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2008 Fellow Biographies - George Mason University

Bangladesh

Muhammad Humayun Kabir, English Teacher
B.A.F Shaheen School
Dhaka, Bangladesh
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Muhammad Humayun Kabir has been teaching English at the BAF Shaheen School in Dhaka for the last nine years.  The age of his students ranges from 11-16 years old.  He is an active member of BELTAC Bangladesh (English Language Teacher’s Association).  Besides teaching, Muhammad engages himself in encouraging learners to participate in various co-curricular activities.  He received his M.A. in ELT from Presidency University, Dhaka.  His main objective for participating in TEA is to learn how to teach in a more communicative way. 

G.M. Nuruzzaman, English Teacher
R.R.G.G.T Miloni Secondary Girls’ School
Khulna, Bangladesh
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

G.M. Nuruzzaman has been teaching English language and literature at a public school for the last nine years.  The age of his students ranges from 14-16 years old.  On average there are 40 students in his class.  He is an active member of his school’s yearly education planning committee where he plays an effective role in promoting education.  G.M. received a bachelor’s degree from National University in English as a Foreign Language in 1993 and another bachelor’s degree in education from the same university in 2005.  He is married with two young sons and his hobbies include swimming and playing badminton.  His main objectives for participating in TEA are to learn new pedagogy and develop himself as a teacher. 

Md. Abdur Razzaque, English Teacher
Deohata A.J. High School
Tangail, Bangladesh
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Md. Abdur Razzaque has been teaching English literature and language at a non-government secondary school for the past 12 years.   He is an active member of his school’s parent-teacher committee where he has played a role in promoting effective parental involvement in student education.  He also provides training for his peers in teaching methodology.  Md. Abdur received Master’s degree from Dhaka University in 1982 and a bachelor’s of education from Open University.  He is married with two sons and his hobbies include gardening and reading books, newspapers, and magazines.  Md. Abdur’s primary objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methodologies for engaging students in a more participatory and active classroom setting. 

Georgia

Elisabed Gachechiladze, History Teacher
School #34, “Georgian School”
Tbilisi, Georgia (Population: 1,081,679)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Elisabed Gachechiladze has been teaching history at General State School #34 for the past 10 years. The age of her students ranges from 11-15 years old and on average there are 25 students in her class. As the head of the Scientific Council of History she is responsible for choosing teaching material, working on projects about actual historical problems, and organizing tours in different parts of Georgia. She also works on demographic problems with the Institute of Demography and Sociology. She received a diploma from Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University in 1996 and a degree of Candidate of Sciences in 1999. Elisabed is single and her hobby is traveling. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methods of teaching, get more information about educational systems in different countries, and relate with colleagues from other countries.

Gvantsa Gogoladze, English Teacher
Public Secondary School #5
Rustavi, Georgia (Population: 80,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Gvantsa Gogoladze has been teaching English at a public secondary school for the past 5 years. She teaches students between grades 5 and 11, and on average there are 25 students in her class. She is working with an American volunteer teacher at the moment. She is an active member of ETAG (English Language Teachers’ Association in Georgia). She also collaborates with Peace Corps in Georgia. Gvantsa is one of the founders of GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) non-governmental organization. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Tbilisi State University in 2002. She is single; her hobbies include movies and swimming. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to gain greater experience.

Diana Japaridze, English Teacher
Public School #9
Gori, Georgia (Population 50,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University
Diana Japaridze has been teaching English at a public secondary school for the past 6 years. The age of her students ranges from 12-17 years old, and on average there are 25 students in her class. Diana is also the manager of the English Teachers’ Association of Georgia- Gori Branch. Diana received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tbilisi State University of Language and Culture in 2001 and a master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Teaching English Language and Intercultural Communication in 2005 from the same university. Diana is single and her hobby is hiking. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to get to know new ways and techniques of teaching English and share them with her students and colleagues.

India

Sunita Biswas, English/History Teacher
The Cambridge School
Kolkata, India (Population 4,580,544)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Sunita Biswas has been teaching English language and history at a range of schools for over a decade.  At present she is teaching 12-16 year olds at an international school and there are around 20 students in her class.  She is also in charge of planning syllabi, lesson planning, and examinations.  She is married with two children.  Her hobbies include music, films, books, cooking, and playing the piano.  She aims to make her teaching more effective by using methodologies that she learns during the TEA program. 

