Meet Prof. Alireza Sobhanmanesh (ESL)
Photo: Alireza Sobhanmanesh
Alireza is a professor of ESL in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Sheridan. He is a Ph.D Candidate in Education at the University of Ottawa, currently in the final stages of completing his degree. As a researcher, he is interested in methodologies that dynamically measure language learning motivation, classroom engagement, and emotions over shorter and longer time-scales. He is also interested in exploring ways of increasing learner motivation within the framework of collaborative action research projects that bring about positive change to the site of the study and beyond.
In 2016, he was selected as the recipient of the Wilga Rivers Memorial Award by the American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), a major conference where he has been a regular presenter in the past few years. He also received the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Research Fund (SOTL) from Centennial College where he was a sessional faculty member for almost five years prior to joining Sheridan.
Alireza holds a Master’s degree in Second Language Education, a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a University of Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). In his free time, he loves practicing new songs on his guitar and piano, and playing tennis or ping-pong (when it’s too cold outside!).
Alireza Sobhanmanesh answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire:
Favourite virtues: Empathy and understanding.
Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Life is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. But it’s your choice to scream or enjoy the ride!
My favourite qualities in a student: Curiosity and perseverance.
My favourite qualities in a teacher: Enthusiasm for teaching, flexibility and a sense of humour!
Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: Any moment of “Group Flow” in the classroom. Flow is the state of complete absorption in an activity, but there are moments when flow crosses over from one individual to the other, taking over the entire group. These moments are characterized by an energized focus and a feeling of spontaneous joy and even rapture that spreads across the students and the teacher making me have this yearning for it to happen again in my classes!
My idea of perfect happiness: Spending time with my parents who live thousands of miles away.
My idea of complete misery: When technology fails during a presentation!
In my opinion the secret to success is: Being creative, open to new experiences, and persevering in the face of hardship.
My favourite motto or phrase: “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something!”
If I weren’t a teacher I’d be: A psychologist I think!
The talent or skill I wish I had: To play the saxophone!
Language I’d love to be able to speak: I’d love to speak French more fluently and with native-like pronunciation!
On my bucket list: Skydiving!
My favourite meal: Seafood Pasta!
My favourite singer/musician: Jose Feliciano.
My guilty TV pleasure: Stranger Things. The next season will come to Netflix in 2019 I think.
