When Zahra Basiri, MEd ’25, arrived in Kelowna in 2023, right in the middle of a wildfire, her first days in Canada were filled with detours, hotel stays, and uncertainty. But what began as a challenging start has since become a meaningful chapter in her academic and professional journey.
A Lifelong Commitment to Teaching
Teaching has been part of her life since she was 18. After moving from England to Iran, she began teaching English while completing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. What started as a practical choice soon revealed itself as her true passion.
“I was interested in architecture, but I didn’t get into that program. At the same time, I was teaching, and I realized that was what really inspired me,” she recalls. “When I completed my first master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, everything became meaningful. I thought ‘yes, this is it. This is what I want to do’.”
Since then, Zahra has continued to teach and grow, describing education as a career that never becomes repetitive. For her, teaching remains more than a career: it is a lifelong calling.
“Each student teaches me something new,” she reflects. “It’s not just about their growth—it’s about my growth too. That’s what makes teaching so colourful, so meaningful, and why I want to continue learning and growing for the rest of my life.”
Finding Community at UBCO
One of the highlights of her time in the Master of Education program has been the chance to connect with students and faculty who share her passion for education. She has especially valued her involvement in the English Foundation Program and BARK (Building Academic Retention through K9s).
“Being a member of BARK and the English Foundation Program has been particularly fulfilling,” she says. “It’s allowed me to connect with students on a deeper level and contribute to the supportive and inclusive environment that both programs foster within the university.”
As an international student, she has drawn on her own experience of culture shock to support her students.
“When I came here, it was my first time living without my parents. Balancing studying, working, and family responsibilities was very difficult,” she recalls. “I understand the pressure students feel — the loneliness, missing family. I tell them, it’s okay. You’re not alone. Everyone goes through this.”
In her classes, conversations about everyday experiences, like how quiet Kelowna feels at night or how early the shops close, often become unexpected moments of connection — and that sense of belonging extends beyond the classroom.
“I feel like I have a family here,” she says. “The professors, the staff and my peers. Everyone has been so supportive. That’s what makes this place feel like home.”
Capstone: Learning How to Learn
Her capstone project reflects her lifelong interest in improving the learning experience for students.
“My capstone project focuses on learning strategies, specifically, how to help students develop the skills to learn independently and take charge of their education,” she explains. “We often ask students to study, but we don’t really teach them how to do it. By equipping them with the right tools and strategies, I believe they can achieve their academic goals more effectively and enjoy the process.”
As part of her research, she designed a practical booklet for both teachers and students, drawing from strategies like cognitive load theory, self-testing, and the importance of multi-modal learning.
Advice for Future Graduate Students
For those considering moving to Kelowna, Zahra encourages students to take care of themselves, make connections with peers, and embrace the Okanagan.
“At first I only studied and worked when I moved here, but when I started going to the gym and spending time in nature, everything became much better. Even ten minutes outside can make such a difference.”
Vicki Green Award Recipient
In recognition of her research, Zahra received the 2025 Vicki Green Graduate Award. The award was endowed by Dr. Vicki Green, a member of the Okanagan School of Education. The award is offered to a graduate student in the Okanagan School of Education, studying issues in social, economic, ecological, environmental and/or political sustainability. Candidates for the award are selected based on how their research will implement contemplative, transformational, imaginative, or creative interdisciplinary understandings in sustainability for children, youth, or teachers.
Zahra was previously recognized for her graduate work as one of our 2024 Stephen Daniel Pope Graduate Award recipients.