#Travel #Dushanbe

My first impressions of the city:

There’s a lot of construction going on, kind of like Tashkent 4-5 years ago (or maybe even now). (This can count as a positive thing considering the modernization of the city).

There’s a great mix of car brands, and most taxis seem to be BYD cars. (totally positive; I am not a huge fan of GM monopoly in Uzb).

People don’t really follow road rules—jaywalking (crossing the street outside designated crosswalks or against traffic signals) is even more common here than in Tashkent. (This may be the only negative thing, but I was just worried for my own safety)

But the quality of roads seems to be in a better condition with fewer potholes. Maybe I will change my mind after seeing some more roads. So far so good. (HUGE POSITIVE)

The language difference really stands out and makes it feel like a completely foreign country. When I was in Almaty about 12 years ago, I felt more at home mainly because of the language. (Language thing is neither positive nor negative; it is just different experience. I almost feel the same way when I visit Samarkand or Bukhara, so it is no big deal).

I haven’t met the teachers I’ll be training yet, so I have no idea about their language level.

P.S. since some people thought I was only listing the negative aspects, I added some commentary to clarify my train of thought.

I had the pleasure of delivering a 4-hour IELTS workshop with an amazing group of teachers at Oxford Learning Center in Dushanbe.

I’m genuinely impressed by their level of English. While they may not have much experience with IELTS, I hope today’s session was both informative and helpful.

With a bit of effort, I’m confident we’ll start seeing some potential niners here as well!

#Dushanbe #Travel
I really liked the city and its beauty at night is simply breathtaking.

#WordOfTheDay: Demolish

Definition: To completely destroy a building or structure, often to make space for something new.

In Task 1 map descriptions, you often need to describe changes to buildings or infrastructure. “Demolish” is a precise and formal word to describe how structures are removed during development.

Examples in IELTS Task 1 Maps:

The factory was demolished to make way for a shopping mall.

Several houses were demolished and replaced with a parking lot.

In 2010, the old school building was demolished, and a park was built in its place.

P.S. I know it is a day late, but had to share this one because of its relevance to IELTS Writing Task 1.

#WordOfTheDay: Seemingly

Definition: Based on appearances or what seems to be true, though it may not actually be the case.

How to Use “Seemingly” in a Sentence:
1. To describe appearances:
• The task was seemingly simple, but it turned out to be quite complex.
2. To express doubt or surprise:
• He was seemingly uninterested, but he remembered every detail later.
3. In academic or formal writing:
• The policy had seemingly positive effects at first, but further analysis revealed flaws.

Common Collocations with “Seemingly”
• Seemingly endless
E.g., The road stretched into the distance, a seemingly endless journey.
• Seemingly harmless
E.g., The dog was seemingly harmless, but it growled at strangers.
• Seemingly perfect
E.g., They lived a seemingly perfect life, but they faced many challenges in private.

#WordOfTheDay: Goal

Definition:
1. A desired result or aim: Something you work toward achieving.
2. A point scored in a game: Scoring by getting the ball into a net or designated area.

Uses of “Goal” in Context:
1. As an aim or target:
Her main goal is to pass the IELTS exam with a high score.

Set realistic goals and work consistently to achieve them.
2. In sports:
He scored the winning goal in the last minute of the match.

The goalkeeper blocked several goals during the game.

Common Collocations with “Goal”
• Set a goal
E.g., It’s important to set a goal and create a plan to reach it.
• Achieve/reach a goal
E.g., She worked hard to achieve her goal of studying abroad.
• Short-term/long-term goal
E.g., His short-term goal is to improve his writing skills.
• Career goal
E.g., Becoming a doctor is her ultimate career goal.
• Score a goal
E.g., He scored two goals during the match.

Uni buni qo'yinglar, mayli. Writing Marathon qivoramizmi yana bitta?

I missed teaching writing!

In the poll above, share your WRITING scores, not your overall scores, and definitely not your MOCK test results!

Actual Writing Scores ✅

Overall score ❌

Mock test results ❌

Your target scores ❌

#GuessTheIdiom

It’s been a while since I last posted a picture illustrating an idiom or an expression.

Let’s begin with a simpler one today.

Can you guess the idiom this picture is illustrating?

I recently discovered Garth Brooks from rewatching The Ranch, a Netflix show. And now I’m hooked. I’ve always loved country music, but his songs just pull at your heartstrings.