Volunteer Spotlight: Zainab
By Jordan Cowell
Zainab Ayad (she/her)
ESL Teacher
An-Najaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq
Zainab is a translator and ESL teacher from Iraq who has volunteered with Felt Education as an online English teacher since last August. She teaches one of the Beginner-level classes for adults.
“My approach to teaching English to migrant and refugee students centers on creating a supportive and culturally responsive learning environment.”
Q: How did you get started at Felt?
Zainab: I began volunteering with Felt through a combination of passion for international development and as a desire to make a positive impact. After completing my internship as a research assistant in India last March in the field of education and career development for children of migrant workers, I became increasingly interested in working on a larger scale. I researched various programs and initiatives, and eventually found a volunteering opportunity aligned with my interests and expertise. Volunteering with Felt has been incredibly rewarding, working in a multicultural environment and allowing me to collaborate with a diverse team.
Q: Outside of Felt, what do you do for work?
Zainab: I have a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature. I work as a translator from Arabic to English, and sometimes Turkish. Also, I'm involved in non-governmental organizations that help refugees and migrants to translate their documents and reports.
Pictured above is one of Zainab's work-in-progress embroidery projects.
Q: What are your hobbies?
Zainab: My hobbies are watching movies and also embroidery. Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric using a needle and colorful threads.
Q: What is one thing you are especially proud of having done or accomplished?
Zainab: I achieved the honor of winning an international competition for the Best Translator in the Middle East and North Africa. This accomplishment holds immense value to me, and it's something I will always be proud of.
Q: What motivates you to give back to the community through your volunteer work with Felt?
Zainab: I believe in the power of education to transform lives by teaching those students who are refugees and migrants the English language. That means I am a part of empowering them to integrate into their new communities, access opportunities, and rebuild their lives with dignity. Also, for my professional growth as well; through this opportunity, I could enhance my intercultural competencies and skills.
Q: What have you learned or gained from volunteering with Felt?
Zainab: If you met Zainab before last August versus now, [you will see I’m a] totally different person. Volunteering has broadened my understanding of various cultures and social issues. For instance, during my time volunteering, I gained new insights into countries like the Dominican Republic, including learning about the languages spoken there and the reasons why people migrate.
Q: Could you describe your approach to teaching?
Zainab: My approach to teaching English to migrant and refugee students centers on creating a supportive and culturally responsive learning environment. I recognize the diverse backgrounds and experiences of my students, and I aim to tailor my lessons to meet their individual needs and linguistic abilities. I integrate a variety of communicative activities, such as role plays, group discussions, and language games. They like [the activities, which] encourage active participation and foster language acquisition in real life contexts. Ultimately, my goal is to empower my students with the language skills they need to navigate everyday situations, integrate into their new communities, new society, and pursue their personal and professional goals.
Q: What are some ways you create an inclusive virtual learning environment in your classes?
Zainab: I provide clear expectations and guidelines for communication and behavior from the first class. For example, ‘please make sure the camera's on, the mic is on to interact easily…’ [I] also encourage participation, create opportunities for all the students to participate in discussions and ensure that everyone's voice is heard and respected. In addition, I present content in multiple formats, like we have text, we have audios, and we have videos to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory or experience from one of your classes that you’d like to share?
Zainab: One standout moment was when a student consistently joined early to chat before class began. I really appreciated [the student] showing trust and creating a wonderful connection.
Q: How does Felt support its volunteers?
Zainab: They are organizing volunteer meetings before each new semester and supplying us with paid valuable resources. This ensures we don't have to worry much about the class curriculum, as they equip us with everything we need. Also, we have a group on WhatsApp for all the teachers.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Zainab: I wish I had known about FELT earlier, much earlier.
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If you want to make a positive impact in the community like Zainab has, join us as a volunteer! You can do it by sending us your information and proposal in our volunteering page
