A week after the autumn break, our school had the pleasure of welcoming a new English teacher, Ms. Lizi Dzagnidze. Renowned for her passion and intellect, she has already made a strong impression on her students. However, beyond her classroom, she remains relatively unknown to the broader school community. This article aims to offer a brief yet insightful introduction to Ms. Lizi.
Ms. Lizi has a very strong academic background in literature—a PhD degree in English and American Modernist poetry. "My passion for literature and research has taken me to many amazing places," she said. "I’ve had the privilege of giving talks at institutions like Oxford, the University of Madrid, and the University of London. Teaching is something I’m deeply passionate about, and I’ve been fortunate to share my love for literature with students at various universities." For over five years, she has taught at Tbilisi State University and Caucasus University, where she now serves as an associate professor. "These experiences have allowed me to grow both as an educator and a lifelong learner."
Lizi has started a new chapter in her career by joining GZAAT’s community. “The students here are incredibly engaged and curious—they challenge ideas and bring so much energy to the classroom. For people who are passionate about teaching, it’s the perfect fit… it’s deeply fulfilling to be part of a community that values knowledge and critical thinking at such a high level." she said. Lizi claims her first week a success because she’s remembered everyone’s names! Her students have helped her with the integration process as well, showing her “Google Classroom tricks” and updating her on topics they’ve covered in previous years. “My students made me feel right at home with their impressive preparation for the materials I gave them, their enthusiasm for learning and participation, and their welcoming attitude. " said Lizi.
After describing her experience, the Gazette asked Lizi to share some basic information about herself:
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by resilience. So many characters in literature and film go through horrible situations but still manage to find beauty, meaning, or themselves in the process, and that’s always stuck with me. My students inspire me too—they’re constantly coming up with ideas and details that make me look at familiar books in a whole new way.”
Favourite movie?
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Favourite book?
"The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. Incidentally, I fell in love with it through the Georgian translation by the brilliant Khatuna Tskhadadze from the English department of our school."
Favorite restaurant and dish?
" I wish I had something more interesting to say, but it's cheeseburger. As for the restaurant, any place that makes a good burger. My favorite one is Five Guys!"
How do you spend your free time?
"In my free time, which I rarely have, I’m either at the movies, the theater, or the opera with my friends. If I’m staying in, I’m probably playing my favorite video game."
Additional fun facts?
“Growing up, I always thought literature would just be a hobby, so I initially enrolled in the computer science faculty. But within a month, I realized my heart was in literature and switched my major that same semester. I translate a bunch of movies into Georgian for Cavea cinemas.
I’m obsessed with Lego book nooks—I can spend hours building them. And lastly, I have a 10-year-old Siamese cat named after Mel Gibson’s character from Mad Max."
Edited By: Eli Khokhiashvili
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