Mon Bahadur Chettri, Social Science/Geography Teacher
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Shillong City, India (Population 4,000,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Mon Bahadur Chettri has been teaching social science and geography at J.N.Y. Mukhla for the past 15 years.  The age of his students ranges from 12-16 years and on average there are 40 students in his class.  He is an active member of his schools parent-teacher council where he has played a role in promoting effective parental involvement in student education.  Mon received his Masters degree in Geography from the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong in 1993 and an education degree from the same university.  Mon is married with two daughters.  His hobbies include reading, movies, adventure, and travel.  His objectives for participating in the TEA program are to explore new methodologies for engaging students in a more active classroom setting and also to learn more about the United States. 

Hasnain Imam, Assistant Teacher in Political Science
Vikram Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School
Howrah, India (Population 10,000,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Hasnain Imam has been teaching political science for the past 6 years.  His school is a government aided school catering to pupils coming from low income groups in the city.  The age of his students ranges from 13-18 years old.  The average number of students in his classes ranges from 60-70 students.  Besides a post graduate degree in Government and Politics from Calcutta University, Hasnain holds a bachelor’s degree in education.  His is married with a daughter.  Hasnain expects TEA will help him visualize correctly the system that needs to be created to make learning fun and meaningful to his poor and low income students who are usually first generation learners. 

Memthoi Takhellambam, History Teacher
Ching-Tam High School
Imperial East, India (Population 394,876)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Memthoi Takhellambam has been teaching history at the secondary level for the past 8 years and is now working at this current high school for the past year.  The age of her students range from 13-15 years old and on average there are 10 students in her class.  Memthoi is dedicated to the overall development of her students.  She also provides trainings for student teachers (trainees) in teaching methodology.  Memthoi received a bachelor’s degree in history from Delhi University in 1995 and a certificate in teaching methods from Manipur University in 1998.  Memthoi recently got married on March 30, 2008.  Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cinema, and theater.  Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to acquire and exchange teaching methods and at the same time explore different culture, behaviors, foods etc. 

Kazakhstan

Mugilsin Gubayeva, English Teacher
No. 159 School-Gymnasium
Almaty, Kazakhstan (Population: Over 1 million)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Gubayeva Mugilsin has been teaching the English language at secondary schools in Kazakhstan for 36 years. The age of her students ranges from 14-16 years old and there are 14-15 students in her groups. She graduated from Almaty Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages in 1971. She also provides training of teachers in teaching methodology. She has 3 daughters, one son, and 6 grandchildren. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methodologies and share them with teachers.

Dilorom Mirsaliyeva, English Teacher
“Yusuf Sayrami” Gymnasium
Sayram village, Kazakhstan (Population 45,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Mirsaliyeva Dilorom has been teaching English at “Y Sayrami” Gymnasium and at “Sayram” Medical College for the past 5 years. The age of her students ranges from 12-18 years old, and on average she teaches 130 students. Dilorom is regularly part of the “Integrating Uzbek schools to Kazakhstan Sphere” project which was organized by the NGO “Dialogue” to support national minorities in Kazakhstan. She is also a member of the Association of Teachers in Shymkent (TESh) and has connections with the Association of English teachers in Kazakhstan (NATEC). Dilorom received a Bachelor’s degree in English from South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University in 2005. Dilorom is married with one 2-year-old son and her hobbies are traveling and reading books. Her objective for participating in TEA is to learn more about different American methods, assessing rubrics, and about testing in the U.S. She is also very interested in the integration in the education process of minorities and non-native speakers of English.

Svetlana Shirshova, English Teacher
Secondary School #1
Kamysty, Kazakhstan (Population 7,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Svetlana Shirshova has taught English literature and language for 27 years. The age of her students is 12-16 years old. She is a leader of her Rayon FLT association. She received a diploma of teacher-coordinator in the regions in 2002 from Kostanay University for Teachers. She is married with two children: a daughter and a son. Her hobbies are riding a bicycle and reading science fiction. Her objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methodologies for engaging students in more active classroom work and the careful study of computers for word processing and as teaching tools.

Oxana Tashlykova, English Teacher
School #77
Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan (Population 350,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Oxana Tashlykova has been teaching English at a public secondary school for the past 17 years. The age of her students ranges from 10-17 years old, and on average there are 20 students in her class. In 2006 Oxana Tashlykova was appointed as an Assistant Head Mistress. Oxana is a member of the English Teachers’ Workshop and participates in all seminars and conferences organized by local teachers’ training institutions. At the same time she is a member of the Assistant Directors’ Workshop and cooperates with the East-Kazakhstan State University. In the last few years she has participated in and lectured at some scientific conferences and round-table discussions. Oxana received a bachelor’s degree in English from Ust-Kamenogorsk Teachers’ Training Institute in 1989 and a certificate in teaching methods from the same institute. Oxana is not married and her hobbies include reading, gardening, using the internet and making education presentations. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to further develop her computer skills and knowledge of advanced teaching methodology and to get an opportunity to develop her language skills.

