Peer Mentors

I am Shihnaz, a PhD student here at Exeter Uni from Saudi Arabia.

My PhD is on exploring the effect of an optimal learning condition to second language vocabulary learning. I am examining the role of learner attention on long-term word retention, where I will be using cognitive psychology and neuroscience theories and models in my study design.

Currently, I am in year 4, supervised by Prof. Philip Durrant (Primary) and Tamsin Kilner (secondary).

What people do not know about me is, I am half Arab half British! That is why the UK has always been my second home 🙂

I very much enjoy walking around this lovely, cosy city! Of course, Exeter Quayside is my favourite place, especially on nice days, where I could enjoy cycling there.

Looking forward to meeting you all! 🙂

My name is Jongjet, but you can call me JJ. I’m from Bangkok, Thailand. If you’re planning a vacation, I highly recommend visiting my country. And I am happy to share information. 😄

I’m a first-year PhD student, having started in the January intake. So I’m still quite new to all of this, but I really hope I can be helpful.

Basically, my PhD topic is to explore both students’ and teachers’ attitudes toward language diversity in English classrooms informed by Global Englishes. Prof. Li Li is my first supervisor, and Prof. Susana Afonso from Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies is my second supervisor.

Fun fact: I really enjoy running. I even run five days a week, although I’ve never joined a race (yet!).

I’ve really enjoyed living in Exeter so far. It’s not too crowded, feels very safe, and has many interesting places to explore.

I’m looking forward to meeting you all.

I’m Xiaona, and you can call me Aurora. I’m from the northwestern part of China, and it’s my 7th year in the UK. I am currently a PhD student, and I had two master’s degrees: one in linguistics and the other in TESOL.

My research focuses on Second Language Acquisition (SLA), critical thinking, academic writing, and English as a Foreign/Second Language (EFL/ESL). I am currently in the third year of my PhD studies.

I have a passion for traveling and have already explored much of the UK — I would be more than happy to share my travel experiences and recommendations with you.

Fun fact: I enjoy cooking and playing the guitar. In my free time, I especially love experimenting with new recipes and cooking for myself.

I’m looking forward to meeting you all!

My name is Jialin XU. I am from China. I am currently in the third year of my PhD. My research is about sign language and deaf education. My supervisors are Dr. Hannah Anglin-Jaffe and Dr. William Pearson.

This is my first time serving as a peer mentor, and I’m eager to do my best in this role. I genuinely hope to foster an open and friendly environment where we can all learn from each other.

Living in Exeter, a beautiful and historic city, has been a wonderful experience for me. I truly enjoy the charm of this quaint town and my time here. Occasionally, I travel to other areas for work, but I always look forward to connecting with all of you. Whether online or in person, I can’t wait to engage with all of you and support each other throughout this journey.

I am Salma from Saudi Arabia.

I am in my final year of my PhD. My research focuses on examining the influence of modality and redundancy effects on reading comprehension and self-efficacy for pupils with dyslexia: Theory of cognitive load perspective.

My supervisors are Dr. Alison Black and Dr. Liz Winter.

I love helping others— even small support can make a big difference!

Fun fact: I’m hopeless with directions, even Google Maps can’t help me, so my brother is my human GPS! 😄📍

Hello! My name is Davron, and I am from Uzbekistan.

I am currently in the third year of my PhD programme, working with Phil Durrant and Simon Hayhoe. My research focuses on core academic words and their meanings across disciplines. I love Exeter for its hills for they give the city amazing views.

Hi, my name is Seval Erciyas. I’m a PhD student at the University of Exeter, where I’m researching Social and Emotional Learning. I started my PhD in 2022.

My supervisors are Darren Moore and Angeliki Kalitsioglou.

A fun fact about me: I love cooking and sharing food with friends—it’s one of my favourite ways to connect with people.

In Exeter, my favourite place to unwind is the Quayside. I really enjoy walking by the water and spending time in the cafés there.

I’m looking forward to getting to know you and supporting you on your journey at Exeter!

Hi everyone, I’m Meshal Alhumaid from Saudi Arabia.

My PhD focuses on quality assurance in provision for pupils with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) in primary schools, using grounded theory. My main supervisor is Dr Simon Hayhoe, and my second supervisor is Dr George Koutsouris. I’m currently in the final stage of my PhD.

I enjoy learning new skills, travelling, trying new experiences, and motivating others. As a PhD student, I sometimes find myself feeling “distracted”. 😅

I love walking along the river 🚶‍♂️🌊, visiting the nearby countryside at weekends 🌿, and enjoying coffee with friends at Nero or Costa ☕. Exeter’s calm atmosphere makes it a wonderful place to study and reflect 📚.

I’m excited to connect with you all and share our experiences! 🤝✨

Hi, I’m Ilaha.

As a second-year PhD student in Education, I research how adolescent students, especially Muslim students, form their identities and how the school curriculum influences this process. My supervisors are Professor Rob Freathy and Dr. Karen Walshe.

Originally from Azerbaijan, I have lived in Devon for six years and enjoy exploring its landscapes while being part of the university community.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Hi everyone!

My name is Sabaa and I am a MPhil/PhD student from London. I’m also a distance learner.

As a distance learner, I often find it hard to interact and communicate with other students. So, my aim is to bring light to the distance learners and those who just prefer to meet online. Ever since COVID, online learning has become the norm and I hope to bring this to peer-mentoring too because some situations don’t allow in-person meetings.

My topic focuses on exploring tutoring using Vygotsky’s theory and it is influenced by the numerous conversations I had with my grandad about being a tutor in 2017. I once heard another PhD student from Exeter say “to me, my PhD is healing” and I truly relate to this becaus of those conversations with my grandad. It reminded me that sometimes, we just need someone to believe in our ideas and reflections to make it an answer to the prayers. To this day, that quote sits with me and a constant reminder of my “why”.

Fun fact: if I could hold another degree, it would be in teaching the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I remember and notice the small details and con actions and can possible talk your ear off about it.

Oh, and I have a twin who is also doing a PhD at York University and it’s the first time we are separated in our educational journey!

As a distance learner, I know it can be difficult to make bonds and interact, but I hope, in any capacity, we can change this together!