Faces of Reading

I now live in London, and I have two children. My work schedule was set up to balance being a mother and a lecturer, so I was able to start early in the morning and work in Reading three days a week. I would creep out of the house quietly so as not to wake my children! Now the children are older and they don't need so much of my attention, I also work from home two days a week. This requires that I am very reactive on the days I'm not in Reading and also that I am flexible about the days I choose to work from home.

I also act as carer for my mother and mother-in-law. It would be fair to say that I've always had significant care responsibilities, but have always managed to balance them with my work because the University has been flexible. I never missed a parents’ evening and made it to most school events.

I speak several languages, so I know exactly what the main problems are with learning a new language and what students find most difficult. I try to encourage them to speak the language and overcome any difficulties on the way.

Everyone here has given me the opportunity to show my potential and challenge myself as a language teacher, but most of all to do what I love.

I'm an audiovisual translator and I study BSL. I believe that deaf and visually impaired people should have access to language learning too. My aim is to work as an interpreter in the future, and I am proud that BSL will be taught here at the University.

I'm a School Champion for Diversity and a member of the LGBTQIA+ staff scheme. I think it's important to promote diversity and inclusion.

At the University of Reading, our students come from all around the world and this makes their learning experience really interesting. I really like to build a relationship with my students, watching them grow as independent learners, helping them with their learning process, and making them feel part of a community.

I give a lot and receive a lot; it's beautiful. This is why I'm still teaching after 12 years.

Read more about the University's LGBT Plus Staff Network.

My research is unusual as I do mathematical modelling of biological systems. I work alongside biologists, trying to use their data in novel ways.

I came to Reading in 2011 and have just done the first year of another three-year postdoctorate, which is funded by the British Heart Foundation.

I took up this change of career in later life. I was in the IT industry for a long time and did a degree with The Open University. I just loved studying mathematics so much, I decided to give up my career to do a PhD.

I live in Derbyshire, which makes life slightly complicated, but I work at home sometimes to alleviate some of the travelling. Mathematics is one of those lovely things you can do anywhere; on a train or at home. When I was offered the job, I mentioned the travel, and the University was really open to trying it and seeing how we got on – they've been great about it.

I would like to go on and get a permanent position, but I'm happy with what I'm doing; it's such a fascinating job.

When the TAEDS courses closed down in 2018, I started lecturing initially for BA Education Studies and more recently became the SEND Pathway Lead for the PGCE students specialising in SEN education.

Since 2017, I have been working for the Institution-Wide Language Programme, within the Department of Languages and Culture, where I have taught BSL at all three stages with its linguistics and history, and had very positive feedback.

I'm originally from London and my parents were from the Middle East; my father was born in Egypt and my mother in Syria. I remember seeing Arabic, French and Hebrew being spoken. I knew a little, however I fully absorbed the Middle Eastern culture, particularly cooking.

I'm the only deaf person in my family. My family never learned any sign language, so I relied on lip reading. I've had some fantastic students; most aren't deaf, but they have a passion for teaching and learning sign language.

A lot of my students have become teachers, usually in special needs education. Others have become interpreters, actors and drama therapists. I'd like to think I've played a small part in their career choices.