What is education abroad? How Kazakh students live abroad and what advice they can give? Let’s ask them. Today’s respondents are first-year students who have chosen universities in other countries.
I – Interviewer, Kamila Chuzhenova
AZh – Anastasiya Zhuk, Saint-Petersburg State University (SPBU), Saint Petersburg, Russia
DK – Darina Kazykenova, Saint-Petersburg State University (SPBU), Saint Petersburg, Russia
KS – Kseniya Slobodyan, Novosibirsk State Medical University (NGMU), Novosibirsk, Russia
AA – Amal Amanbayev, Brno University of Technologies (VUT), Brno, Czech Republic
NT – Nadezhda Turubayeva, Seneca College, Toronto, Canada
I: Was it difficult to enter a foreign university, having primary education in Kazakhstan?
AZh: I think it is a big responsibility not on school education, but on you: with the advent of the Internet, it is easy enough to find materials on almost any topic in any field necessary for successful entry. Still I would like to note that Kazakhstan’s school education is on par with the Russian, basic knowledge is given almost equally everywhere. The rest is the work of your endeavors.
AA: I did not have to write exams, I entered the annual courses of the Czech language, just making the right amount of documents and paying a certain amount of money. Admission will be this summer and it promises to be difficult.
DK: Actually this is a rather subjective issue, since the primary education of Kazakhstan differs significantly depending on the region. Another equally important factor is the personal preparation of students. I want to say that the school undoubtedly gave me a certain base and a lot of social skills. However, without visiting tutors and individual training; it would be much more difficult for me to enroll into a foreign university on a full scholarship.
KS: No, it was not difficult to score enough points for admission, in my case – on a full scholarship. The school provided good support, but you should not forget the importance of a systematic approach to train and the need for self-study.
NT: In fact, it is absolutely easy; you need a good certificate, knowledge of English and the desire to enroll for this.
I: Are you satisfied with the choice of the university? What would you like to change?
AZh: I cannot express how happy I am that I chose my university – St. Petersburg State University. This, I think, is the most successful choice in terms of the city – the cultural atmosphere of Peter is excellent for education, and in terms of education this is the best of free education in my specialty “linguistics”.
AA: I am completely satisfied with the choice of the university. The courses are conducted by good, experienced teachers. Therefore, changing something does not make sense.
DK: Yes, I can say with certainty that I have been satisfied with the choice of the university. I am satisfied with the level of teaching and the motivating atmosphere there. I do not have any specific wishes for changes, perhaps, the only thing I could offer is to pay more attention to the creative initiatives of students, which will not necessarily have a positive impact on the reputation of the university, but just bring pleasure.
KS: Yes, quite. The base of the knowlege university provides a sufficient, different question – do students want to perceive it. Despite the fact it is far from centuries of history, the university has an excellent faculty, wonderful teachers, because of whom you want to teach, strive forward, and become first in everything. In general, if you do not like to sleeping – safely choose NGMU.
NT: I absolutely like the school I chose; I do not regret my choice.
I: -Due to changes in the delivery of the Unified National Testing (ЕНТ), are you glad that you passed the Unified State Exam (ЕГЭ), or would you like to try a new format?
AZh: I passed the ЕГЭ, but it was quite unsuccessful – I came through another type of exam. I think, the current ЕНТ is getting closer to certain “American” standards; I do not know how much this is justified. In this case, the best thing to offer is passing the ЕГЭ, but with a thorough independent preparation.
DK: This, by the way, is a very interesting question. I have not passed the ЕНТ in the new format, but according to the stories of friends, I can tell it has become more difficult, and in some ways less objective. Therefore, it is probably good that I managed to avoid it. Nevertheless, I assure everyone who wants to enter Russia – to pass the ЕГЭ means to go through all the circles of hell. Of course, it is a joke, but without a long and thorough preparation to score enough points it, is very difficult. For example, the school level of knowledge of mathematics is not enough, and you need to study a certain format, to pass the Russian language.
KS: I am sincerely glad. The ЕГЭ format is much more humane than the ЕНТ. Personally, my preparation for the ЕГЭ caused much less stress, than the prospect of passing the ЕНТ at the time. Although it cannot be denied: both examinations in their present form do not give an objective assessment of the applicant’s knowledge.
I: What scholarship do you get?
AZh: Sensetive subject for me, it is 1572 rubles.
DK: Standard scholarship in St. Petersburg State University – 1571 rubles per month.
KS: Standard scholarship – 2000 rubles.
I: Is there any special conditions and benefits for students at the university and city?
