Armed with a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Zawia, Libya, Hayah was eager to bridge the gap between theory and practice in her teaching career. She turned to the British Council's Facebook page, discovering a treasure trove of online courses and events that ignited her curiosity.
In 2022, Hayah enrolled in a Classroom Activities, Interaction and Motivation course, sponsored by the British Council and delivered by the esteemed Norwich Institute of Language Education. The immersive eight-week course supported Hayah and her peers to create dynamic learning experiences. Zoom meetings became vibrant hubs of collaboration, where ideas flowed freely and innovative teaching techniques took shape.
Inspired by this newfound knowledge, Hayah left the course excited to apply what she had learned. "I had a collection of classroom activities to use and adapt for various teaching situations to make the teaching–learning experience more interactive and motivating," she says.
Hayah reconnected with the British Council through our Teaching for Success: Empowering Libyan English Language Teachers course. Armed with practical strategies to tackle challenges head on, Hayah embraced the art of interactive teaching and effective feedback, laying the groundwork for change in her own classroom.
The highlight of Hayah’s professional development journey was the 28th NileTESOL Conference in 2024, held at The American University in Cairo, Egypt. In front of an audience of peers and teaching experts from around the world, Hayah took to the stage to present her systematic review on the role of self-assessment in enhancing students’ writing skills. It marked an important contribution to the conference and the landscape of English language education.
As Hayah made her way between the conference workshops and presentations, her transformation from novice to seasoned practitioner became clear. With each new insight gained and connection forged, she grew more convinced than ever that learning knows no bounds.