39 stories
Brummana Autumn Leaves | أوراق خريف برمانا
She teaches at the Quaker school in Brummana, preparing for retirement. He's the alumnus who returns to donate his fortune. In autumn's change, they find unexpected spring. 'Inti el fasel el jdid' (أنتِ الفصل الجديد).
Camden Confession
Catholic school teacher Adaobi breaks every vow she ever made when Father Michael—a thick Nigerian priest with doubts of his own—seeks her counsel after hours.
El Paso Heat | Calor de El Paso
In a border town where two worlds meet, a teacher finds love with the mechanic who fixes her car
Harrow Heat
School headmistress Dr. Adaeze Nwankwo maintains strict discipline—until the thick Nigerian PE teacher shows her that some rules are meant to be broken.
Martinique Moonlight
Créole French teacher Céleste offers private lessons to American expat Adam on moonlit beaches, where language isn't the only thing she helps him master.
Qana Poetry | شعر قانا
She teaches children poetry in Qana, near the site of miracles and massacres. He's the UN observer documenting Lebanon's complexities. Between tragedy and hope, they write their own verse. 'Inti el qaside el wahidi' (أنتِ القصيدة الوحيدة).
Rainham Rhapsody
Music teacher Folake's star pupil has aged out of lessons—but the thick Nigerian woman who was once a shy teenager now wants adult instruction of a different kind.
Stoke Surrender
Pottery teacher Nneka shapes clay at her Stoke studio—but the thick Burundian executive who takes weekend classes wants to be molded in more personal ways.
The Calligraphy Lesson | درس الخط
An American student learns Arabic calligraphy from a master in Fez. The ink stains her fingers—but his touch stains her deeper.
The Islamic School Teacher | معلمة المدرسة الإسلامية
She teaches at an Islamic school in Sydney. He's the single father who volunteers constantly. Their paths cross over bake sales and homework—and become something more.
The Madrasa Headmistress | ناظرة المدرسة
A young teacher at a girls' madrasa. The headmistress who runs it with an iron fist. Their rivalry becomes something else entirely.
The Quran Teacher's Wife | زوجة معلم القرآن
He comes for Quran lessons with the sheikh. He stays for the sheikh's wife—the woman who serves tea and watches with hungry eyes.
בלוז באר שבע | Beersheba Blues
A Bedouin lawyer and a kibbutz teacher from the Negev challenge each other—and their communities—with an impossible love.
Channel Crossing
On a ferry to France, divorced geography teacher Hannah shares cabin space with a handsome stranger—and a storm forces them closer together.
Classical Harmonies
Aliya teaches classical Pakistani music to preserve tradition. When businessman Kamran enrolls to connect with his late mother's culture, he finds more than harmonium lessons.
קבלה בצפת | Safed Mysticism
A spiritual seeker learns more than Kabbalah from a mystical teacher in the ancient city of Safed.
معلمة الفن | The Art Teacher of Tetouan
An art student discovers passion with his mature teacher in the white city of Tetouan.
The Embroidery Lesson
Leila learns traditional Palestinian embroidery from her mother's friend—and discovers that Imm Rami's teachings extend far beyond thread and needle.
The Gym Class Hero
PE teacher Saira deals with rowdy students all day, but it's the new sports coach Omar—all muscles and soft smiles—who throws her off balance.
The Landlord's Lesson
Teaching assistant Maryam can barely afford her flat's rising rent. When her handsome landlord Hamza learns why, he offers an arrangement neither expected to enjoy so much.
دَرْسُ الفِعْلِ المَاضِي | The Lesson of the Past Tense
A wealthy merchant's wife teaches her young tutor the intricacies of the past tense verb conjugations through increasingly intimate demonstrations in classical Arabic.
دَرْسُ المَفْعُولِ بِهِ | The Lesson of the Direct Object
A renowned grammarian finds himself captivated by his student's mother, teaching her the accusative case through examples that grow increasingly personal.
Exeter Embrace
When history teacher Miss Afolabi chaperones a school trip, she ends up sharing a room with parent volunteer Derek. One thing leads to another in their cozy Exeter B&B.
Stoke Sweetness
Pottery teacher Morenike's hands create beautiful things. When student Christopher stays late for extra lessons, she shows him her hands can do much more than shape clay.
Dadaab Camp Teacher
She teaches in Dadaab refugee camp—a thick ebony widow who's educated generations. When he comes documenting education programs, she offers her story. Some documentation becomes personal.
Beckenham Beauty
Music teacher Efua gives piano lessons from her Beckenham home. When adult learner Marcus struggles with rhythm, she shows him that keeping time requires a very personal touch.
Stockholm Integration Specialist
She teaches Swedish to Somali refugees in Rinkeby—a thick ebony widow who bridges two worlds. When he joins her intensive class, the lessons become intense. Some integration is physical.
The Somali Driving Teacher
She teaches driving to Somali women in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony divorcee who's helped hundreds get their licenses. When he needs lessons, she offers private sessions. Some driving requires hands-on instruction.
The Somali Quran Teacher
She teaches Quran to children in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony widow who memorized the entire holy book. When he signs up for adult lessons, she offers private instruction. Some knowledge requires intimate study.
The Somali Tutoring Center
She runs the after-school tutoring center in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony divorced teacher who wants every Somali kid to succeed. When he volunteers to help, she shows him her teaching methods. Some lessons happen after the students leave.
Madrasa Nights
He teaches Quran to children by day. The thick headmistress calls him to her office after hours. Her lessons aren't in any holy book.
Piano Lessons
At 32, Derek decides to finally learn piano. His instructor is a voluptuous widow who teaches him far more than scales.
The Quran Teacher
She teaches Quran to the children of Zanzibar's elite. When a grown man comes to her for lessons, she teaches him things not found in any holy book.
Dugsi Dilemma
He volunteers at the local dugsi—the Somali Quran school—to help with administration. The thick divorced teacher who runs the evening classes has been eyeing him for months. One night, after the children leave, she teaches him a lesson not found in any holy book.
Mwalimu
The new Quran teacher is a thick, widowed woman who covers everything but her eyes. Her lessons are private. She teaches him surahs. Then she teaches him what the texts never mention.
The Carpool
He's a young teacher. She's on every committee, at every event. Her kids adore him. She tells herself that's why she's there so often.
Verses and Vows
She wants to improve her Qur'an recitation before Ramadan. He's the teacher her mother recommended—patient, knowledgeable, and too handsome for tajweed lessons. Between verses, they find a different kind of connection.
The Music Teacher
Piano lessons at fifty-three. She teaches him more than scales.
The Madrasa Teacher
She taught him Quran when he was seven. Now he's twenty-five, and Mwalimu Khadija has lessons of a different kind. Some teachers never stop educating.