texts were found to be effective in developing expressive, cultured, and purposeful speech in students.

It was also emphasized that teaching methods should match students’ age and psychological characteristics, and oral and written speech should be developed in harmony.

References

1. Sh.Sh. Nizomova. Theory and Technology of Developing Children’s Speech. Bukhara: Science and Education, 2022. p. 36. 

2. M.U. Abdulkhayeva. Scholarly Views on Language and Speech, 2022. 

3. Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan: “On the further development of the Uzbek language and improvement of language policy”, October 20, 2020. 

4. Alisher Navoi. “Mahbub ul-qulub”, 1998. p. 94. 5. https://arxiv.uz 6. https://ilmiybaza.uz

when our brain shuts down

There are no apparent limits

to science if vintage photos

of naked beachgoers can

change the way we think

about near-death experiences.

Postmodern Polka

(A Tom Beckett Title)

At first glance oxymoronic, yet there is an overlap.

Both parts autobiographical. The teenaged bassist, classically trained but now playing pizzicato, filling in at the local Polish Association’s New Year’s Ball — 57 varieties of potato salad, & just as many polkas — wearing an occasion-obligatory tuxedo borrowed from his father, one pants leg folded up a little bit because his father was lame, had one leg shorter than the other. That was one uncomfortable memory; another that the other three members of the quartet each received twice as much as this fill-in bassist, a fact revealed inadvertently when the organizer asked the band to play for a longer time, &, in offering an additional inducement, admitted what he had already paid.

The postmodern part comes a few years later, when the musician, now tired of carrying his bass around balanced on his shoulder because most taxis in the city were too compact to contain it, discovered he had a small ability with words.

inquiry

to 

see where

the antecedents lie

404 error

I go looking for the

early prognostications

by Bruce Sterling on

the potential rise &

rise of link rot. He was

probably correct, but it’s

impossible to be certain —

many of his given links

have rotted away.

today’s enlarge your unit by 25 percent hotmail email subject matter found poem

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A Love Supreme

My dreams — when

I remember them — are 

invariably in black 

& white, but I com-

pensate with a John

Coltrane soundtrack.

(Eastern European young woman in her 30s/40s with long thick curly black hair, a black and white checkered top and small pendant necklace).

Two rival feelings – reunion and longing 

The feeling of longing is a stronger feeling than reunion, 

Although the burden is heavy, it is experienced by love, love. 

Perhaps their eyes remain on the roads for a lifetime, 

Unfortunate fate rules, I wonder why, why? 

That small photo between the book 

Secretly – secretly watching, the happiest moment of life. 

What is stolen from longing should definitely be considered true, 

The shades of a smile floating in the flood of emotions. 

The life of reunion does not matter 

whether it is long or short, 

The moment it ends, its previous sweetness disappears. 

The farewell of longing ends, does not cause pain, 

Erases the sorrow that is buried, 

the sadness in the heart.

Elmaya Jabbarova was born in Azerbaijan. She is poet, writer, translator. Her poems from 2019 to date were published in the regional and foreign newspapers, magazine’s, books, Web. pages, Anthologies. She has been awarded many certificates diplomas, medals. She is Department manager of Hekari newspaper of Azerbaijan. She is a honorary member of the Writers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. World Association of People’s Creators, Honorary member of the International Academy of Literature, Art, Culture and Social Sciences of Uzbekistan. She is an Academic. Appointed Coordinator, Secretary General of Azerbaijan, Argentina. She is presented in the book Famous Personalities MultiArt – 5, Argentina. She was a member World Poetic Fraternity. She was awarded the title of Global Poet of 2023; 2024. She was awarded the title of World Poet Laureate from Azerbaijan as one of 55 poets selected by Pentasi B Friendship Poetry for 2025.

Forming the Ecological Consciousness of Youth

At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, the global ecological crisis has deepened: atmospheric pollution, climate change, deforestation, water resource depletion, and soil degradation pose a serious threat to human life. This situation shows that neglect of nature ultimately returns to man himself. In this regard, the issue of forming the ecological consciousness and culture of youth should be the focus of attention not only of the education system, but also of the entire society.

Because today’s youth are the owners of tomorrow. Their attitude to nature will determine the ecological sustainability and quality of life of society in the future. The formation of ecological culture is understood not only as providing information about nature, but also as forming in the younger generation love for nature, environmental responsibility, the habit of saving resources, and the ability to apply ecological thinking in practical activities.  Ecological consciousness is a level of human thinking in which a person considers it his duty not to subjugate nature to his own interests, but to preserve it, to maintain natural balance. A person strives to live in harmony with nature as an integral part of his life.

