Islam El Naggar PhD English
Hi I am Islam El-Naggar studying PhD English.
I will resume teaching in my university in Egypt with new, fresh intellectual mind up-to-date with the current academic debates and methodologies of thinking.
What made you choose to come and study at Southampton?
Its high rank and highly-experienced staff members The weather (for me it is better than other universities in the North)
What were you anxious about before coming to Southampton, and once here were these fears overcome?
To get used to the place and people. Also, I was anxious about my own pace of academic progress that might not work in the new environment. My fears vanished by the passage of time. At the very beginning, I lived in the University Halls and I feel like I was at my own home, and I found a quick and adequate solution to any problem at the time. My supervisors were very helpful and put me on the right track. The staff in the library and Student Services were very cooperative and helpful.
What is it like studying here?
I can claim that I arrived at the right place when I came to Southampton. I feel safe and I can go to university at any time of the day (and all the days of the week.) And of course, I can access all the facilities I need.
How do you rate study facilities at the University, such as the Library?
Most times (except on weekends and exam periods as the library is completely packed) I love studying in the Library especially in the first floor, as I love to have refreshments while studying. In addition, the ambience of the library is so encouraging and make me enthusiastic when I find many students do the same thing; this avoids me the killing sense of loneliness.
It is also easy to get any source that I need with much ease when I study at the library.
What have been your Southampton ‘highlights’ (best experiences) so far?
I loved the idea being one among the students who regularly attended the events organized by (Friends International/Christian Union). This was a lovely and exciting experience as I joined them in short trips inside and outside Southampton.
What other activities have you taken advantage of while at University?
I also took part in (Meet and Greet Service offered for the new students by the University). Otherwise, I prefer to focus on my study.
What are you enjoying most about your course?
Reading in different disciplines in addition to my major. Learning and applying different methodologies from that I used to in the past.
Do you have the opportunity to study modules outside of your core subject area, and how do you think they are adding to your experience / will affect your future plans?
A course in Life Long Learning (LLL). In the future, I might benefit from to design my own course for teaching a specific subject in my area of interest rather than my academic specialization.
Do you have any idea of what you would like to do in the future?
I will resume teaching in my university in Egypt. (with new, fresh intellectual mind up-to-date with the current academic debates and methodologies of thinking)
What advice would you offer to potential students?
You should find a way to engage yourself in more than one activity and not to limit yourselves to your study.
Do you like living in Southampton? What are the benefits of Southampton as a city? Do you feel safe in the city?
Southampton is not that big city where I do not belong. (I always prefer smaller cities to Capitals and Metropolises). This makes me feel more secure.