Ziad H   

New to Strømmen 5 yrs teaching experience

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What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favorite word in Arabic is “طمأنينة” (tuma’nina), which means a deep sense of calm and inner peace. I like it because it describes more than simply being relaxed. It is that feeling of being comfortable with yourself and with where you are. I think it is a beautiful word because there is no single English word that captures exactly the same feeling.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

I’m from Tangier, Morocco, and one of my favorite dishes is tagine, especially when it is made slowly with meat, vegetables, spices, and fresh bread on the side. What I love about it is that it is not just food here. It is something people sit around and share together. There are plenty of great traditional places in Tangier, but I still think homemade tagine is hard to beat.

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

Yes. Arabic is my native language, and I also speak French. I have studied German and have also spent some time learning Romanian, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. I genuinely enjoy learning languages because it helps me understand what my students experience when they are trying to express themselves in a language that is not their own. It has made me much more patient and aware of how different people learn.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Outside of teaching, I’m very interested in technology, gaming, languages, and sports. I studied Software Engineering, so technology has always been a big part of my life. I also enjoy competitive gaming, learning about different cultures, watching films, and staying active. I practiced Taekwondo for many years as well, which taught me a lot about discipline and consistency.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

Tangier is definitely my hometown. What I love most about it is how unique it feels. It is a Moroccan city, but because of its location and history, you can feel influences from many different cultures. You have the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the old city, modern neighborhoods, and people from very different backgrounds all in one place. Growing up here gave me a natural interest in languages and other cultures, and I think that has influenced the way I connect with students today.