Poetry from Sayani Mukherjee

Tea

Teapots and adorable napkins
The child's soul knows no bounds
It clasps a little a lithe wards dream
A homesickness that grows in your soul
A pungent tea flavoured gift that i picked up
A flower of moth eaten daisies I charm in thee
Bottled and boat necked gifts that churn my soul
A homely affair a stage show for faint hearted
I like to knit sweaters in lulled voice
What if my voice reached you today? 
I will scramble and do the dishes the art of 
Domestic choices still I landed on my fairy tales
I daresay I will write on my behalf 
As poetry becomes a stagecraft for skin and home. 

Poetry from Rasulova Rukhshona

Central Asian teen girl with blue overalls and a white collared shirt. She's got black hair and earrings and a headdress.

Girls picking flowers

Makes bouquets

The guys are also gathered

“Ko’pkari” plays the game

Both mountains and gardens 

It is bluish in color 

Swallows are coming

Everyone knows that.

This is the most wonderful holiday

Nowruz, my dears,

Ancient, traditional

Everyone will appreciate it.

Grandmother, grandfather

They always pray

Peace and health

They put it in their eyes

Rasulova Rukhshona Vahobjon’s daughter was born on October 16, 2008 in Rishton district of Fergana region. In 2015, she started studying in the 1st grade of school 34 in this district. Currently, she is a 9th grade student of this school. Rukhshona Rasulova is interested in participating in various competitions, writing poems and stories, and reading many books.

She regularly participates in school and district competitions and takes pride of place. Also she participates in many online contests and earned international certificates. She is a member of various creative teams and the 2024 “Ufq ilmi” 1st place winner.

As a young artist she has unlimited goals in her heart. Her biggest dream is to become a “young reader”.

Rukhshona Rasulova’s poems were published in the book “Youth of Uzbekistan” published by Justfiction publishing house, and in one of the most prestigious British magazines “Raven Cage” and “Kenya Time” in Thailand. And she has been included in various anthologies covering artists across the Republic. 

Poetry from Saidqulova Nozima

Central Asian teen girl with brown hair up in a bun, brown eyes, an embroidered headdress, earrings and a dark suit coat over a white blouse with black lace on the neck.

Saidqulova Nozima To`lqin daughter

                                  Republic Uzbekistan

                   Kashkadarya region Karshi centre

               Karshi Engeneering-Economist Institute

                           Sanoat faculty 3-rd student.

Motherland

To praise the motherland,

My highest wish, my family dream.

In your corners that filled my heart,

My feelings are awakened, in your dreams.

I live to praise your name,

I saw my mother in you.

Be full of love,

I saw my father in you

Courage and strength.

Exalt your name,

It’s a confession.

If I wave your flag,

To another country.

Heard your description,

                  Greatness heard.

Let him wonder surprised,

My heart is white.

Dream rush,

My motherland is mine.

Poetry from Maftuna Rustamova

Teen Central Asian girl with long dark hair, brown eyes, and a gray tee shirt with a red collar. Photo has her tilted to the right and she's got a blue and gray design behind her.

A child of an ordinary person has the most knowledge, but a child of a rich man knows nothing.

Why are you always a rich man’s son?

Why do you say that if a man with money is his father.

Did you see, my friends, this story of mine will still be answered in the Day of Judgement.

Essay from Nosirova Surayyo

How to build confidence in speaking a second language

Annotation: Nowadays, many language learners face problems related to speaking skills. These issues arise due to the speaker’s tendency to get nervous during speech, fear of making mistakes, and lack of sufficient vocabulary. There are also enough solutions to these problems.

Аннотация: В настоящее время многие изучающие язык сталкиваются с проблемами, связанными с навыками говорения. Эти проблемы возникают из-за того, что говорящий часто волнуется во время речи, боится делать ошибки и не имеет достаточного словарного запаса. Также существуют достаточные решения этих проблем

Annatatsiya: Hozirgi kunda ko’plab til o’rganuvchilar gapirish ko’nikmalariga oid muammolarga duch kelmoqdalar. Ushbu muammolar odatda nutq paytida hayajonlanish, xatolar qilishdan qo’rqish va yetarlicha so’z boyligiga ega bo’lmaslik sababli yuzaga keladi. Bu muammolarni hal qilish uchun yechimlar ham mavjud.

Keywords:audio,confidence,debate,native speakers,conversations

Ключевое слово: Аудио, уверенность, дебаты, носители языка, разговоры

Kalit so‘zlar:audio,ishonch,munozara,o‘z tilida so‘zlashuvchilar, o‘zaro suhbat

Confidence in speaking, especially in a second language, is a skill that develops over time with consistent effort and practice. Here are some strategies to build your confidence:

1. Start Small: Practice speaking in comfortable, low-pressure environments. Begin with familiar topics like hobbies or daily routines.

2. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Try to speak English every day, even if it’s just a few sentences to yourself, a language partner, or a tutor. There are some apps available to practice.

