Dr. Sonia Irum

assistant professor of English, Islamabad

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Dr. Sonia Irum is an assistant professor of English Literature and head of Alumni Affairs at International Islamic University, Islamabad. Irum is an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. She went on study leave for her PhD.

Education

Irum chose literature at the Islamic University. She says the English department there is one of the top departments in the country and that she found some of the best mentors at the university. [1]

She completed her PhD at the Royal Holloway University of London, and the PhD focused on an ecocritical study of Uzma Aslam Khan's novels. She studied abroad on an overseas scholarship. Her studies were sponsored by a Pakistani institution and a UK institution. [1]

Study abroad and return

Irum spent her first year in a dormitory with students and later moved into a house with some of her friends. She says she did not have any family to support her. She says she took the first flight back after one month, during the Christmas holidays. She says her supervisor was very supportive. [1]

Irum says she is obliged to return and serve a Pakistani institution for as many years as she spent abroad. She says she never wanted to settle abroad and always planned to return, and that she already has a very fulfilling life in Pakistan. She says she was told that, if she wanted to stay, arrangements could be made. She says she has not reached a stage of regret so far. [1]

Career

Irum is an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. She went on study leave for her PhD. She has taught functional English to students in departments such as education and psychology, and she says she has 50 students in one class. She says the alumni office is now under her. [1]

Irum is the coordinator of the Critical Thinking Forum, where she has organized numerous events to foster dialogue between students and civil society. She runs workshops on how to teach girls critical thinking. Her work has been published in national and international journals, and she shares her insights on social and literary issues through blog articles and media appearances. [1]

Her research interests include environmental humanities, consumerism, creative writing and feminist literary studies. She says she gained networking and links with many professionals, and that she was engaged in projects with different embassies. She did freelance work, and she says a student visa allows 20 hours of work. She says her supervisor would engage her with other students. [1]

Views

Irum uses texts from her students' own fields, which keeps them interested. She says students are very eager to learn English and that they want to learn, speak and communicate in English. She says a person will not learn a language unless they want to communicate in it, and that communication in English is needed for students to learn it well. She says one should first be well versed in Urdu. [1]

Irum says international exposure shows what is actually happening in the world, compared with what people worry about in their own country. She says Pakistan's image abroad should be balanced by showing its other sides, and that media has always shaped the minds of the masses. She says teaching needs strict checks so that passionate and skilled people enter it. [1]

Irum says AI is not going anywhere and should be used responsibly. She says Pakistan may need 200 years for change that other nations achieve in 100, and that she sees devolution taking place, which upsets her a lot. She says she is always hopeful and very positive, wants to stay and help bring change, and hopes to see a much better Pakistan in about 50 years. She also says women have to prove themselves doubly, and that one should come out of one's comfort zone in order to grow. [1]

Personal life

Irum says English is her third language. She describes her own speech as a mix of American, British, Pakistani and Indian accents. [1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2025-02-28 Pakistani students can read English. They cannot speak it. Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Dr. Sonia Irum?

Dr. Sonia Irum is an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. She completed her PhD at the Royal Holloway University of London. She is the coordinator of the Critical Thinking Forum.[1]

What does Dr. Sonia Irum do?

Dr. Sonia Irum is an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. She has taught functional English to students in departments such as education and psychology. She also runs workshops on how to teach girls critical thinking.[1]

Where did Dr. Sonia Irum study?

Dr. Sonia Irum completed her PhD at the Royal Holloway University of London. She chose literature at the Islamic University. She studied abroad on an overseas scholarship.[1]

What was Dr. Sonia Irum's PhD about?

Dr. Sonia Irum's PhD focused on an ecocritical study of Uzma Aslam Khan's novels. She completed it at the Royal Holloway University of London.[1]

What are Dr. Sonia Irum's research interests?

Dr. Sonia Irum's research interests include environmental humanities, consumerism, creative writing and feminist literary studies. Her PhD focused on an ecocritical study of Uzma Aslam Khan's novels.[1]

Did Dr. Sonia Irum settle abroad?

