TEACHER CASE STUDIES

Listen & Learn: Hello, Sarah! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. Could you begin by telling us what languages you teach and why you chose a career in teaching?
Sarah: I teach Urdu and English. I am a native speaker of Urdu and have an English Language Teaching qualification. Teaching is my passion. My focus has always been teaching and helping students to succeed in Urdu and English speaking environments.

Listen & Learn: How did you prepare for a career in teaching? Tell us a bit about your teaching qualifications and history.
Sarah: I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in English Literature. Being a literature student, art has always been a very important part of my life. And language teaching has always complemented that part of my career.

Listen & Learn: Good for you! And how has been your experience teaching with Listen & Learn so far?
Sarah: I’m very grateful for the flexibility and the amazing support provided by the course coordinators. I wouldn’t have been able to continue working during the pandemic without their full support, and their help accommodating classes to my schedule.

Listen & Learn: It’s great to hear that the help of our staff allowed you to keep on working during these challenging times. Have you had any memorable experiences working online that you would like to share?
Sarah: I feel very happy every time my students make progress on their own, thanks to their effort.

Listen & Learn: Do you think that effort is the main trait of an outstanding student? Or is there anything else?
Sarah: I believe that every student has the potential to excel in English. Mostly, they have to be interested in the topics and participate in class if they want to make good progress.

Listen & Learn: And what about the other side of the coin? Which ones do you think are the most important traits every teacher should have?
Sarah: Having a student understand you is the most important part of teaching. It’s not my role to be disciplinarian, so my students can always expect me to be a friend and a companion, and to help them excel in their language course. I do not like to focus only on grammar, I like to focus on letting my students practice various forms through real-life stimulation and activities. In this way, I make the classes more fun, motivating, and enjoyable for students.

Listen & Learn: Your lessons definitely sound like a lot of fun! Why else do you think students should enroll in a language course with Listen & Learn?
Sarah: Listen & Learn offers a wide variety of different languages, and students can choose the teacher that better suits their needs and profile, no matter the language or location.

Listen & Learn: Thank you, Sarah! Lastly, could you tell us a fun fact about the language you teach or a favorite expression you ask your students to learn?
Sarah: I always ask my students to learn the basic greetings and the best ways to start a conversation. I believe that makes you feel more confident in any language and brings you closer to native speakers. Another thing I always teach is the expression to show love. Urdu is one of the sweetest languages in the world. That’s the best part of teaching Urdu to my students, that it has so many ways to express oneself.