Hello Talk — The Best App for Conversation. It allows you to chat with English speakers worldwide through text, voice recordings, voice calls, and video calls. FluentU — The Best Media-Based App. FluentU offers English videos, including news, music, and advertisements. With interactive subtitles, you can click on any word to get additional information about it.

3. Focus on Communication, Not Perfection: Making mistakes is natural and an important part of learning. Aim to communicate your message, even if your grammar or pronunciation isn’t perfect.

4. Record Yourself: Listening to your own speech helps you identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time. When students record their voices, they gain a valuable opportunity to listen to themselves and identify areas where they might be making mistakes in pronunciation, grammar, or fluency.

By carefully analyzing these recordings, they can work on correcting these mistakes, which leads to gradual improvement over time. This practice not only enhances their speech clarity but also boosts their confidence, as they become more aware of their progress and develop better control over their language skills. Additionally, recording their voice allows them to track their development and recognize the positive changes in their speaking abilities, further motivating them to continue practicing. The best program for recording audio is Audio Lab. It is free and useful for students.

5. Expand Your Vocabulary: The more words you know, the easier it becomes to express yourself confidently. Learn phrases and expressions relevant to common situations. Every student has to learn vocabulary to improve their language skills. A strong vocabulary is essential for understanding and expressing ideas clearly. One of the best materials for learning vocabulary is the Cambridge Dictionary. It offers accurate definitions, example sentences, and pronunciation guides, helping students learn how words are used in context. Additionally, the dictionary provides synonyms, antonyms, and related words, which can expand a student’s vocabulary and improve their ability to communicate effectively in English.

6. Engage with Native Speakers: Join language exchange programs, participate in online forums, or attend local events where you can practice English with native speakers. Engaging with native speakers is one of the best ways to improve confidence in language use. If students shadow their speech, they can enhance their fluency and proficiency quickly. However, are the terms ‘native speaker’ and ‘non-native speaker’ truly appropriate, practical, and useful for describing language identity, use, and understanding? When referring to English, which country or countries are considered ‘native’? And within those countries, which region or dialect defines ‘native English’? Does ‘nativeness’ in English Language Teaching (ELT) necessarily lead to better teaching experiences, improved learning outcomes, or a more effective learning process?.

7. Prepare for Conversations: Before speaking, think about what you want to say. Practice common phrases or responses to likely questions. If a student has conversations, they should prepare.

8. Stay Positive: Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Replace negative thoughts with encouraging ones. Today, most students are not confident because they worry about making speaking mistakes. However, this mindset is incorrect. Everyone makes mistakes; only those who don’t learn from them fail to grow. Mistakes teach us valuable lessons. A student may make mistakes today, but tomorrow they will avoid repeating them.

9. Learn from Feedback: Accept constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve, not as a reflection of failure.

10. Participate in Speaking Activities: Join debates, book clubs, or storytelling sessions to use your language skills in interactive and engaging ways. Participating in speaking clubs is one of the best ways to improve your speaking confidence. When you need to speak in front of others, preparation is key. The more you practice, the more your confidence will grow. On the internet, there are plenty of resources you can utilize, such as “55 Great Debate Topics for Any Project.” These resources provide valuable guidelines to enhance your speech. One important skill in debates is anticipating the opposing side’s arguments. To strengthen your position, prepare ahead of time by considering what the other side might say. This allows you to effectively counter their points and make your arguments more convincing. Additionally, participating in debates hones your critical thinking, persuasion, and public speaking skills, all of which are essential for building confidence. Joining such activities will not only improve your speaking abilities but also boost your overall self-assurance.

A first-year student at the Uzbekistan State World Languages in the Faculty of Philology and Teaching English, located in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent.

References:

https://global-edu.uz/articles/ingliz-tilini-organishda-foydali-boladigan-6-ta-mobil-ilova/

https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/native-speakerism-%E2%80%93-what-it-and-why-does-it-matter

https://blog.prepscholar.com/good-debate-topics

O‘. J.Yo‘ldoshev Umumiy Pedagogika. Toshkent-2017 

H.T.Omonov, N.X. Xo‘jayev, S.A.Madyorova, E.U.Eshchonov. Pedagogik 

texnologiyalar va pedagogik mahorat”.Iqtisodiyot-Moliya” Toshkent-2009 6.Shomirzayev M. X. Developing educational technologiesin school technology education //Asian Journal of Multidimensional Research. – 2021. – Т. 10. – №. 5. – С. 

