Interviewer: Mahmoud Mansi
Photography Credits:Faten Elbendarie,
Dina Yacout & Sonty Ahmed Thabet
“In the English Department we really learn about life, not just about language and literature. We become analysts, critics, writers and avid readers. We discuss philosophy, history, social issues and many other aspects of life, and that is why our graduates are all over the world now, excelling in different and diverse fields. It is a life changing experience.”
Asser Mattar
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEE
Born and raised in Alexandria, Asser Mattar is a teaching assistant and an MA candidate at the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University. He earned his BA in English literature in 2017, after his first BA in accounting also from Alexandria University in 2000. He has a diverse work experience in different fields; such as sports journalism, accounting, business administration, media and communications. He is also a freelance writer, writing in both English and Arabic, and he published his first short story collection in Arabic entitled Autobees A’am Aliskandariyah (Alexandria Public Bus) in the year 2010.
THE INTERVIEW
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: At HR Revolution, we personally believe that studying any profession related to humanities gives depth to the personality and provides skills that cannot be acquired through any other kind of learning. Many students who graduate from the English Department work after graduation in other fields and they show capability and success. What do you believe the study of English Literature adds to a person’s perception, skill and personality?
Asser Mattar: Personally, I have a very distinctive relationship with the English Department at Alexandria University, as I joined it as a student at an older age after I had met many graduates, students, and professors who were one of the main reasons I decided to do so. In the department we really learn about life, not just about language and literature. We become analysts, critics, writers and avid readers. We discuss philosophy, history, social issues and many other aspects of life, and that is why our graduates are all over the world now, excelling in different and diverse fields. It is a life changing experience.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What kind of teaching style appeals to today’s university students? And what are the challenges they face?
Asser Mattar: Well, research has become much easier now than the past because of the internet and the huge advances in information technology. However, this also creates some problems like plagiarism and the tendency of some students not to exert enough effort reading literary texts or doing proper research, solely depending on unreliable sources. At the English department we encourage creativity, and we have many students who are artistically talented; musicians, actors, painters, etc. Our teaching staff encourages students to show these talents, enhancing their presentation skills. You can see students acting, singing, or presenting a poster they designed of a novel for example. It is an unconventional way to deliver the information, and it is more preferable than the rigid, traditional methods. We also give the students space to express themselves freely and openly, creating a safe zone for different opinions and open discussions, as long as we all respect and appreciate each other.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: There are many similarities between teaching and HR, both provide empowerment, leadership, fairness, in addition to measuring and enhancing performance. Motivation is also one of the similarities and one of the most challenging. As Demonstrator how do you keep your students motivated throughout the semester?
Asser Mattar: I learn from my students as much as they learn from me. I try to listen as much as I talk, understanding their needs and trying to suit them as much as possible to the curriculum. I believe learning should be a fun experience, and making your students look forward to attending your lecture is a great challenge that I hope I have achieved. Of course there is a similarity between HR and teaching, but when the students (or employees in the case of HR) know that you are working conscientiously for their own good, they will appreciate your efforts, and their motivation will come out of mutual love. Being fair, understanding, and listening are the keywords. I deal with my students as my friends, rather than making them feel I am their superior.
We have many students who are artistically talented; musicians, actors, painters, etc. Our teaching staff encourages students to show these talents…
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Asser, you have made many brave decisions across your career life, probably to the norm it would be an unusual career path. After being a successful journalist, you decided you want to shift your career into the academic career of English Literature, and you started your second BA at the age of 36. What was your main driver into making such decision?
Asser Mattar: Well, as I said before many people encouraged me to join the English department, which was a postponed dream for a long time. When I felt that the right time had come, I just told myself “better late than never.” After working for 6 years in the Gulf, I decided to return home, as I felt that I needed a new challenge in life, and I missed my city and my family too. After being in Alexandria for a few months, I thought about joining the English Department.
