Taking a postgraduate course is often about much more than the qualification itself, with many courses opening doors to new experiences, places and cultures which help to form and shape careers.
Ayesha Khan is a wonderful example of this. Having grown up in Leicester and obtained a BA from the University of Bradford, Ayesha went on to pursue an MA in English Language Teaching with De Montfort University – thanks in part to an interest-free education loan from The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity.
“Following graduation, I worked part-time at Tesco while figuring out my next steps. It was during this time that I learned about the MA course, which aligned perfectly with my desire to travel,” Ayesha began.
“I saw it as an opportunity to pursue my MA and subsequently embark on a journey as an English teacher. And that’s exactly what I did. Over the course of seven years, I taught primary school children in the Middle East, spending three years in Kuwait and four in Qatar. The MA not only provided me with valuable knowledge, but also allowed me to explore new places and cultures.”
The popular English Language Teaching course at De Montfort University helps to broaden an understanding of the challenges faced by English language teachers and learners worldwide, featuring a variety of different modules.
“My personal favourite was phonetics and phonology, where we delved into the intricacies of sound production and the anatomy of speech,” Ayesha continued.
“Additionally, we explored topics such as psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, teaching productive and receptive skills, and engaged in microteaching sessions. For my dissertation, I focused on sociolinguistics, investigating language attitudes among EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners. Specifically, I explored how learners perceive different accents and whether these perceptions influence English language instruction methodologies.”
“The MA not only provided me with valuable knowledge, but also allowed me to explore new places and cultures.”
Ayesha Khan
Remembering back to when her plans to study a postgraduate course began, Ayesha moved on to mention the role STWLC played along the way – starting with the process of applying in 2016.
“I was considering how I would finance my MA studies because at the time I wanted to pursue it, there were no student loans available for postgraduate students. Fortunately, someone at the university informed me about the charity, and I decided to apply. Thankfully, my application was successful!”
“I remember having an interview with a panel of Trustees,” Ayesha reflected.
“Though it was initially daunting, I found the experience enjoyable. Everyone I encountered at the charity was incredibly nice, and the application process was straightforward. The repayment terms were also favourable – a nine-year loan with no repayments for the first three years, followed by six years with no interest. Whenever I mention this loan to people nowadays, they’re often surprised to learn about the existence of such a charity and its support for students and entrepreneurs.”
“I am deeply grateful to STWLC because their assistance enabled me to travel the world and discover my passion for teaching and exploring new cultures.”
Ayesha Khan
Having completed her MA and enjoyed the incredible experience of travelling and teaching in the Middle East, last year Ayesha made the decision to return home and undergo training to become a primary school teacher in the UK.
“The passion instilled in me by my MA led me to rediscover my love for teaching children, motivating my decision to return and pursue retraining,” Ayesha concluded.
“STWLC has played a crucial role in my journey. Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my MA, nor would I have had the opportunity to work abroad. I am deeply grateful to STWLC because their assistance enabled me to travel the world and discover my passion for teaching and exploring new cultures.”
To find out more about our interest-free education loans, which are available up to the value of £10,000 to cover living and tuition costs, please click here