Ukraine

Valeriya Byelyavs’ka, English Teacher
Secondary School 353 “The Planet of Happiness”
Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine (Population: 1,039,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Valeriya Byelyavs’ka has been teaching English language at a state school for the past 24 years.  The age of her students ranges from 8-14 years old, and on average there are 10 students in her class.  Valeriya is an active member of her school’s methodological department.  She also takes part in teaching methodology workshops and gives presentations on new teaching approaches.  Valeriya received a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Dnipropetrovsk State University in 1984 and a Certificate in Teaching English Language to Adults from the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate in 2001.  Valeriya is married with a son and her hobbies include skiing and traveling.  Her primary objective for participating in the TEA program is to explore new methodologies for engaging students in a more involved and active classroom. 

Nataliya Nayavko, English Teacher
Secondary School #4 Specialized in English
Novyi Rozdil, Ukraine (Population: 28,235)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Nataliya Nayavko has been teaching English at a school specializing in English for the past 14 years.  The age of her students ranges from 8-16 years old, and on average there are 10 students in her class.  Nataliya is a methodologist of the town Department of Education and she conducts seminars and workshops for teachers and organizes extra-curricular activities for students.  Being a trainer, she provides trainings for teachers in teaching methodology in Lvivska oblast.  Nataliya received a degree from Drohobych State Pedagogical Institute in 1993.  Nataliya is married with a son and a daughter and her hobbies include embroidery and traveling.  Her primary objectives for participating in the TEA program are to explore new methodologies for engaging students in a more participatory and active classroom setting and for teacher development.    

Lyudmyla Tkachenko, English Teacher
First City Gymnasia
Cherkasy, Ukraine (Population: 280,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Lyudmyla Tkachenko has been working at the First City Gymnasia since 1982.  She teaches English, English Grammar and Literature, study of English speaking countries, Ecology, Learn About Yourself and the World Around You (to seniors aged 14-16).  She graduated from Cherkasy State University in 1975.  She is the head of the school mythological society, a member of the school voluntary group “Ecology”, a teacher trainer for the students of Cherkasy State University, a coordinator for Peace Corps Trainees, a member of IATEFL, and All-Ukrainian movement “Educators for Peace and Mutual Understanding.”  Lyudmyla cooperates with Cherkasy Nature Protection Association in voluntary ecological work in the community.  She is married and her hobbies are traveling, cross-stitching, and gardening.  From the TEA program, she hopes acquire teaching skills and techniques. 

Uzbekistan

Sojida Isamova, English Teacher
School #16
Bukhara, Uzbekistan (Population: 240,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Sojida Isamova has been teaching English language at School #16 specialized in English for 18 years. The age of her students' ranges from 12-16 years old, there is an average of 12-15 students in each of her classes. She is an active participant in all TEA programs and iEARN projects, where she can learn a lot about teaching language and make a difference in her community. Sojida is married and has a son. Her hobby is creating different activities to make teaching language interesting. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methodologies for helping her students learn the language easily and share her experience with her foreign colleagues.

Bahtiyar Perdeshov, English Teacher
Academic Lyceum
Chirchik Town, Uzbekistan (Population: 172,100)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Bahtiyar Perdeshov has been teaching the English language for the past 7 years. The age of his students ranges from 16 to 18 years old and there are 25 students in his class. Bahtiyar received a bachelor’s degree in English from Uzbek State World Languages University in 2002. Bahtiyar is single and his hobbies include dancing and cooking. His primary objective for participating in TEA is to explore new methods and ways to engage students in English language learning.

Nadejda Rahmanova, English Teacher
Academic Lycee #1
Namangan, Uzbekistan (Population: 450,000)
U.S. Host University: George Mason University

Nadejda Rahmanova has been an English teacher for 6 years. The age of her students ranges from 15 to 19. Nadejda trains the best students for local competitions in English. She also conducted several workshops on teaching for regional teachers. Nadejda is a constant presenter at annual state conferences held in the capital. She has successfully completed two online courses (Business English and iEARN distant learning). She is raising a 6-year-old son. Her hobbies include learning German and French, traveling, knitting, horoscopes, psychology, reading, chess, table tennis, making up poems, and working on the internet. Her primary objective for participating in TEA is to learn effective ways to help her students improve their English skills and make each lesson sufficient and interesting.

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