Nahla Rifai is a 49-year-old French teacher from Baalbek who also owns an artisan clothing shop. She has a degree in history from the Lebanese University in Zahle. TWE has made a substantial difference in her daily life. “At my shop I have to speak to tourists in English. Before I could only speak French. Two weeks ago I had two people from Holland who only spoke English. I sold them a jacket and towel!”
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Meet TWE!
Sanaa Yahfoufi is a 42-year-old mother of 3 boys from Baalbek. She graduated high school and practices a traditional form of sewing found only in Baalbek, called Oya. TWE has helped her daily life. “I can help my little boy with his English homework. I can also start to make out words on television or in magazines, and I can read medicine labels.”
Meet TWE!
Dunia Yaghi is a 50-year-old drawing teacher, graduate of Mackenze with a degree in visual communication, and a tri-lingual mother of 3 adult children. Despite some previous engagement with English (she loves Eminem), Dunia credits TWE with expanding her vocabulary and giving her opportunities to practice. “I knew no vocabulary about cars, hotels, speed limits, signs.” Dunia also has practical goals for English. “I want to get a new job, perhaps in Beirut. Men in Lebanon do not think women should work, but I disagree. My favorite story in our book is about the 100-year-old woman still working. No limits!”
Meet TWE!
Nada Tufeili is TWE’s local teacher in Baalbek. At 23, she is a teacher with AMIDEAST and Baalbek’s Heliopolis Elementary School, studying English Literature at the Lebanese University in Zahle, and plans to learn translation in Beirut. Nada decided to teach with TWE for one reason: “Women. I want to educate women. In a society where men dominate, I want to make women more aware of education and their rights. Maybe it can help them find jobs.”
Meet TWE!
Ghina Hamade is an 18-year-old finishing Sahlat el Muy High School in Hermel. She wants to learn English because “it’s for life generally. Even if I wanted to study in Italy or France I need to pass an English test. My sister speaks French and Italian. I speak neither.” Although Ghina only knew English letters before starting TWE, the class is already making a difference. “I used to not be able to use the internet. Now I can – even for basic things.”
Meet TWE!
Khadija Hajj Hasan is a 27-year-old from Chaat Rasm el Hadath, living with her husband and three children in Hermel, and is pursuing a degree in English Literature at the Lebanese University. Why did you start teaching English? “To escape from our children! No, I started teaching because I didn’t know people in Hermel so I saw this as a chance to communicate with others and help them. It’s a way for me to get to know them, enjoy my time, and teach what I’ve learned.”
Meet TWE!
Amal Hushemi is a 46-year-old mother of 4 grown children from Taalabaya. “I wanted to study more after high school, but I got married and had too many responsibilities at home. But now that I’ve been married 26 years, I think I have more time.” Amal stays late to finish her homework and is teaching her husband, too. Amal’s interest in English began on a small scale. “I wanted to be able to send text messages. Now I can send texts to my husband and my brother in Romania.”
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