English Teacher

"Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?"
"No, Baba jan," I said, desperately wishing I did. I didn't want to disappoint him again.
"When you kill a man, you steal a life," Baba said. "You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. Do you see?"
(The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini)

Think-Pair-Share in Action!

I often use the Think-Pair-Share strategy—an easy, low-cost, and time-efficient activity that sparks engagement and deep thinking. Great for brainstorming and problem-solving, this method can be adapted across subjects and grade levels. A simple technique with powerful outcomes—highly recommended for all educators!

Step 1: Read the text Independently.
Step 2: Think about the questions on the board as you read
Step 3: Pair up and share your thoughts with your partner
Step 4: Share your ideas with the class

What a beautiful answer (Jawab-e-Shikwa) by Allah to the grievances (Shikwa) of Muslims! If only we could learn, teach, and follow Iqbal’s advice.
Sharing some of his verses on his death anniversary.

Women make up a significant portion of Pakistan's agricultural labor force but own a disproportionately small amount of land. According to several reports and studies, women in rural Pakistan contribute around 70% of agricultural labor but own only a fraction of the land.

The 70% figure often refers to the proportion of unpaid labor in agriculture, with women working on farms, particularly in tasks like sowing, harvesting, and caring for livestock. However, their ownership of land is far lower due to cultural practices, legal barriers, and the patriarchal social structure in rural areas, where land is typically passed down through male family members. Credit: ChatGPT

Happy Women’s Day!

It’s been nearly four months of drought in Islamabad, with little rain across Punjab, adding to water scarcity in Pakistan. Yet, Alhamdulillah, we still have fresh fruits and vegetables in abundance. Holding this guava in my hand today made me realize how important it is to raise awareness about climate issues and take action. Small steps like reducing plastic, consuming less fuel, walking or cycling more, carpooling, planting trees, and switching off lights can make a difference. And yes, fewer clothes and bags (especially me 😌). Let’s hope we leave a better planet for future generations.

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As an English teacher in a semi-government setting, I have been attending declamation contests as a judge and preparing my students to participate in board-level and intercollegiate debate competitions for almost two decades. As a student, I also participated in three to four speech competitions during my school and college years, more than three decades ago. I am wondering why the style of delivery hasn’t changed a bit. Recently, I have started to feel that the content often lacks depth, and the over-dramatization of speech feels melodramatic. Why don’t we focus on making our speeches content-rich, more meaningful, innovative, and less dramatic? Just wondering!

Finally, watched The Glassworker by Usman Riaz at Cineplex yesterday—the first completely hand-drawn animated movie from Pakistan (do watch it if you haven't yet). I already knew Mr. Riaz from his TED talk, "Bloom Where You Are Planted" (a must-watch TED talk). Despite being aware of the immense challenges he would face in Pakistan, he decided to stay, bloom here, and take responsibility for giving back to the community by opening Mano Animation Studios, the first of its kind. This studio provided many with access to something they hadn’t experienced before. The most moving story is how a medical doctor, a dentist, and even an office cleaner—all full of talent for animation—joined him when they found this platform. After watching this movie and learning more about his passion for animation, I am so impressed by his determination in pursuing his dream of creating a complete movie. I'm incredibly proud of him and his achievements, as he has shown that with hard work and dedication, even the biggest dreams can come true.

On this Teachers’ Day 2024, I believe the passion of a teacher plays a crucial role in how effectively they impart knowledge. Despite rigid syllabi and fixed assessment practices, teachers can still incorporate innovative strategies to optimize their students' learning, even with minimal resources. Here, in this simple classroom activity, students are creating posters and drawings based on a lesson from their English textbook, developing creativity, comprehension, and teamwork.