91��ý

91��ý Kazakh National University is one of the leading universities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, known for its strong academic reputation and international connections. Each year, students from around the world choose KazNU to continue their studies and gain valuable cross-cultural experience. Among them is Nurdos Nurbek, a master’s student who shared his international academic experience with students in one of my Foreign Language classes. Currently studying Finance, he has a solid academic background and international experience that shaped his growth.

During his undergraduate stu­dies, Nurdos majored in Japanese and spent one year in Tokyo as an exchange student. He said that universities in Japan focus on independent learning and critical thinking, with teachers guiding students rather than just giving information. Group projects and class discussions helped him share his ideas in Japanese and work with classmates from different cultures.

Life in Japan also left a strong impression. One morning, a train was late, and the staff gave passengers official slips to explain their delay to school or work. This showed Japan’s focus on punctuality and responsibility, which helped him develop self-discipline and good habits.

In Kazakhstan, he found a different but valuable environment. At KazNU, classes are flexible, and students can ask questions and talk openly with teachers, which helped him feel more confident, especially in finance topics.

Adapting to new languages and cultures was not easy. In Japan, he had to adjust to a fully Ja­panese-speaking setting, while in Kazakhstan he studies in a mul­tilingual environment using English and Russian. Nardоs said that studying in Japan taught him discipline and independence, while studying in Kazakhstan helped him become more flexible and confident, showing how studying abroad can widen perspectives and prepare students for future challenges.

Laura M. Aliyarova,

Department of Foreign Languages