The third-year students of the “Russian Language and Literature” major took part in a meeting with a special guest — Elmira Radikovna Kogai, Candidate of Philological Sciences.

On October 20, 2025, the third-year students of the “Russian Language and Literature” educational program took part in a meeting with a special guest — Elmira Radikovna Kogai, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Assistant Professor at the Department of Russian Philology and World Literature of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and a researcher in the fields of modern Russian language, speech culture, and methods of teaching philological disciplines. The event was held in a round-table format and became an important occasion for students interested not only in theoretical but also in practical aspects of Russian studies.

In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, Elmira Radikovna spoke about her professional journey — from her student years to the defense of her Ph.D. dissertation and many years of teaching experience. She shared memories of her first steps in science, described how her interest in the Russian language was formed, and how, over time, the desire arose not only to study the language but also to share knowledge with the next generation of students.

The participants were particularly interested in Elmira Radikovna’s reflections on the role of a philologist in modern society. The guest addressed key topics such as language change under the influence of the Internet, attitudes toward slang and new forms of speech, and issues of speech culture in the media space. Attention was also given to the challenges of teaching Russian language and literature in the digital age, when students’ attention is often scattered and classical texts require new approaches to interpretation.

Throughout the meeting, students actively engaged in dialogue, asking questions related to both professional and personal matters. They were curious about everything — from the guest’s favorite authors to her opinion on contemporary trends in language and literature. The discussion also touched upon the difficulties of academic research, choosing a thesis topic, and ways to maintain motivation for scholarly work. Elmira Radikovna generously shared her experience and offered practical advice, emphasizing that in the humanities, the most important qualities are sincere curiosity, systematic thinking, and a genuine love for the word.

The meeting was held in a warm, friendly atmosphere and left vivid impressions on all participants. Many students noted that the conversation with a practicing teacher and scholar helped them see the philologist’s profession from a new perspective, inspiring them to engage in research and deepen their study of professional disciplines. Especially valuable was the guest’s openness in speaking not only about her achievements but also about the challenges faced by young specialists, which made her story sincere and useful.

Thus, the meeting with Elmira Radikovna Kogai turned out to be not only informative but also truly inspiring. It demonstrated that the path of a philologist is one of continuous development, intellectual exploration, and deep respect for the culture of one’s native language. The experience and inspiration gained from this event will undoubtedly become an important part of the professional growth of philology students.