7.73-79. Bekmuratova U. B. “Ingliz tilini o’qitishda innovatsion texnologiyalardan foydalanish” mavzusida referat. Toshkent — 2012 yil

8.Отабоева, М. Р. Chet tilini o’qitishda zamonaviy innоvatsion texnologiyalaridan foydalanish va uning samaradorligi / М. Р. Отабоева. — Текст: непосредственный, электронный // Молодой ученый. — 2017. — № 4.2 (138.2). — С. 36–37. — URL: https://moluch.ru/archive/138/39058/ (дата обращения: 27.04.2020)

9.Pankov I.P., Zakharov V.P. Information retrieval systems // Applied linguistics. – St. Petersburg, 1996. – P. 334-359

10. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

Poetry from Anna Keiko

Abstract painting of what looks like a ghostly head with an eye and nose and ear, in profile, on a green canvas with some brown squiggles.

Whispers of the Unseen

Beneath the veil of twilight’s hue,

Where shadows dance and dreams renew,

A whisper stirs the silent air,

A tale of love, beyond compare.

In gardens where the moonlight weaves,

Its silver threads through autumn leaves,

Two hearts, once lost, now find their way,

Guided by stars that never stray.

The night, a canvas, vast and deep,

Holds secrets that the heavens keep,

Each constellation tells a part,

Of journeys bound by fate’s own art.

Through time’s embrace, they softly glide,

On waves of hope, with love as guide,

No distance far, no hour late,

For destiny will not abate.

So let the winds of change blow free,

Across the seas of memory,

For in the end, the truth is clear,

Love’s whispers always draw us near.

And as the dawn breaks through the night,

With golden rays and soft sunlight,

The whispers fade, but leave behind,

A bond eternal, pure, refined.

East Asian woman with longer straight brown hair, brown eyes, and a white and gray striped collared shirt and small thin necklace.

Poetry from Chuck Kramer

American Male

buys his coffee at 7/11

finds dinner under the heat lamp

at the local gas station

backpacks his belongings

dons shorts on forty degree days

to go with flip flops and white ankle socks

shaves close every morning

to avoid being mistaken for homeless

reads a daily newspaper in the library

calls his mother on Christmas day

cleans his cousin’s office after dark

day dreams about his ex

carries a picture of his infant daughter

in his wallet even though she’s an adult

who refuses to answer his phone calls

pawns his graduation watch when he’s short

sometimes sleeps at the airport

doesn’t smile much–bad teeth

and gray moods that dim the day

admires Robert DiNiro for keeping it real

fondly recalls the old neighborhood

is certain things will get better

and heads to the dollar store for toothpicks

and the stale candy bars he eats before sleep

to help him dream of soft sheets

and waking to the aroma of frying  bacon

which started each day of his childhood

before he left home to be a man

Ask

Ask and you shall receive.

Is that true?

Sometimes a question simply roils the waters

or the answer provided is not an answer at all.

You can ask for too much,

more than your share,

or you might ask for too little.

You may have no right to ask

or you may have an obligation to inquire.

Did Adam ask Eve, “That apple taste good?”

Did Adam ask God, “Why did you expel us?”

Did Adam ask himself, “Did I get a raw deal?”

Did Abel ask Cain,

“Don’t you realize I’m the older brother?”

Does the Pope know everything—or nothing at all?

Are answers more important than questions?

Can we talk about that?

Reflections on the Patio

she grew up with friends who hold government offices

drinks with people who’ve risen to public heights

dines with church vicars administering large sees

former lovers run schools

and relatives control radio empires

while she wades in the backwaters of the urban maze

she sighs with blunted ambition but realizes she also

knew a man who ate his gun

a woman who died homeless on an airport bench

and a once garrulous political heavyweight

who now wears an orange jump suit in early retirement

she pats the hands of those robbed of their past by dementia

and regrets alcohol and drugs have overwhelmed

uncles and aunts and cousins cold in the ground

while the waves of modern life wash away

the footprints of her feckless life

as she stares at the horizon

with puzzled wonder

her life has been

so ordinary

Sunbathing on the Rocks

You lay in the sun

on the rocks bordering the lake,

motionless, like a lizard,

your brown, bare-breasted skin

soaking up the bright

promise of July.

You looked up to find my smile

dusting your curves with desire.

Your calm delight at my gaze

brought me to your side.

You sat up, your palms brushing

your nipples as you lifted the

top of your bikini over your breasts.

I sat down and we crooned

a familiar song of deliberate seduction.

All around us on the rocks,

sunbathers watched our mating

dance like nervous gulls,

edgy at our greedy lust.

I looked back to you

and licked my lips.

You pulled your thong

into the slit between your legs,

took my hand,

kissed my fingertips,

stared into the blue irises

of my balding fantasies,

and asked, “Are you ready?”

I leaned forward

and answered with a kiss,

my tongue probing yours

and the dark distance between us,

while our hearts pounded

with the dangerous tension

that vibrates risky romantics

with terror and bravado.

My Classroom

The room was a garden

filled with young shoots

and waving branches

listing to the sun of

my smile.

The parade of history,

the constellations of numbers.

the periodic table of elements

waved alluringly in fertile fields

of age-ripened wisdom

and my students took

root as I watered the soil

of their quivering, vibrant minds

so they could rise

to inhabit their seedling dreams.