Meet Maheen Tarver | CEO of Bhasha Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maheen Tarver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maheen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Bangladesh, a small country located in South Asia, has around 13 million people of Bangladeshi origin living throughout the world. As a Bengali mother living abroad with two kids and in an inter-cultural marriage, I was faced with a challenge to find stimulating and captivating online resources to teach Bangla, my native language. To my dismay, I discovered that there were no online resources available for teaching Bangla, neither for adults nor for children. I was determined to teach my children Bangla and help them embrace their ancestral identity, as well as enable my husband to communicate with my relatives in Bangladesh. Thus, I embarked on a journey to create content that would work for both kids and adults, as a mother and wife of a non-Bengali. My quest was to develop engaging and effective online resources tailored to meet the needs of Bengali language learners.

What should our readers know about your business?
Bangla Institute was established with the aim of connecting Bengalis worldwide with their ancestral language, culture, and knowledge. It was envisioned as an online school that would allow anyone, regardless of their location, to experience the traditional teaching methods of the Bengali language.

The curriculum at Bangla Institute is designed by experts in the field of linguistics and education, ensuring that the courses are of the highest quality. The institute offers courses and translation services worldwide, providing one-on-one classes for children and adults. The classes can be scheduled at any time, even at night, to fit the client’s schedule. Bangla Institute takes privacy seriously, especially for children’s photos and videos, and does not use them in marketing campaigns. The company follows all federal rules and regulations as a US-based company and copyrights all its courses.

What’s unique about Bangla Institute is that it is the only Bangla Online Education Academy worldwide – with copyrighted materials. The courses use integrated cultural experiences to teach people the language, making the learning experience more engaging and immersive. The institute is open 24/7, 365 days a year, so learners can access the courses conveniently.

Before starting any courses, Bangla Institute conducts a mini-class to determine the student’s proficiency level and enable the client to assess whether the program is suitable for them. This ensures that learners get the most out of their courses and achieve their desired outcomes.

However, as soon as the project was launched, we, the founders, faced numerous challenges, chief among them being that Bengalis were scattered worldwide.

Additionally, e-learning was still a relatively new concept at the time, and reaching out to Bengalis in different parts of the world required unconventional digital marketing strategies, advertising on social media, collaborating with influencers, and creating partnerships. Despite these challenges, we remained committed to their vision and worked tirelessly to establish a strong student base across continents.

Bangla Institute has learned many valuable lessons along the way. One of the most important lessons is the importance of perseverance and commitment to a vision. The founders faced numerous challenges, but they remained steadfast in their goal of providing quality Bangla education to learners worldwide. They also learned the importance of adapting to changing circumstances and being open to new ideas and strategies.

Another lesson Bangla Institute has learned is the power of community and collaboration. The institute has built a strong network of students, teachers, and partners who help each other learn and grow. By fostering a sense of community, Bangla Institute has created a supportive environment where learners feel motivated and encouraged to continue their language-learning journey.

Lastly, Bangla Institute has learned the importance of innovation and creativity in education. The institute has pioneered new teaching methods and technologies to make learning Bangla more engaging and enjoyable. By combining traditional teaching methods with modern technologies, Bangla Institute has provided learners a unique and effective learning experience.

Today, Bangla Institute continues to strive for cultural outreach and learning, inspiring conversations and awakenings worldwide. Through innovative and engaging teaching methods, the institute has helped Bengalis worldwide reconnect with their cultural heritage and fostered a sense of community among its students.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Snellville, GA, I would take them on a week-long trip to experience what the city offers. Here’s a little itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival and Exploration
– Visit Briscoe Park and enjoy a picnic lunch
– Check out the Snellville Farmers Market for fresh produce and local goods
– Visit the Gwinnett County Public Library and check out some books or attend a workshop

Day 2: Outdoor Adventure
– Go hiking or mountain biking at Stone Mountain Park
– Visit Yellow River Park and enjoy a nature walk
– Rent a kayak or paddleboard and explore Alexander Lake

Day 3: Food and Drink Tour
– Grab breakfast at local favorite, The Brunch Apothecary
– Visit local breweries like Anderby Brewing and StillFire Brewing
– Enjoy dinner at a local spot like Taqueria Los Hermanos or Rico’s World Kitchen

Day 4: Culture and History
– Visit historic sites like the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse and McDaniel Farm Park
– Check out the art exhibits at the Hudgens Center for the Arts
– Enjoy dinner at local favorite Dominick’s Italian Restaurant

Day 5: Entertainment and Nightlife
– Catch a movie at the New Vision Stonecrest 16 & IMAX
– Visit the local bowling alley, Stars and Strikes
– Enjoy dinner and drinks at The Rail Pub

Day 6: Relaxation and Shopping
– Visit local spas like The Woodhouse Day Spa or Natural Body Spa & Shop
– Check out shopping centers like The Avenue Webb Gin or The Shoppes at Webb Gin
– Enjoy dinner at local favorite, Taqueria Tsunami

Day 7: Farewell
– Enjoy a farewell brunch at local favorite First Watch
– Visit local markets like the Snellville Farmers Market or the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds Market for last-minute souvenirs or snacks

These are just a few ideas for a week-long trip to Snellville, GA. There are many fun, interesting, and exciting people, places, and things to explore, and the itinerary can be customized based on my friend’s interests and preferences.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am dedicating this to my dad, Mainuddin Ahmad, who played a significant role in fostering a love for language in my heart. His influence was instrumental in instilling a deep appreciation for the mother tongue and sharing that love with others. My father always said that the joy that comes with sharing a passion for language will always be the best kind of joy one can experience.

Website: www.BanglaInstitute.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebanglainstitute

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebanglainstitute

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBanglaInstitute/

Image Credits
All credits and copyrights belong to Bhasha Inc.