85% of Our Graduates Are Working or Studying Overseas – American School Founder Erlan Damirovich Usubakunov

Mnemonics add interest to studying, facilitate quick retrieval of information, help recall difficult vocabulary, and make learning fun, a recent study has found. The research, “Using Mnemonics Strategies to Improve Primary State Pupils’ EFL,” was conducted by two Egyptian university lecturers, Nahed Mohammed Mahmoud Ghoneim and Heba Elsayed Abdelsalam Elghotmy, and published in the Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL), a peer-reviewed international journal.

Among the few individuals promoting the use of mnemonics is Erlan Damirovich Usubakunov, who has effectively leveraged it as a teaching methodology in his English language school, the American School LLC. As a result, 85% of the graduates from the school have successfully enrolled in international educational programs or gotten jobs overseas.

The story of Erlan’s journey shows how innovative teaching techniques can promote effective teaching and learning, impacting the learner and the teacher in particular and the world in general more positively.

Erlan, you founded the American School LLC in 2006. Can you tell us why you founded this school and its impact on your students?  

In 2006, I founded the American School LLC—the largest English language school in Kyrgyzstan—after I returned from the U.S. and realized that there was a gap in the education of the language market back home. Again, my diverse academic experience allowed me to gain a broad understanding of global educational standards and the importance of interdisciplinary learning. While studying abroad, I saw firsthand how interactive and student-centered teaching methods could greatly enhance the learning experience, and I wanted to bring that back to my country. So, it was on this basis that the school was established to offer a unique, quality education with mnemonic techniques that make learning English more effective.

We started using mnemonics as a unique method of teaching the English language with the intent to help students improve memory and to assimilate very large amounts of information. This method is designed to improve learning efficiency, a major plus for modern students seeking success in studies and careers. Not only does this approach make you more proficient at language, but it also goes a long way in helping you use language throughout your daily life, refining your cognitive abilities.

Over the years, our mnemonic techniques have helped students more easily remember vocabulary, grammar rules, or even complex sentence structures. This method has been particularly helpful, especially for students balancing schoolwork with planning to or actually studying or working abroad. The effectiveness of this method has been validated by the successes we have so far recorded—85% of our graduates are working or studying overseas, which speaks volumes about the practical outcomes of our teaching techniques.

Your school has grown exponentially over the years, expanding into many educational initiatives, including seasonal camps and international expedition programs. How do these projects contribute to the overall development of your students? 

A year after establishing the school, in 2007 to be precise, I started the American School Camp—a summer camp for kids at Issyk-Kul, one of the regions of Kyrgyzstan. It later included autumn, winter, and spring sessions and was the first private camp of its kind in the country. One of the special characteristics of the camp’s program is that it takes into account the psychological peculiarities of children and aims at their positive education and development. Unlike most other camps, we consider what modern kids need emotionally, socially and academically, and we design an environment in which they can grow. We also include activities for emotional intelligence, building self-confidence, and communication skills. The camp is not only for international schools but for children from all over the world. It is a multicultural hub where children can come together to learn from one another, form lifelong friendships, and broaden their horizons. Today, the camp’s success is evidenced by the fact that its tickets are sold out a year in advance, with over 40,000 signups to date.

In 2021, I added the American School Expedition, an educational and recreational program that offers children tours around Kyrgyzstan, Europe, and the world. These expeditions expose them to other cultures and traditions and help them see the world from a different perspective. It’s not just about seeing new places; it’s about learning and knowing the world differently. The expeditions are becoming more popular and evolving each day.

As the founder of American School, you have encountered some challenges, namely intellectual property theft. How have you been able to overcome these challenges? 

Dealing with imitators has been one of my biggest challenges. We have had success with our program, and other schools tried to copy our methodology, even our name. In 2011, we had to take legal action and even won a case in the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan in order to protect our intellectual property. The second problem has been whether to franchise the school or to expand to other regions. In the past, I’ve turned down several offers to open franchises so as to maintain our standards because I think it’s vital that our program remains unique and our high standards are maintained. We’ve stayed on top of the market by focusing on quality, not quantity.

Even in the face of these challenges, you remain undaunted. Tell us how you’ve been able to maintain your school’s leadership position, and what distinguishes you from others. 

Our influence in the education market is reflected in how other schools follow our lead. For example, when we make changes to our tuition fees, other language schools tend to follow suit. Again, our teaching methods work, not only in Kyrgyzstan but all over the world, as evidenced by the huge successes so far recorded by our graduates. Our focus is on individualized education to enable us to meet the specific needs of our students. We’ve been able to set the benchmark for others in the field by constantly innovating and constantly maintaining the highest quality standards.

Today, our students are taught by qualified foreign specialists, and we have grown from training just about 250 students in our first years to nearly 30,000 currently, thus establishing ourselves as a leader in the field of language education.

You’ve worked with some prestigious organizations like the OSCE and the Red Cross. Can you tell us more about your collaborations with them? 

We have been blessed to work with many of the top organizations in the world. For instance, we started organizing English courses for the staff of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Kyrgyzstan, and it was very successful. We also partnered with the Red Cross, where we provided first aid training as part of our broader educational programs. We have also trained the staff of Optima Bank, KICB Bank, and the National Mortgage Company. The partnerships demonstrate the flexibility of our teaching methods and the trust that these organizations have in us to deliver high-quality education.

Throughout your career, you have received several awards, including Philanthropist of the Year and Certificate of Honor. How do you view these awards and how do they impact your career? 

I have received several honors that recognize my work in the field of education and society generally. The Philanthropist of the Year award is one of the most significant awards I have so far received, and it highlights my efforts in the area of education and culture. I was also awarded the Certificate of Honor by the Minister of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic for my charity work. I think these awards are great because they prove that it’s not just helping people get a better education that matters, but that helping the community as a whole matters as well. I am also proud of the certificate we received from the OSCE for organizing language courses and a letter of appreciation from the National Mortgage Company for our motivational training.

What future plans do you have for the American School, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?  

I want to continue to expand the influence of my school on the global stage while maintaining the uniqueness of my teaching methods. I want the school to be a place for children from all over the world to learn, grow, and build a better future together. I’ll also continue my charity work by giving opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to get an education. In the end, I want to leave behind a legacy of quality education that imparts knowledge and builds character, instilling a love for life and learning forever.

Finally, what advice would you give to young people who are just starting out on a career path? 

My advice is simple but powerful: believe in yourself, always stay disciplined, and love and respect your family. There isn’t overnight success; you’ll be tested, but those difficulties are the things that will definitely shape you. So, stay curious, keep learning, and never shy away from challenges. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of the values that matter—integrity, hard work, and a commitment to making the world a better place.

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