2 - IREX

Azerbaijan
Gozal Aliyeva, English Teacher
Lyceum #220
Baku, Azerbaijan (Population: 2,036,000)
U.S. Host University: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Gozal Aliyeva has been teaching English at a school-lyceum for 20 years. The age of her
students range from 12-17 years old, and generally there are between 12 and 15 students in her
class. She is an active member of her school’s parent teacher committee, where she has played a
major role in involving parents in their students’ education. She provides training in teaching
methodology to teachers in the Teachers’ Professional Courses. Aliyeva is also a member of the
working group of developing curriculum units in English. She received a Bachelor’s degree in
English from Azerbaijan State University of Languages in 1988 and a certificate (a Diploma) in
teaching methods from the same university. She is married with two children (a son and a
daughter). By participating in the TEA program she hopes to improve her teaching skills, as well
as get much more information about new methodologies for involving students in the teaching
process and creating a more active and participatory classroom.
Irina Baghirova, English Teacher
School #14
Sumgait, Azerbaijan (Population: 357,900)
U.S. Host University: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Irina Baghirova has been teaching English as a foreign language at a secondary school since
1996. Her students are between 10-17, and, on average, there are 15 students in her class. She is
an active member of her school’s Association of English Language Teachers. As a teacher
trainer and project coordinator of the Internet Computer Center in her school, she shows new
approaches in today’s educational areas. Baghirova was the first to conduct Internet-based
lessons and involved many of her peers in the practice. She received her diploma from
Azerbaijan State Institute of Foreign Languages, Baku in 1991. She is married with two young
sons. She enjoys music, traveling, and cooking. Her main objectives for the TEA program are rethinking
her teaching and taking maximum advantage of the innovations. She is also ready to
share all the new knowledge with her school’s teachers.
Halima Fatullayeva, English Teacher
Secondary School #24
Ganja, Azerbaijan (Populations: 32,857)
U.S. Host University: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Halima Fatullayeva has been teaching English language at a public secondary school for the past
6 years. The age of her students range from 10-18 years old and on average there are 13-15
students in her class. Halima is an active member of AzETA where she played a role in
promoting effective teachers and students’ involvement in teacher trainings for different kinds of
teachers. She also provides conversations and movie clubs for students and teachers. Halima is
not married yet. Her hobbies include joining different projects concerning health or