From Egypt, Asmaa Taha received a Bachelor of Arts in English language, literature and simultaneous interpretation in 2006 at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. After graduation, she worked as an instructor of English as a second language for four years with the Al-Azhar English Training Center, and in 2011, she was awarded the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant scholarship. Through the Fulbright program, Asmaa taught Arabic at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

Asmaa went on to teach Arabic at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and then at the University of Mississippi as a graduate instructor majoring in Teaching English as Second Language. In 2015, Asmaa earned a master’s degree in Teaching English as Second Language from the University of Mississippi, and in 2017 she completed a second master’s degree from Middlebury College in Teaching Arabic as Foreign Language. She recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in second language studies with an emphasis on applied linguistics at the University of Mississippi where she was initiated in 2019.

Asmaa currently serves as a Flagship Instructor of Arabic at the University of Mississippi and enjoys participating in several volunteer activities such as meal-packing through Islamic Relief USA and providing translations for the Oxford Police Department.

She enjoys learning about the people and cultures of different countries and has most enjoyed traveling to Turkey, England and Scotland.

Let’s get to know Asmaa!

Why did you accept the invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi?
I accepted the invitation because it is a distinguished honor society that encourages learning and academic accomplishments. Phi Kappa Phi is an extensive support community that opens doors for success and possibilities.

Who is your favorite band? Why are they your favorite?
My favorite band is Backstreet Boys. I like their music and variety of albums.

What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Eid Al-Fitr which is a traditional three-day holiday after the month of Ramadan. It does not only mark the end of the fasting month but also allows me to get together with friends and family.

What is something you are impressively good at?
I am pretty good at being open to other points of view and perspectives. As an international student, I love to freely explore other cultures and am dedicated as a teacher to go the extra mile to ensure my students’ success.

Can you speak any other languages?
I speak both Arabic and English fluently. I use both languages daily and in everyday conversations with friends and family. I also have a working knowledge of German, and I exclusively use it for research studies.

What is the greatest movie of all time?
The King’s Speech is the greatest movie of all time. I cannot remember how many times I watched it.

What is one thing you cannot live without?
I cannot live without my family. Their love and support mean the world to me.

Why did you choose the field you studied?
I chose to study the field of language because I love learning about other languages, cultures, and more importantly, how languages reflect people’s perspectives, ideologies and beliefs.

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?
The most adventurous thing that I have done is parasailing because I am afraid of heights.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is “You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

To learn more about Asmaa and connect, visit her profile within our online member community, here.

Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to engagement@phikappaphi.org and be sure to include basic information for the nomination.