Sonila Ajazi

Hello!

My name is Sonila Ajazi, but everyone calls me Soni.  I came from Albania at the age of 15, and I have been in the United States for 24 years. I am an English, French and ESL instructor at various higher learning institutions. I completed my Bachelor Degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a French Major and a History Minor. My Master’s of Education from the University of Phoenix focused on ESL curriculum and Instruction.  I taught high school French and Spanish for 5 years and I have been teaching at the collegial level for the last 8 years.

As a multilingual instructor having taught at various levels and a variety of skills, I have gained comprehensive knowledge of effective learner-centered teaching practices.  I am invested in fostering positive learning environments and applying my background to enhance the goals and high learning institutions and communities.

I often stress to my students the importance of not only speaking the English language but also “speaking” the culture to become well-rounded open-minded individuals who enhance their lives and communities by expanding their horizons through education. My personal experience, in addition to teaching, research, and professional development opportunities has led me to gain unique insight and skills in teaching and connecting with students from diverse backgrounds and at various academic levels.

My personal and professional experiences have helped me develop a passion and personal commitment to three things: fostering a positive learning environment for students with various backgrounds, maximizing individual student performance and developing student interest in cross-cultural awareness through language learning and writing. Implementing a variety of pedagogical tools and having technological proficiency allow me to implement effective tools in reaching my students and promoting life-long learning.