MY EXPERIENCE OF PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND LIBRARY PROJECTS

МОЙ ОПЫТ УЧАСТИЯ В МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ ВСТРЕЧАХ И БИБЛИОТЕЧНЫХ ПРОЕКТАХ

Сұлтан Асылымай

ученица 12го класса, Назарбаев Интеллектуальная школа,

Казахстан, Талдыкорган

Доспаева Сандугаш Сериккановна

Консультант по публикации, бакалавр по лигвистике английского языка, педагог-библиотекарь, Назарбаев Интеллектуальная школа,

Казахстан, Талдыкорган

My journey with international library meetings started in the 9th grade, and now, as a 12th grader, I can confidently say that these experiences have significantly impacted my personal and academic growth. It all began when our school joined the “IASL Virtual Connections Around the World” project. Owing to the project “students have the chance to celebrate books, share cultural traditions, and build friendships that last well beyond October (the month of celebrating library activities). Each year, this project reminds us that even though we may live in different places, our love for stories, learning, and connection brings us closer together” [1].

Through this program, we had the chance to meet students from India (Bal Bharati Public School in Noida), Croatia, and Portugal. The idea that students from different countries could connect online to share their cultures, traditions, and reading experiences was truly inspiring.

At first, I felt quite nervous. My English skills weren't very strong back then, and I worried about whether I would be able to speak well and be understood. However, I realized that if I waited until my English was “perfect,” I would never start. I learned that practice and experience are the best teachers. So, I gathered my courage and began preparing for my first presentation.

Our topic was “My Favourite Book.” Since I love reading, I quickly picked the book I wanted to talk about. I worked hard on my presentation, spending many afternoons with our teacher-librarian, Sandugash Serikkanovna, who patiently helped me improve my speech, guided me on what to say, and taught me how to make my presentation more engaging.

When the day of the meeting arrived, I noticed that although the students from other countries also had different levels of English, they spoke confidently. That moment taught me a valuable lesson: to achieve something great, you must start small and believe in yourself. I successfully presented my book and felt incredibly proud.

Since that first experience, I have participated in these meetings for almost four years, and I have never regretted starting this journey. These experiences have helped me become more confident in speaking English, presenting ideas, and sharing my opinions. I no longer fear presenting projects in front of a class because I know I can handle it.

Additionally, these meetings inspired the growth of my BookDragons club. Initially, we simply read and discussed books, but later, with teacher-librarian Sandugash Serikkanovna’s support, our members began participating in international meetings as well. This provided everyone in our club with valuable experience and motivation to continue learning and improving.

Looking back, I am truly grateful for these opportunities. International library projects opened doors to new friendships, cultures, and skills. Most importantly, they taught me that learning never stops, and even the smallest step can lead to something great.

References:

1. International Association of School Libraries website [electronic resource] — Access mode. — URL: https://www.iasl-online.org/Virtual-Connections-Around-the-World-2025 (date of retrieval 28.10.2025)