Mohammad Nowbakht

When I think about my enthusiasm in teaching and my academic achievements, I am reminded
of my most influential and inspiring teachers. I have always wanted to become an impressive
teacher and establish a good rapport with students to provide a situation in which each and every
student in my class can develop a sense of autonomy in their learning and become critical
thinkers. When I started teaching English language courses at university, I did my best to
establish a friendly relationship with every student. I believe it is only in such an atmosphere of
rapport and trust that students can develop their creativity and be confident enough to challenge
ideas critically.
As a committed and passionate teacher, I strongly believe in fostering diversity, equity, and
inclusion in my classrooms. I am dedicated to creating a learning environment where all students
feel valued, respected, and engaged, regardless of factors such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, or socioeconomic background. Through intentional and thoughtful teaching
practices, I aim to create a classroom community that celebrates diversity and encourages
students to learn from one another’s perspectives and experiences. I am also committed to
regularly assessing and reflecting on my own teaching approaches to ensure that I am providing
equitable opportunities and support to all of my students. I do not want to lose any of my
students as active members of the class; therefore, I always invite them to discussions and
sharing of their ideas in order to engage them in class activities. My several years of experience
as a language teacher have taught me that even the most reticent and bashful students begin to
partake in class activities and discussions within a situation of friendliness and mutual
understanding.
At the same time, I have always attempted to help students become critical thinkers and not take
everything they are told for granted. This is especially important in eastern societies like mine
where challenging and doubting accepted ideas are considered discourteous, presumptuous, and
in some cases, even treacherous. However, as a university teacher, whose job is not only to pass
on linguistic knowledge to learners but also to disseminate information about different cultures
and lifestyles and make students aware of intercultural differences, I have always tried to invite
them to develop a challenging, research-oriented mind to ask about different concepts and search
for their answers.
When I teach, I use various types of activities and tasks to engage students in the learning
process. For example, in most of my classes, I draw their attention to the importance and value of
writing and ask them to write a class diary or about particular topics. I tell them that writing can
be a powerful tool to help them consolidate what they have been exposed to in class, gather theirthoughts, and become proficient writers for their future academic lives. I also use group work
and appoint different responsibilities to each member, which I believe fosters a sense of team
work among them.
I always end each class with a summation of what was discussed and taught during that session,
and leave them with a couple of questions to think about until the next session begins. I
encourage them to do their research and bring their answers to class, and be ready to discuss
what they have found. Overall, I want them to leave the class with a sense of understanding and
satisfaction that they are on the right track to learning.
Teaching in an academic context and mentoring students is my passion. I believe I can be
successful in infusing my passion for research into the hearts of my students as well. I will never
forget how indebted I am to some of my professors for letting me experience different topics and
ideas, and helping me to develop my imagination and creativity in research. I have a strong
desire to continue this legacy by inspiring my own students to pursue their academic goals with
enthusiasm and dedication. I think letting students imagine in research and make them cognizant
of the research methods and available tools can play a significant role in fostering their creativity
in conducting high-quality research.
Students who are studying at the academic context, particularly in post-graduate studies, have
probably chosen the path of being a researcher in their lives or finding a prestigious job position.
As researchers, they need creativity, knowledge in the most important theories underlying their
field, research methodology techniques, great writing abilities, and awareness of the most recent
advances and findings in their field. I believe my responsibility as a teacher is to make them as
capable and ready as possible for such professional academic careers and provide them with the
requisite abilities.
In conclusion, my teaching philosophy is based on creating a friendly, inclusive, and challenging
learning environment where students can develop their autonomy, critical thinking, and
creativity. I am committed to fostering diversity and equity in my classrooms and regularly
assessing and reflecting on my own teaching approaches to ensure that all students have
equitable opportunities and support. I am highly interested in teaching linguistic courses and
would like to help students experience diversity, develop their creativity, and pursue their
academic goals with enthusiasm and dedication. Overall, my goal is to inspire my students to
become lifelong learners and successful researchers in their chosen fields.