It is not the knowledge which should come to you, it is you who should come to the knowledge.

- Imam Malik ibn Anas

@likemysaturn🪐

Speaking samples || @engzenith

One unusual meal that stands out for me was organized by a friend who had recently returned from Japan. He invited a small group of us to his home in Tashkent for a traditional Japanese dinner, which was quite a unique experience given our usual Central Asian cuisine.

The meal was held in his cozy dining room, which he had decorated with Japanese elements like paper lanterns and bamboo mats. It was a small, intimate gathering with just five of us, all close friends. During the meal, we talked about his experiences in Japan, the culture, the food, and how it differed from what we were used to in Uzbekistan. We also shared our own travel stories and discussed how food is such an integral part of different cultures.

For the meal, we started with a rich, savory soup that was new to me. Then we moved on to sushi, which was beautifully presented and tasted incredibly fresh. The main course included a variety of dishes with unique flavors. We drank green tea, which complemented the meal perfectly. The taste of raw fish was particularly unusual for me, as it’s not something commonly found in our local cuisine.

This meal was special for several reasons. Firstly, it was a delightful culinary adventure, introducing me to flavors and textures I had never experienced before. It was also special because it was a thoughtful gesture from my friend, who wanted to share a piece of his journey with us. Additionally, the intimate setting and the rich conversations made the evening memorable. It was an evening that broadened my culinary horizons and created lasting memories with close friends.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Cue card 40 is similar to cue card 34.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Well, I would like to talk about my favorite weather. It is a rainy day for sure. There might be a lot of people who do not like rainy weather simply because they may get you sad, but still, this doesn't apply for me. I like rainy weather a lot. That is why I prefer it to any kind of weather. Well, there are different kind of activities that I might be busy with. You know, I spend my time for on this kind of weather. For example, I might just curl up with a good book and, you know, a hot cup of tea or coffee. And I can travel to different worlds using my imagination, reading a book, and this time, at this time, raindrops touching the surface and creating, you know, earthy scent that fills the air helped me a lot do so. You know, this kind of weather has a calming effect on my mood. It just makes me you that you should relax and you should also have some, you know, self-time. So that is why this is the weather that I like very much. And there are different reasons why I like this kind of weather. One of which is I can just escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily life, right? You know, one has a lot of problems to do, and the rainy weather is a perfect time that makes me forget about everything that I'm going through, that are bad, that are good, and anything else, you know? I just be myself in this kind of weather. And also it helps me, like, like you know enjoy the little things in life for example just a blanket that keeps you warm and you know just sitting at home and reading a book well yeah this kind of weather is perfect for me.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Well I would like to talk about a new addition to my city which is a new shopping mall called Tashkent City Mall. And this mall is situated in the heart of our city, making it a perfect and convenient spot for people living there. This spot is not only for locals, but also for visitors alike. This shopping mall caters to different purposes, ranging from shopping to food and entertainment. This shopping mall consists of five stories, if I'm not mistaken, and there are different amenities on every floor. For example, you can buy clothes, you can buy, you know, jewelries, perfume, you can also have lunch there and i guess it took a year for the construction of this shopping mall and after its construction there was a grand opening which was visited by public figures and even after the opening of the shopping mall, our president paid a visit to there and gave a lot of positive feedback. This shopping mall was perfect for people, not only because there are a lot of facilities there, but also it provided jobs for people. I guess there are over 500 people working there. And this shopping mall plays a pivotal role in the lives of locals, because they are making a living there and they don't have to go to another country to work. They are in their own hometown and earning a living and i think there should be a lot of facilities like this that can transform the lives of people and that can make it easier to have a great time.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Well, I would like to talk about a place that is highly polluted, and it is the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, the place that I am living in now. Well, the reason why I chose this city to talk about is that this city is more polluted than any other city in our country.

Well, when i first came to tashkent about four years ago to pursue my higher education in a prominent you know university in uzbekistan, well, I didn't notice anything serious about this problem then after two years after my arrival the matter started to be serious.

Construction began in Tashkent. Well, there had been construction before 2022, but still the extent was not that high. Well, more and more buildings, you know, started to be built as an influx of people migrated to Tashkent. And the majority of the population of Uzbekistan live in Tashkent.

