1. What do you wish your students knew about you?
Ali Ebrahimpourlighvani, MA, TESL: My students are my inspiration to follow my dreams.
Makenzie Van Maanen, MA, RCPC: That I am really excited to answer their questions, and I want them to succeed outside of English 150!
2. What one word would your students use to describe you?
Ali: A friend.
Makenzie: Passionate
3. What’s something your students have taught you this semester?
Ali: To be open and vulnerable.
Makenzie: I can learn just as much from them as they are learning from me.
4. What one teaching tool will we always find you with?
Ali: Notebook and my brain.
Makenzie: My notebook and pen.
5. If you could share one sentence of advice with newer teachers, what would it be?
Ali: Don’t choose a side in a class, just listen to your students, and they stand by your side to remember the change you made in their learning journey!
Makenzie: It’s okay if everything doesn’t always go perfectly; we are learning too, just like our students!
6. What’s something you are passionate about (outside of ISUCOMM)?
Ali: Nature and peace!
Makenzie: I am passionate about word puzzles and board games – Rummikub is my favorite!
7. What are you excited to teach in ENGL 150 or 250?
Ali: Assisting technology in their assignments and effective communication.
Makenzie: I’ve really enjoyed teaching the Multimodal Remix, but I’m also looking forward to the Rhetorical Analysis in 250.
8. What is your most frequently used emoji?
Ali: 😎
Makenzie: 🤩
9. If you had your own late-night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest?
Ali: My students.
Makenzie: Machine Gun Kelly
10. If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you pick?
Ali: “Ayriliq” in my mother tongue, which means Separation.
Makenzie: “1985” by Bowling for Soup