To be honest it was not an easy decision in the beginning, with people my age having built stable careers, creating families, or even becoming business owners, while I am doing something I should have done two decades ago, being a student all over again with people half my age. Even my parents were kind of confused at first, questioning my decision. But as time went by, everybody appreciated what I am doing, and I felt that this place is where I belong. I felt comfortable. My love for books, reading, and writing prevailed. I became a top student in my class and I made many new lifetime friends. The age gap that I was afraid of was as if it never existed.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What were the biggest challenges that opposed you when you decided you want to study English Literature and start a brand new career?
Asser Mattar: I think the only challenge after I had made that decision was time management. At that time I was working and studying, and I wanted to keep up with both. Sometimes I could go to work in the morning then go to a lecture or two and then go to work again until the evening and return home at night after being out for 12 hours for example. However, I was really happy with what I am doing and this gave me enough energy to go on. In my senior year I decided to take a break from work, so I resigned and spent the last semester at the university only studying and attending lectures without other distractions, and it really helped.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What piece of advice would you pass to others who are considering a career shift? And when it would be considered a wrong or correct choice?
Asser Mattar: My advice is to follow your gut feeling. You might listen to many people advising you, but you know yourself better than any other. Life is all about choices, and there is an element of risk in every choice or decision. The question is how much you are willing to risk. When I studied accounting I learned about the “opportunity cost” where there is a cost for every choice you make, this instead of that. So the opportunity cost of life is in our hands, you are willing to lose something to gain something else, and so on. For example, can I afford to quit my job for a few months (or maybe years) to study something I really want? Am I financially stable enough to do that? Will this have a better impact on my future? Am I really happy in my job or do I just need the money? Can I take the responsibility? We have to ask ourselves these kinds of questions and many others before thinking of a career shift. Unfortunately I believe that this is a much harder decision in Egypt than in many other countries because of economic, cultural, and social reasons, and of course because of how the educational system works here. It is hard to tell when it is a right or wrong decision, this is very relative according to each individual case, but again my advice is not listening to social pressure when you have made up your mind. What I usually do before any decision is to write down the pros and cons of it and then decide.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: With the awareness of reading and self-learning, the HR departments in several global organizations are establishing libraries within the organization and initiating book clubs within.
Asser Mattar: I think this is very important. We also have a book club at the English Department, and we have no problem in keeping it going as we all (whether students, alumni, or staff) naturally love books. I think students of humanities in particular should develop a love for reading and writing, otherwise they would be wasting their time. Public libraries should be encouraged. I believe that we need this culture in our society.
Many people encouraged me to join the English department, which was a postponed dream for a long time. When I felt that the right time had come, I just told myself “better late than never.”
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: It is common that books could be our best friends, but a book can also act as a mentor. As a dedicated reader yourself, what tips would you share with all readers in order to increase their efficiency in reading and therefore learn as much lessons as possible from the book they are reading?
Asser Mattar: Again I think that time management is very important. We waste too much time on Facebook or other social media applications, or watching TV shows, etc. I have to admit that this is one of my flaws too that I am trying to overcome. I also try to avoid any distractions while reading because I lose focus easily. I try to put a goal of reading a certain amount of books every year. I also ask myself what kind of books I need to read, in what field, or which genre of books. It is also good to have a pen and a notebook by your side when you are reading, to write important quotations or references that you will need later.
HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Last but not least, we would love to know about your favorite book, and how it impacts you.
Asser Mattar: It is very hard to talk about one book only or choose a favorite, especially when you are a bibliophile, but maybe what I have on my mind right now is a series of Japanese comic books entitled “Barefoot Gen” where the protagonist is a young boy who loses his family in the tragic nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. In spite of all the suffering he goes through, he never gives up. The writer and artist of these books, Keiji Nakazawa, actually went through the same tragic experience, so that is why his illustrations are very realistic and painful, showing the ugliness of war, no matter how some people try to justify it.
Thank you Asser for this inspiring interview,
for sharing your experience
and for developing the community.