AZh: The city is well adapted for a student brother: there are preferential travel tickets for transport, discounts to museums, libraries, theaters (and to the Hermitage – it’s generally free of charge), even in some shops and cafes. The university also provides a good “background” for students – in some cases even up to legal protection and material assistance
AA: There are enough of them. If you have an ISIC (international student identification card), you can get discounts at well-known shops, cafes and eateries, get good discounts at the entrance to education exhibitions and substantial discounts on the purchase of travel. Also, you can travel by bus or train to other cities and countries with a notable discount. Of course, the movie does not stand aside. The only problem is that not everywhere and it is not always possible to do ISIC with the confirmation of training in language courses, they are not universally recognized here. (For comparison: a three-month pass for an average person costs 1399 koruna (22 384 tenge), and for students 685 koruna (10 960 tenge) do you feel the difference? *smiles*
DK: Yes, of course. Concerning the university, I can say that very often students are offered discounted tickets to theaters, as well as the possibility of traveling to a kind of sanatorium camp. There are also many opportunities in the city. This is a discount (or free visit) to museums, and benefits for transport. Sometimes you can meet discounts for students in cinemas and cafes.
KS: Yes, for the students there are quite comfortable conditions. With presenting a student card in many places in the city, both municipal and private, a discount is provided. In addition, the university provides material assistance to certain categories of students.
NT: I study in Canada, as in the US and many European countries, there are no benefits or free education for students, but after the successful completion of the first semester, you can apply for a scholarship. Also, students with a high GPA are given the opportunity to participate in the exchange program.
I: What are the living conditions for students in the dormitory? What are the pros and cons?
AZh: Dormitories are provided to all foreigners and non-residents – this is a plus. For public employees, it is very cheap (about 270 rubles) – this is also a plus. Dormitories are well equipped, in the campus has its own well-developed infrastructure (even a hairdresser is available!). Due to the fact that I live in a “multinational” bloc, I even managed to learn a bit about Ossetian and Iranian languages, and besides I met many people from many countries. But one huge minus can outweigh everything: the distance of the campus from the city center, and accordingly from the university.
AA: This is a good and very important question. For five months here I lived in two dormitories. Obviously, from a good dormitory that suited me, I would not have moved. I’m ready to mix my first dormitory with dirt, but my second dormitory is a higher level and I pay for it the same (4500 koruna (72000 tenge)), so everyone is satisfied with it. From the minuses: you can get caught by a neighbor with whom you do not find a common language and the first time it will be unusual to divide the kitchen and bathroom with so many people (5-6 people per apartment with three rooms). From the pros: you will get to the same students-“founder”, like you, meet people from different countries of the CIS and will be able to calmly prepare for exams or do homework
DK: This again is a rather subjective question. Depending on the faculty and many other factors, SPbSU can provide a dormitory in the city center (on Vasilievsky Island) or two hours from the city (in Peterhof). In addition, the dormitories in Peterhof are divided into 2 types: those included in the campus and standing separately on another street. I was lucky (I believe) to live in a dormitory that is not part of the campus. It is relatively new and provides conditions acceptable for living: rooms with good furniture, clean showers and teaching rooms. Among the minuses I can single out only one – the number of people in the room. The hostel provides rooms for 2 and 3 people, respectively, one cannot live alone.
NT: I live in a residence, from college it’s literally 3 minutes, at least. The entire territory of the residence is under round-the-clock security, on the floors there is a huge number of video cameras. All rooms in the residence are completely renovated and furnished with new furniture. In each room there is a thermostat, which allows everyone to set a favorable temperature. On each floor there is a Resident Adviser (this is a student who performs the role of the person in charge of the floor); you can contact him at any time for help. Also, the residence hosts various recreational activities for students in order to diversify student life. I do not see any minuses in living in the residence.
I: Is the dormitories far from the academic buildings?
AZh: Every day trip to the university consistently in three different types of transport takes 2.5 hours each way. It’s hard enough for an unprepared person.
AA: Our dormitories are not from the university, they are from another person. The building is quite far away, but the city itself is small and the public transport system is well thought out, all buses and trams run according to the schedule (sometimes with inaccuracy, of course), that is, I know for sure that at 7:47 a tram will arrive at the stop at 8:15 will take me to the place of study. Alas, our country cannot boast of such discipline.
DK: It depends on the faculty. So if you consider a hostel in Peterhof, then the Faculty of Mathematics can be reached on foot in 5 minutes, the Graduate School of Management the road will take about 20 minutes by public transport, and to get to the Faculty of Philology will have to spend about 2 hours.
