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About

Two teachers on three continents

Shakeel and Fauzia Gaya have taught students in Canada, Malaysia and Tunisia. Both are certified teachers of English as a second language.

The founders

A husband and wife who have taught on three continents.

Shakeel Gaya

Shakeel Gaya

Founder and CEO

Began in pharmaceutical training and business development across South Asia and British Columbia, then turned to teaching. A certified ESL teacher, founder of an English academy in Tunisia, a Distinguished Toastmaster, and a regular writer for local media.

  • Distinguished Toastmaster, Toastmasters International
  • Club Growth Director, Toastmasters District 21, 2023–24
  • Certified teacher of English as a second language
  • Upjohn International Trainers Training Program, Kalamazoo
  • Has delivered Salesforce training in India and Pakistan

Watch Shakeel on camera

Photograph to come

Fauzia Gaya

Director

Co-founded the Tunisia academy with Shakeel. Licensed to teach in British Columbia since 1999, ESL certified in Canada, teaching English online, and currently homeschooling their grandchildren while developing communication programmes for women and youth.

  • BC College of Teachers certificate, 1999
  • ESL certified, Canada; online ESL teacher
  • Co-founder, English academy in Tunisia
  • Teaches in English, Urdu, Hindi and French; Arabic too
Two teachers at the front of a small classroom, one gesturing toward a standing student
A community hall of families applauding, seen from the stage

A story we are proud of

Two sisters who would not speak in class. Now they speak anywhere.

Their father wrote that they arrived shy and left able to speak clearly and persuasively in any setting. He recommends the academy to any parent who wants the same for their children. His words are below, in full.

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sessions in the Young Speakers Forum
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countries where students have been taught
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certified teachers behind every programme
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families and students quoted on this page, by name

A career spent teaching people to be understood.

Michigan

Trained to train

Shakeel attends the Upjohn International Trainers Training Program in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

South Asia

Training and business development, a whole region

Training and Business Development Manager for South Asia at a multinational pharmaceutical company.

British Columbia

Metro Vancouver

Territory Supervisor for Metro Vancouver and regions of British Columbia.

Tunisia

An English academy of their own

Shakeel and Fauzia establish an English academy in Tunisia and design its ESL curriculum.

Toastmasters

Distinguished Toastmaster

Toastmasters International’s highest award, for a completed path of speeches, leadership roles and mentoring.

2022 to 2024

Leading Toastmasters in British Columbia

Division Director of Toastmasters District 21 in 2022–23, then its Club Growth Director in 2023–24, one of the three officers who run the district.

2024, today

S GAYA Academy

The Young Speakers Forum, run with the White Rock Muslim Association in 2024, adult programmes, keynotes, and articles in the local press.

An award plaque and small trophy on a home bookshelfA sunlit, empty language classroom in Tunis with blue shutters

Why S GAYA

What is different here.

Taught by a Distinguished Toastmaster

The DTM is earned, not bought: a full path of speeches, evaluations and leadership roles. Shakeel teaches the method he completed.

Two certified teachers, not one coach

Shakeel and Fauzia are both ESL certified; Fauzia is licensed to teach in BC. Second-language speakers are the rule in our rooms, not the exception.

Peer evaluation, in a safe room

Every speech gets feedback from the group as well as the teacher. Students learn to listen as carefully as they speak.

Built for young people first

The Young Speakers Forum exists because the hardest speech is the first one. Families see the change; three of them say so on this page.

Downtown Vancouver at night reflected in False Creek

Contact

Tell us who needs to be heard.

A parent, a student, a manager, an event organiser. Write in English, Urdu or Arabic. We reply from Vancouver.

+1 604 375 7011WhatsApp +1 604 375 7011shakeelgayabiz@gmail.comVancouver, BC, Canada
Young Speakers ForumAdult programmeBook Shakeel to speakSchools and community groupsOnline from abroad