Another reason why you know the city is highly polluted is that the amount of you know carbon footprint you know like one-fifth of Uzbekistan's population living there and you can easily imagine how their footprints can be and I I'm really concerned about this problem as I see that many old people are you know going through a very hard time to breathe in from the air as it is like 10 times more toxic than the normal air should be. When I checked the quality of air from IQ air quality website the amount of toxic you know particles in the air was like 15 times higher and it changed over time but still I rarely see the times where the quality is normal.

So I really look forward to seeing government taking actions as I badly want our old people and you know children to be healthy and especially children because they will be the those people and you know children to be healthy and especially children because they will be the those who will develop our country in the future.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Let’s work on the topic Health

Part 1 Health

Do you have any unhealthy habits?

Well, actually I do... When I'm stressed, I bite my lipsand pick my nails. Moreover, I used to smoke cigarettes a few years ago, but hopefully I managed to break this habit.

What do you do to stay healthy?

I try to eat healthy food and do regular exercises... Also, I think it's very important to develop a healthy lifestyle and stick to it... For example, I try to avoid eating junk food.

In your opinion, what is more important, eating healthy food or doing exercises?

Hm... It's an interesting question... To be honest, I believe that it is crucial to do both in order to be healthy... However, if I had to choose only one option, I would choose eating healthy food, because otherwise, the risk of developing a chronic disease of digestive system increases...

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Part 2

Describe your (or your friend's) illness or injury experience. You should say:

• What was it
• When did it happen
• How did you (or your friend) handled it
and say how do you feel about it now.

I would like to talk about a car accident that happened to me a few years ago and resulted in serious injuries... It was a horrible experience that I would not want to relive ... my family was driving home, when a big truck crashed into our passenger car. After the accident I blacked out and was transported to the hospital. When I regained consciousness, I discovered that I had five broked bones, several ruptures and many cuts and bruises. To restore the collarbone and leg bone, I had to go through operations, during which metal rods were put onto these bones to fix them... Not surprisingly, I was in a severe pain, so physicians prescribed me to take painkillers and other medicines for a couple of weeks. During my recovery, I wasn't able to walk properly and my life then was very difficult. But after several months of proper treatment and physical therapy I fully recovered ... I even took up karate soon after! Although the illness was definitely not a pleasant experience, I am very happy and grateful that now I am healthy... Probably, I leaned to value health and became stronger.

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Part 3
How can people be encouraged to stay healthy?

It's an interesting question... In my opinion, government could encourage people to go in for sports by making it more affordable and popular... Promoting healthy food rationing on the television might be a good idea as well...

What is the best way of helping people with an addiction?

If you ask me, rehab is the best opnion for such people... Professional medical care is essential, if someone wants to overcome the addiction... However, it is also very important to have relatives and friends that would mentally support this person during this period of his or her life...

Do you think people start worrying more about their health as they become older?

Yes, without a doubt! When you're young, you can affort to drink alcohol and stay awake all night long without damaging your health very much... But as you get older, your body demands more attention and care, therefore you need to worry about your health more and have frequent check-ups...

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Let’s work on the topic Music

Part 1
Do you like listening to the music on a regular basis?

Yes, without a doubt. I like different music genresand I listen to various tunes almost every day... I do not like elevator music, though... It makes me bored and annoyed.

Have you ever been interested in singing?

No, not really... I took singing classes when I was younger, but, unfortunately, I am tone deaf, so I can't sing very well...

Can you say that music is a very important part of your life?

No, I can't... Although I enjoy music and listen to classical music every now and then, I'm not obsessed with it...

Speaking samples || @engzenith

Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a band you enjoy listening to. You should say:

• How did you find them
• What kind of music do they play
• When do you listen to them
And say why you like them so much

I really enjoy listening to Maroon 5... I found this music band a few years ago, when I was looking for some pop musicon the Internet... And, immediately after listening to the few of their songs, I fell in love with this awesome band... Their music is very catchy and tuneful at the same time. I especially like this band for their driving rhythms... As of today, I have gone to a few of their concerts and have their posters all over my wall. I listen to their songs when I'm upset or stressed out... They always cheer me up... Also, one of their songs, namely "Payphone", is set as a ringtone on my phone.

Speaking samples || @engzenith