The process of forming such consciousness is complex and gradual. This depends, first of all, on family, school and public education. In the family, a child observes the attitude of his parents to nature, and at school he receives theoretical knowledge through ecology and natural science lessons. But the most important thing is practical learning, that is, direct contact with nature.

The education system plays a special role in the process of ecological education.  Environmental trainings, ecological clubs, and “Green Space” campaigns held in schools, colleges, and universities help young people avoid apathy. In addition, initiatives such as “Eco-schools,” “Young Environmentalists’ Circles,” and “Eco-marathons” encourage young people to be environmentally conscious. Instilling elements of ecological culture in every lesson and event is an educational strategy that yields long-term results. For young people living in the digital age, environmental problems are not only related to nature, but also to technology. Electronic waste, excessive consumption, plastic use, and energy waste are all directly affecting the lifestyle of modern young people.

Therefore, the formation of environmental awareness should not be limited to planting trees or cleaning up garbage. It broadly refers to the philosophy of sustainable development: that is, a person takes into account the interests of nature in every decision he makes in his life.
For example, saving water, turning off electricity, using recyclable materials instead of plastic, and separating waste are simple but very important habits that demonstrate the ecological awareness of young people in everyday life. Ecological education is an investment in the future. Raising an ecologically conscious generation is the most important investment in the future. Because environmental problems are solved not by technology, but by people themselves. A responsible attitude towards nature is culture, this is education, this is an indicator of the level of consciousness.

If today’s youth are ecologically conscious, responsible and active, then in the future our country will have a healthy environment, clean air, green cities, and environmental safety.
The formation of ecological awareness is not only the task of environmental science, but also the general responsibility of the entire society. Nature is not an inheritance for us, but a reliable trust that we pass on to our children. Therefore, the formation of the ecological culture of young people is the greatest gift not only for today, but also for future generations.

When young people love nature, protect it, value every tree, save water, and dispose of waste properly, they will develop an ecological consciousness and become responsible individuals.

Bekturdiyeva Nozima Mardonbek qizi was born on July 22, 2006, in Yangiariq District, Khorezm Region, Republic of Uzbekistan. She graduated from a secondary specialized school and is currently a second-year student at Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhon Beruni.

ORH (Duane’s wife)

As the sunset swallows the day,

love incorporates identities.

You are the rain

who washes my dust away.

NO CROSSWISE STRIPES

Oh, Orh, that first spontaneous smile in the night:

I was lost and didn’t know it, and

then

your beacon found me

and now

I walk with no bear tracks beneath my feet

and no coyote in my path.

No eclipse darkens my meal.

No snake sheds in my sight.

And I can spend hours filling your well with a stone.

SACRIFICIAL

The praying sadist decapitates

her mate

for climax’ sake.

“love’s addition sometimes subtracts”

The successful huntress offers up

a corpse

on God’s doorstep.

“artists always execute their works”

You are that cat,

that mantis

and I the mouse,

the mate.

MANDALAS

The moon woos the maiden waves.

They waver between care and greed,

coyly approach or recede,

as moon acts an inconstant knave.

A worn and generous field

marries the magnificent sun,

and grainy children soon come

who inherit both Daddy’s gold

and their mother’s charity.

A river surrenders herself,

and her union with the gulf

enlarges her identity.

Maned clouds graze in bluebell skies.

When they’re spooked their hooves of thunder

will tear the air to flinders

and waken baby lighting’s cries.

WHISPERS

Your spirit’s in the Whispers–

I can’t go there anymore–

it’s haunting all the places

where we went before,

the movies, the restaurants,

the sidewalks and liquor store.

I’m mute in all the arias

I once used to score.

Our friends are sore reminders

of those joyous days of yore

when we formed a pair of selves

combined at the core.

But now the twins are severed–

reminiscences, a bore–

locations, open wounds–

Whispers’ silence roars.

Crooked be the road that leads to Ithaca. For hubris has blinded me, like Polyphemus. I grasp for answers but feel men in sheep’s clothing— Who was I to question Poseidon’s teachings?

To live porcine in gilded halls did not make me a king, For beauty ages, unlike Calypso’s graces—it wasn’t meant for me. Leaving lotus petals like broken dreams, I embrace reality. Seven years I have sailed—will three more make prophecy?

I accept that my crooked path may lead to distant shores. Hopefully my Penelope will be there when I land; If she’s not, I’ll still have become a wiser, older man.