Dr. Shahla Garayeva
Shahla Garayeva spent most of her career as a professor at the Baku State University (BSU). Since 1993, she worked as a senior lecturer of English language and American Literature for many years at the Faculty of International Relations and International Law at the BSU. She received her B.A in Philology (English Language and American Literature) at Azerbaijan University of Languages in 1987, M.A. at Bilkent University (Ankara, Turkey) in 2001. She worked as a chief of the language laboratory at the BSU from 1993 to 1995.
During 1995-2008, she served as a senior teacher at the Foreign Language Department at the Faculty of International Law and International Relations at the BSU. From 2001 to 2006, she was the evaluator in the American Studies Center at the BSU, evaluator for the CEP (Civic Education Project) 2003-2005, translator-editor for the Journal of History and its Problems 2002-2007 and expert on writing and revising tests at State University Entrance Exam Commission (abbr. “TQDK”) between 2004-2008.
“Dr. Shahla was a highly educated, hardworking, creative, honest, and compassionate person. She gave each kid her undivided attention and worked tirelessly to ensure their success. Her endless positive energy, smiles, and positive feelings are still recalled by everyone who knew her. I still find it hard to comprehend that such a mature, professional, and honorable person could leave us at such a young age. May her soul rest in peace. “Teacher Shahla’s memories will live on in our hearts forever!”
Due to health complications, she was not able to defend her PhD thesis titled “Evaluation of new and old English coursebooks: Writing a textbook for the faculties of IL and IR”. Thanks to the support from her family, students and nurses, finally in 2016, she was able to defend her work that was prepared 6 years ago at the Academy of Sciences in Azerbaijan.
Shahla was an active participant of several teacher training programs, national and international conferences in different parts of the world (UK, Turkey, Germany, America, Kyrgyzstan, France). She had always been supportive of sending the students to study abroad programs and had done her best for them in this field. Most of her students now are well-known people, people who hold high positions in government agencies, ambassadors, diplomats and other offices.
Memories of her students
“Dr Shahla’s name was familiar to me before I entered the university because my cousin also studied International Law at BSU. She advised me to try my best to join her group. Everywhere I was asking about her, trying to figure out who this teacher was. But, unfortunately, Dr Shahla did not take any group of freshmen that year. This made me happy. If she does not teach me, she will not teach anyone :). We had Mrs Sevil as our teacher for the first semester. In the second semester, Mrs Sevil could not attend the classes due to some health issues. Suddenly the door opened and an unknown lady, with round glasses, a smile, and even a unique Azerbaijani accent walked in and I jumped up when she introduced herself. Divine, I was thrilled. When I said, Dr Shahla, I almost sobbed with excitement. In fact, she herself noticed that my eyes sparkled with joy. I had never had such an interactive, engaging class before. When she informed us that she would no longer be teaching after a few lessons, the children were really upset. I did everything I could to ensure that she would come back. We made it obvious to the substitute teacher that we want Dr Shahla back. I was in charge of these rebellious students:). We went to the head of the department and asked them to return Dr Shahla. The head of the department, Dr Muminat, actually understood us, she knew that we wanted to learn English, we really wanted quality lessons, and Dr Shahla’s teaching abilities were known and she also won our hearts, and she was very kind to us. However, Dr Shahla was not present at the time. Dr Shahla returned in the third year and remained our instructor till the end. Her books, materials, and methods were outstanding. Outside of the university program, she taught us academic writing. She didn’t just teach academic programs; she also taught us humanity and honesty. At the same time, I began attending Shahla’s individual TOEFL sessions. Everything was going so well.
I missed her so much, the way she used to call me – “Beyafendi”, her sincere jokes between lessons, her inspiration! May God have mercy on you, the person who wrote her name in the history of education!”
“I’m delighted to have met her. Some people’s memories linger on in our minds forever. One of these people was Dr. Shahla. Her intuition, genuineness, thoughtfulness, and kind behaviour… In a nutshell, every kid should have someone like Shahla in his/her life… If there’s a chance… ”
When I was in the fifth grade in 1992-93, she was teaching us at a school in Ashagi Seyidahmedli village of Fizuli region where she, herself was from.
She was a sincere, engaging and dynamic teacher. She was both teacher and friend to us. She used to be kind to the students, say always kind words, and smile when looking at the students’ faces. And she would often say to the students, “I love you very much.” She was even kind to the most naughty students. She was good at explaining lessons, hence we would do the assignments, prepare the homework with enthusiasm, not fear.
She was a forward-thinking woman. It was difficult to be modern-minded in those days, yet Dr. Shahla encouraged modernism via her thoughts and actions. She was the one who taught us English. She would call us to a blackboard during class and instruct us to write English words on it. That was our assignment. We used to write harder words in our palms so that we could glance at them and write them on the board, when she would not look. That was our homework. One day, when I did the same, Dr Shahla noticed it and approached me. She told me, “Don’t be afraid, open your hand.” She told both me and the other children when she saw the writing on my hand. “Don’t write in your hand, ask me when you are in trouble, I will help you. Let’s not deceive each other, let’s help each other, “she said.
She was constantly involved in social service, activities at school. There were a lot of good things said about her. Then our village was taken and I was never able to see Dr Shahla again.
I kept thinking that one day I would go to see and meet her in Baku. Unfortunately, this did not happen… I asked our villagers several times. They said she had some health problems.
After 25 years, we talked to many of our classmates via the Internet. At that meeting, I thought of inviting my classmates to visit Dr Shahla. When the students were asked how we could meet Shahla, one of them said that she had passed away. Be the saddest news we have heard at our first meeting in 25 years…
In the end, I would like to thank you for doing such a wonderful job to keep the memory of Shahla Khanum alive. With respect to her memory! ”