NT: My college has campuses all over Toronto, the main campus is three minutes away. For pupils studying far from the residence there is a Shuttle bus service (student buses that take away and bring students, this service is absolutely free)
I: Do you feel the differences between the winter of Kazakhstan and Canada?
NT: This is my first winter in Canada and it seemed to me much warmer than in Kazakhstan. The maximum temperature this winter was -24°C.
I: What can you call the main differences between Czech and Kazakh youth?
AA: There is one notable difference, but I would say that this difference applies not only to young people, but to all other people in general. Czech does not care about you, but in a good way. You do not catch a sidelong glance in the street If you dressed a little unconventionally or if you look like a homeless person, no one will try to pin you, laugh, insult, and the like. I wouldn’t begin to say what happens when something like this is in our country, it is as clear as a clear sky. The peculiarity of the Czechs is their upbringing. In shops and institutions, staff always greet and say goodbye, but even with a stranger in the elevator they greet and say goodbye. Furthermore, in return for this, they are not so friendly and hospitable. Sometimes they even seem to be some sort of robotic creatures without emotions. And one more thing: I do not know whether this applies to the Czechs or not, but I noticed that it’s normal to walk in a dense stream of people and fight it out. Once, I accidentally touched the man with his shoulder, turned around, wanted to apologize, and the man went on as he goes on.
I: Students from Kazakhstan often choose Canada and the Czech Republic as countries for higher education? How can you explain this?
AA: I cannot explain Canada, because we never examined it with our parents and do not know what it is, but what about the Czech Republic: the Czech Republic has a policy of completely free education in the state language, that is, in Czech. The only cost is language courses and spending on life, then you will not have to pay for education. If we take more, that the Czech universities in the most famous areas are quoted much higher than Kazakhstan. This can be used by people who have failed at ЕНТ or those who want to have a decent level of education, it all depends on you.
NT: Canada and the Czech Republic are countries with a high level of education; their diplomas are quoted around the world.
I: What is most missing? What do you miss the most?
AZh: Predictably I miss home, family, and friends. I did not expect this, but I miss Kazakh speech and that special mixture of several languages in everyday life.
AA: Most of all, I miss my family, my house and my friends. The first few months there was a wild loneliness without them, but the good people who came with me became new friends and corrected the situation. Well, if take something popular, then I miss horsemeat, bread and people with a moody mood *wink*
DK: Of course, I really miss my family. In general, the only thing I really miss is people. This is my family and friends, and I really miss them, although, of course, we are always in touch. Among this, there are not enough exceptional things that are only present in Kazakhstan, but this is already my sentimentality *smiles*
KS: Of course, most of all I miss my family. Fortunately, in the age of high technology, I have the opportunity to communicate with my parents without stopping from insanely interesting lectures.
NT: Most of all, I miss my parents, at first it was especially difficult for me to be alone in a new environment.
I: What feelings do you feel when you get home?
AZh: It’s hard to convey in words. Probably, this longing, hope, a little uncertainty, joy, nostalgia, the feeling that you are at home in the full sense of the word
AA: These feelings after returning home are truly magical feelings. Firstly, my house seemed to me a mansion after two months in the hostel, and secondly, my family and friends missed me. To meet them and see their faces was the best gift of last year.
DK: Now I’m in my first year of study and have just arrived home once for New Year’s holidays. Naturally, these are incredible emotions. After six months of living in another country, you are looking at new things in a new way and to your hometown as well. So, I was very happy to meet with my parents and spent most of my time with them. I managed, however, to visit the school and meet with friends.
NT: When you return home, you feel terrible fatigue, because the flight takes about 18 hours, but I was very happy to return home for the winter holidays. Although it is only the end of February, I’m already looking forward to returning home in April.
I: Do you plan to stay in the country or return to Kazakhstan?
AZh: I think it’s too early to make a guess at the first course, but I would like to try myself in different countries and in different cities before choosing a place of residence. But, I hope that in any case at this place I can feel at home, in Semipalatinsk
AA: I plan to stay and study further, to a master’s at least. Of course, I wrote that I was very glad to return home, but Kazakhstan is on last place in my plans, with all due respect to my country.
DK: I do not think about that right now. Now my life is drastically changing every few months, and I do not know what will happen next year. After the baccalaureate, I plan to enter the magistracy, and what will happen next … Life will show *smiles*
KS: Tendencies to reforms in health and education, unfortunately, leave little room for advance planning and clear planning for future years and years ahead. However, in the short term, I hope to stay in the country where I’m currently studying.
NT: Now I cannot say for sure, this is my second semester and I did not think about it.
“Nature is wise. You can learn everywhere and from everything” – Leonardo da Vinci
Kamila Chuzhenova