Dr. Sonia Irum says she never wanted to settle abroad and always planned to return. She says she already has a very fulfilling life in Pakistan. She says she left Pakistan as Sonia and came back as Dr. Sonia.[1]

References

  1. Pakistani students can read English. They cannot speak it. . Thought Behind Things , 2025-02-28.
Show the source passages (65 statements)
  1. Sonia Irum is an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University, Islamabad. an Assistant Professor of English at the International Islamic University Islamabad
  2. Dr. Irum completed her PhD at the Royal Holloway University of London. Dr. Irum completed her PhD at the Royal Holloway University of London
  3. Her PhD focused on an ecocritical study of Uzma Aslam Khan's novels. focusing on an ecocritical study of Uzma Aslam Khan's novels
  4. Dr. Irum is the coordinator of the Critical Thinking Forum, where she has organized numerous events to foster dialogue between students and civil society. She is also the coordinator of the Critical Thinking Forum, where she has organized numerous events to foster dialogue between students and civil society
  5. Her research interests include environmental humanities, consumerism, creative writing and feminist literary studies. Her research interests span a wide range of topics, including environmental humanities, consumerism, creative writing, and feminist literary studies
  6. Dr. Irum's work has been published in national and international journals. Dr. Irum's work has been published in national and international journals
  7. Dr. Irum shares her insights on social and literary issues through blog articles and media appearances. she frequently shares her insights on social and literary issues through blog articles and media appearances
  8. Dr. Irum has been a fan of literature since childhood. Literature, I was always fan of literature since childhood
  9. Dr. Irum first wanted to study fine arts, but was told the field had little scope at the time. I wanted to do fine arts, but then I was told ke uska itna scope nahi hai at that time
  10. Dr. Irum also wanted to go for psychology. Then I wanted to go for psychology
  11. Dr. Irum chose literature at the Islamic University. I just I just made the right decision of choosing literature. This was in at the Islamic University
  12. Dr. Irum says the English department at the Islamic University is one of the top departments in the country. our English department is one of the top departments in the whole country
  13. Dr. Irum says she found some of the best mentors at the Islamic University. I find the best of the mentors in that university
  14. Dr. Irum says she resolved to go to England to study. main England England mein hi jaake padhungi
  15. Dr. Irum went on study leave for her PhD. I went on a study leave for the PhD
  16. Dr. Irum has taught functional English to students in departments such as education and psychology. Jab main functional English ke liye for example education department se le gayi, psychology department mein chali gayi
  17. Dr. Irum uses texts from her students' own fields, which keeps them interested. phir main unki un field se woh text leti hoon aur jo unki field se hote hain woh interest bhi lete hain
  18. Dr. Irum says students are very eager to learn English. somebody is resistant to learn that language. They are very eager
  19. Dr. Irum says students want to learn, speak and communicate in English. They want to learn English. They want to speak in English, they want to talk in English, they want to communicate in English
  20. Dr. Irum says a person will not learn a language unless they want to communicate in it. Unless and until you want communicate in that language, you won't learn
  21. Dr. Irum says communication in English is needed for students to learn it well. because we have to communicate in English so that they learn English that well
  22. Dr. Irum says one should first be well versed in Urdu. aapko Urdu mein well versed hona chahiye sabse pehle
  23. Dr. Irum says English is her third language. For me, it's my third language, right?
  24. Dr. Irum says international exposure shows what is actually happening in the world, compared with what people worry about in their own country. especially with international exposure you get to learn that what is actually happening in the world and what you were worried about when you were in your country
  25. Dr. Irum describes her own speech as a mix of American, British, Pakistani and Indian accents. a person like me who just articulates a medley of accents, whether it's American, British, Pakistani, Indian
  26. Dr. Irum had lived in a hostel in Pakistan before going abroad. I had been in a hostel in Pakistan also
  27. Dr. Irum spent her first year in a dormitory with students. My first year was in a dormitory with the with the um students
  28. Dr. Irum later moved into a house with some of her friends. I just shifted to a house with some of my friends
