Mouaead Albalkhi
Study Type: Adult and Community
Study Location: Ilkeston
Subject Studied: Adult English and Maths
Mouaead credits the positive classroom environment for helping him develop
Mouaead Albalkhi is a dedicated adult student who joined Derby College with a clear goal: to improve his English and maths skills so he can build a stable future for himself and his family.
Originally from Syria, Mouaead and his family spent several years in Jordan before moving to the UK to seek safety and a fresh start.
He previously studied journalism for two years at university, but the war forced him to leave his home and education behind. Despite these challenges, Mouaead has shown remarkable resilience, positivity, and determination to rebuild his life.
Since arriving in the UK, one of Mouaead’s biggest barriers has been learning a new language as an adult. At 40, he acknowledges that acquiring English has not come easily.
Alongside this, he faces significant family responsibilities, including caring for his young twins. Time constraints and childcare commitments have made studying particularly demanding.
However, his desire to improve his skills and contribute meaningfully to society motivates him to persevere.
Derby College has played a crucial role in helping Mouaead overcome these barriers. He describes his experience at the Roundhouse and St. James Centre as transformative, praising the supportive, professional teachers who have given him confidence, structure, and encouragement.
With guidance from tutors such as Amy, Ianina, Antoinette, Matthew, and others, Mouaead has already passed several key assessments, including Entry 3 and Level 1 Maths and his reading exam.
Looking ahead, Mouaead hopes to progress into plumbing and eventually into gas engineering. He has recently passed his B1 reading exam and will sit the Speaking and Listening assessment in June.
He will then progress onto B2. Mouaead will also sit his GCSE maths exam on June 14th.
His long‑term aim is to become a valuable member of the community and give back to the country that has offered his family safety and opportunity.
Through hard work and the support of Derby College, he is well on his way to achieving these goals.