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Of course, I was expecting
a different education system than one in Azerbaijan
One that would require the student
to think analytically.
One that would discourage the student
from repeating the author's ideas
And help the student build on these ideas
Through their own analytical thinking
And I got what I was
expecting from this university.
During early times at the university
first thing I heard was
"critical analysis", that's it.
This was the first thing they said.
But in Azerbaijani system this
almost does not exist.
Only one thing is required there - "What did the author say?"
You memorize the book and narrate it
You are asked questions about the text
And that is all.
But here they don't need the author's ideas
But what you derived from the author's ideas
What was the author's main idea
What were the shortcomings
of the article.
Or downsides of the arguments
or their positive sides
You derive your own conclusions
And each time you derive a conclusion
you create your own ideas.
So here the aim is to develop
analytical abilities of the student.
Question "Why?"
Before I was looking at the life as
some things happen and that's it.
I was only observing the events
Without thinking about them
But now, both personally and professionally
even when I watch daily news
the events I see and hear
make me ask questions.
Why did it happen?
What was the force behind it?
You want to look everywhere
to see why it happened.
Before, say, if something happened in the world
say, a terrorist act took place
I was looking at it like
Oh, terrorist act took place
what is the casualty and such.
That ended it for me.
But I was not thinking why it happened
what was the reaction of certain states.
Well, of course it influenced my
professional outlook rather than
improving my personal life.
And now I am questioning everything.
Why?
Because the first thing that
the lecturers advised me here
was whatever you read
first ask - "Why?"
If you start asking "why"
you will do very nice research reports.
Language troubles
Before they come here
Well, it is not about English language
During first months of studies I was
thinking that my knowledge of
English is not enough.
I am falling behind the local students
because I dont know the language well enough
But it was not about language.
It was only about critical
analytical skills, way of thinking.
Every university offers
English language courses
for one or two months
before the studies commense.
If it is possible, if they have the means
they should come take those courses
Or develop those skills
through internet, through textbooks.
They should develop the skill
of knowing how to read the book
That gave me a very big trouble
My first semester was
a living hell for me.
I didn't know how to do things
Albeit I knew how to write an essay
Though, I learned how to write
the research reports and such here.
But still, it was vastly difficult.
Everybody is like
it is only an essay - introduction, body, conclusion
But it is not that simple.
Where to study
Of course, education in Australia is
very good for any student.
Yes, it is similar to the American system
I should say that the books
and articles we were reading
were mainly by the American authors
And the system follows the American one
But unlike the US,
this country is very peaceful.
I personally would be afraid to study in the US
Because it is the number one target
of the terrorists.
But here it is very quiet and super
Everyone minding their own business
And the education is superb.