  29. Dr. Irum says she did not have any family to support her. since I did not have any family to support
  30. Dr. Irum says she took the first flight back after one month, during the Christmas holidays. maine toh pehli flight pakdi ek mahine baad hi and Christmas ki holidays thin and I came back
  31. Dr. Irum says she gained networking and links with many professionals. I got networking, I got linkage with with a lot of professionals
  32. Dr. Irum says she was engaged in projects with different embassies. I was engaged with different projects also with different embassies
  33. Dr. Irum did freelance work. freelancing ke taur pe main karti thi
  34. Dr. Irum says a student visa allows 20 hours of work. aapko 20 hours ka work allowed hota hai as a student when you are there on a student visa
  35. Dr. Irum says her supervisor would engage her with other students. my supervisor would engage me with other students
  36. Dr. Irum studied abroad on an overseas scholarship. It was um Higher Education Overseas Scholarship
  37. Dr. Irum's studies were sponsored by a Pakistani institution and a UK institution. both Pakistani institution and UK institution who were sponsoring my studies
  38. Dr. Irum says she is obliged to return and serve a Pakistani institution for as many years as she spent abroad. jitne saal aapne wahan lagaye, aapne wapas aake apne kisi Pakistani institution ko serve karna hai utne saal
  39. Dr. Irum says she never wanted to settle abroad and always planned to return. main kabhi bhi wahan pe settle nahi hona chahti thi, main wapas hi aana chahti thi
  40. Dr. Irum says she already has a very fulfilling life in Pakistan. I already have very fulfilling life here
  41. Dr. Irum says she was told that, if she wanted to stay, arrangements could be made. if you want to stay here, we can make you stay here
  42. Dr. Irum says she has not reached a stage of regret so far. abhi tak toh regret ka stage nahi hai
  43. Dr. Irum says she left Pakistan as Sonia and came back as Dr. Sonia. I went as Sonia and came back as Dr. Sonia
  44. Dr. Irum says she is more confident and more critical after her time abroad. I think I'm more confident. I think I'm more more critical in in a positive sense
  45. Dr. Irum says she now sees things through various perspectives. I see things through various perspectives
  46. Dr. Irum says she wanted to remain Pakistani. I wanted to remain Pakistani
  47. Dr. Irum says one is like an ambassador of Pakistan everywhere. like ambassador of Pakistan everywhere you are
  48. Dr. Irum says Pakistan's image abroad should be balanced by showing its other sides. jo ek Pakistan ka jo image duniya mein ban chuka hai na toh wohi bhi batana chahiye ke Pakistan yeh bhi hai
  49. Dr. Irum says media has always shaped the minds of the masses. media has always been shaping minds of the masses and media has a great role in that
  50. Dr. Irum says teaching needs strict checks so that passionate and skilled people enter it. bahut strict check hona chahiye ki people who are really passionate about teaching, people who are really skillful
  51. Dr. Irum runs workshops on how to teach girls critical thinking. main workshops bhi leti hoon toh usmein um ladkiyon ko critical thinking kaise sikhayi jaaye
  52. Dr. Irum says AI is not going anywhere. AI is not going anywhere
  53. Dr. Irum says AI should be used responsibly. usko kaise use karna hai responsibly use karna hai
  54. Dr. Irum says she is always hopeful and very positive. as a person like me is always hopeful and very positive
  55. Dr. Irum says Pakistan may need 200 years for change that other nations achieve in 100. jahan pe nations ko 100 saal lagte hain um badalne mein mujhe lagta hai humein 200 saal lagenge
  56. Dr. Irum says she sees devolution taking place, which upsets her a lot. devolution ho rahi hai and which which upsets me a lot
  57. Dr. Irum says she wants to stay and help bring change. I want to stay here, would want to bring the change
  58. Dr. Irum hopes to see a much better Pakistan in about 50 years. Maybe 50 saal mein I hope to see a very better Pakistan
  59. Dr. Irum says she had only been to India. No, I just I had only been to India
  60. Dr. Irum says her supervisor was very supportive. supervisor was very very um supportive
  61. Dr. Irum says the alumni office is now under her. especially now with this alumni office under me
  62. Dr. Irum says the alumni she is in contact with have been brilliant. jin jin alumni se mera contact hai, they they have been brilliant
  63. Dr. Irum says women have to prove themselves doubly. humein apne aap ko doubly prove karna padta hai ki ek toh hamara gender dusra hai
  64. Dr. Irum says she has 50 students in one class. Yahan mere paas 50 bachay hain ek class mein
  65. Dr. Irum says one should come out of one's comfort zone in order to grow. If you want to grow, just come out of your comfort zone