Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstanis were impressed by the English-speaking guard, Sher Ilyasov, at the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. A correspondent from Tengrinews.kz found the humble Turkestani who became an internet star in one day.
A video featuring the guard explaining the value of UNESCO heritage to foreign tourists quickly went viral on social media. His articulate speech instantly resonated with Kazakhstanis.
Sher was unaware he was being filmed and was unprepared for his sudden popularity.
"It was a completely random situation; some visitors were asking questions and wanted answers about certain details. How do I feel about 'popularity'? Let's say, it's ambiguous. It's just today's news, and tomorrow everyone will forget about it," Ilyasov candidly said.
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However, in addition to his modesty, Sher possesses another quality—self-criticism. He noted that he is still in the process of learning English and even shared a couple of tips that help him in practice.
"I don’t think I have learnt the language completely, and I will continue to learn. I read books and watch movies without subtitles. First, you need a broad vocabulary, and then you can watch movies in their original language. Reading books is my favorite pastime," he confessed.
Nevertheless, learning English is not the limit for Sher. He is now also interested in Spanish and plans to study it as well. This is because Sher wants to understand people when he hears other languages.
"I am not a public person and I do not like crowded places. I feel more comfortable in my own company. I am working on myself and want to learn languages to understand people when I hear different speech," added Sher Ilyasov.
Sher Ilyasov has a family: a wife and two children. In the conversation, he confessed that he loves his family very much, is proud of them, and considers them the meaning of his life.
