When Sarvinoz Sayfullayeva enrolled at Central Asian University in 2022 to study English Education at the Business School, she was not yet sure where her professional journey would lead. Today, she works as a primary school teacher at Maple Bear Canadian School, an international school where she helps her students not only gain knowledge but also take their first steps toward becoming independent individuals.
Her journey into education began during her university years. Starting from her second year, students in the English Education program had the opportunity to gain practical experience at prestigious educational institutions across Tashkent. For Sarvinoz, this experience became her first real introduction to the school environment and gradually turned into a conscious decision to build her future in education.
Over time, this experience developed into her first professional role. She began teaching English to children at a private educational institution while also assisting with administrative tasks. It was there that the knowledge she gained in the classroom began to turn into confidence and a clearer understanding of the kind of teacher she wanted to become.
“I could clearly see how the education system was structured, and I wanted to do the same with my future students.”
When choosing Central Asian University, Sarvinoz was looking for an English-speaking environment, professors with modern approaches to education, and opportunities for practical development. However, her understanding of the profession truly took shape during her studies.
What she found particularly valuable was the way the teaching methods students learned about were applied directly in their own classes. This approach allowed her not only to study pedagogy but also to experience effective teaching practices firsthand.
Today, Sarvinoz teaches a third-grade class. She is responsible not only for her students’ academic progress but also for their personal development and their first experiences of navigating the social world. What she finds most meaningful about her work is witnessing how a child’s personality gradually takes shape.
For her, being a teacher means much more than explaining academic material. A teacher can also become the first trusted adult at school whom a child turns to with questions, worries, or difficulties. That is why Sarvinoz places great importance on understanding each student as an individual and finding an approach that works for them.
“Their future is literally being built before our eyes, and we are the ones helping them from the very beginning.”
Working with children also inspires Sarvinoz to continue growing herself. Their curiosity encourages her to explore the world more deeply, look for answers, experiment, and notice interesting details she might not have paid attention to before.
During her time at CAU, she developed skills that continue to support her far beyond the classroom. One of the most important, she says, is networking — the ability to communicate with people from different fields, exchange ideas and experiences, and discover new opportunities. Critical thinking has been equally valuable: learning to ask questions, explore topics more deeply, analyze different perspectives, and find solutions.
Practical training at the university also played an important role in preparing her for her career. Students gained experience working with children of different ages, while some exams were designed to simulate real classroom situations. They were assessed not only on their theoretical knowledge but also on their ability to respond to different challenges that could arise during an actual lesson.
As a result, the transition from university to a professional teaching environment felt like a natural continuation of the experience Sarvinoz had already gained.
Looking back on her journey, she believes that one of the biggest challenges students face is the fear of making mistakes. Yet, in her view, mistakes are exactly what create opportunities for growth.
“Learning means making mistakes, and that is completely normal. Asking questions and taking initiative is something to be proud of.”
Sarvinoz’s story is an example of how a professional path can develop step by step — from first practical experiences at university to leading her own classroom and taking responsibility for the next generation.
For Sarvinoz, Central Asian University became more than a place where she earned her degree. It was an environment where theory met practice, and where her interest in the English language gradually grew into a conscious choice of profession.
