Unlocking the Soul: Discover How One Nurse Transforms Lives Through Language! For nearly 30 years, she’s been the heart of a hospice, bridging cultures and healing spirits. Learn her secr...
Popular wisdom states: “The tongue is the key to the heart.” This proverb can be translated as: “Language is the key to a person's soul.” Our heroine, nurse Elena Nokhrina, who has been working in the Karaganda hospice for nearly 30 years, firmly believes in its truth.
Every day, she provides assistance to severely ill patients of various nationalities, striving to find the keys to each of their souls. How can this be achieved? Certainly, through the native language. The nurse speaks Russian and German and has been learning Kazakh for the past six years.
– I work in a hospice where people suffer not only physically but also emotionally, – Elena Nokhrina shares. – I want to understand them, to know what they desire. I want to make people feel comfortable. We have patients who only speak Kazakh. It is always pleasant for a person when they are addressed in their native language. That’s exactly what I do. When I see a patient is very upset, I say to them: “Алаңдамаңыз! Бәрі жақсы болады!” If their children haven’t visited for a while, I reassure them: “Балаларыңыз сізді қатты жақсы көреді!” And in the mornings, I usually tell patients that they look good and wish them a speedy recovery: “Бүгiн сiздiң түрiңiз жақсы екен. Тез айығып кетіңіз!”
Patients appreciate Elena for her responsiveness, kindness, and delicate approach to them. It should be noted that thanks to the state language, our heroine has found keys not only to the hearts of the sick but also to her colleagues. She greets her coworkers in Kazakh, asks them simple questions, and even congratulates them on holidays.
Elena Nokhrina is one of the most experienced nurses in the hospice. While celebrating birthdays, New Year, and International Women's Day with her team, she often has to make toasts in Kazakh. Her speeches always include phrases like “ашық аспан,” “зор денсаулық,” and “мол бақыт.”
– If I come to work on a Friday, I always say to my Kazakh colleagues: “Жұма қабыл болсын!” – Elena continues. – You know, when I started learning Kazakh, I felt support from both the patients and my colleagues. This was very important for me. After all, our job as junior medical staff is challenging both physically and mentally.
Our heroine began learning Kazakh in 2019. She gathered her courage and joined the conversation club “Мәміле,” which had just opened at the Karaganda House of Friendship. The classes were conducted by teacher Gulnaz Mustagulova, whose teaching methods resonated with Elena. There was no tedious grammar with its rules, endings, and written exercises. In the club, participants learned to talk about themselves, ask questions, respond, and listen to others’ speech, all done in a fun and engaging way.
Often, Elena and her clubmates would watch videos from social networks during sessions, sing along to clips, creating a useful karaoke experience in Kazakh – both enjoyable and a great speech practice.
– I don’t regret joining the conversation club “Мәміле.” I am happy to have met Gulnaz Mustagulova there. She is a knowledgeable teacher and a very kind person, – the Karaganda resident smiles. – At first, I found it difficult to pronounce some words, especially those I heard for the first time. But then progress came. I started using them often, and my tongue got used to it. Gulnaz-khanim was a great help. She patiently listened to me, offered advice, and gently corrected my speech errors. With her help, I learned to talk about myself, my family, and to express congratulations.
Moreover, thanks to the conversation club, Elena Nokhrina met the author of the self-taught guide “Situational Kazakh,” Kanat Tasibekov. Their first meeting took place online. The writer noticed Elena’s eagerness to learn and promised to gift her all three volumes of his book. He kept his word. Since then, “Situational Kazakh” has become our heroine’s go-to book, which she has not parted with for five years.
– I have learned a lot from it, – says Elena. – Firstly, I discovered many new things about the character, mentality, and customs of the Kazakh people. This is beautifully described in Kanat Tasibekov's first book. Secondly, I picked up many new words, phrases, and proverbs in Kazakh. I wrote them down in a special notebook and now try to use them in my life. As you know, if you don’t use new words, they quickly slip from your memory. For example, I like the proverb “Жұмыла көтерген жүк жеңіл.” It translates to “A united effort can lighten the burden.” I use it when I encourage my colleagues to work together.
Our heroine often repeats the proverb: “Жаман айтпай, жақсы жоқ,” which means “Without the bad, there will be no good.” It metaphorically characterizes the work of all hospital staff caring for terminally ill patients. After all, it is their warmth and care that leave a lasting impression on people’s souls.