Research achievements and breakthroughs are critical to the growth and reputation of universities; however, the very core of any post-secondary institute is its students and facilitating their learning. I strongly believe in the importance of excellent teaching and have dedicated much of my time during the last decade towards this goal.

Teaching Philosophy: Reflecting on the great teachers who have made a lasting impact on my life, I see that they all share similar qualities. I strive to incorporate these qualities into my teaching to enable my students to (1) become active learners, (2) develop their own vision, reasoning, and practical skills, (3) prepare for future employment, (4) study in a social, student-centred learning environment, (5) develop an appreciation for inquiry, investigation, innovation and research-based activities, and finally (6) become team players. As a Senior Lecturer in ITaLI, I now have the privilege of empowering other teaching staff with some of these qualities. The students that I have been interacting with for the last ten years are diverse in their cultures and ethnicity, their experiences and many other dimensions, which shape their personality and how they best learn. My office and classroom are safe spaces, in which I promote inclusion and diversity. My aim is to prepare every student for successfully pursuing their career goals and to create a positive environment in which everyone accepts and embraces diversity and the opportunities that come with it.

Being an educator is about learning every day, and a decade of teaching and learning has taught me that beneath the lofty heights of the philosophy of teaching, a successful educator is one who truly cares about the future of students and their success, and that requires more than mastery of the material. Sometimes it requires a word of encouragement, aimed at students with low self-esteem, and sometimes it involves counselling them on their personal or career goals. It includes helping them develop their own vision, reasoning, and practical skills and an appreciation for inquiry, investigation, innovation and research-based activities. It also includes taking the time to listen to those who are going through a difficult time, and of course, it requires writing letters of recommendation and assisting them in landing their dream job. Beyond all, being a good educator includes inspiring your students to be better human beings and to live up to their true potentials.