Areas
of Teaching
Applied
Linguistics ,Applied Psychology, Teacher Education, Methodology of Teaching
English
Areas
of Research Interests
Classroom based Action Research,
Teaching of English as a Second Language,
Teaching of the Second National Language,
Bilingualism,
Content Based Language teaching,
Teacher Education,
National Achievement levels
Books
1.A chapter on English Language Education in Excellence and Equity in Education Report - World Bank - ( July 2010 -June 2011 ( in print)
2.Merging of context and methodology : M.Ed. in TESOL curriculum in Sri Lanka - a pioneer Effort. ( 2007) In Negotiating Empowerment.. Orient Longman: Hyderabad.
3.The need for merging of context and methodology in the teaching of English in Sri Lanka.(2004) in Professor Sandarasegaram Felicitation Volume. Colombo: Kumaran Press
4."learned Helplessness" to "learned optimism" (2010). in Prof. Kanapathipplillai Sinnathamby Felicitation Volume .
5.How to develop your reading skills. (2000). In Adhyapana Vimarshana.Colombo; Sridevi Printers.
6.Role of attitudes in learning English in Sri Lanka: Has there been a change after Independence? (2000) in Developments in Education. 25thAnniversary Volume. The Faculty of Education University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Refereed
Journal Articles
1. Why not but I can't" - Influence of a 'culture of poverty' on learning: A case study. Sabaragamuwa University Journal. Volume 6. No. 1 December 2006.
2.Learning English in a disadvantaged school setting: A case for empowering the 'learned helpless' student (2006) in Sri Lanka, Challenges of a Society in Transition, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo
TECHNICAL
REPORTS
Writer of the Reports
1. National
assessment of achievement of grade four pupils in Sri Lanka (2009) NEREC:
Faculty of Education, University of Colombo.
2.Survey of status of second national language teaching and learning
in Colleges of Education. 2006 (Funded by the GTZ Project)
3.Early dropout of girls from schools in the Free Trade Zone areas and
their awareness and conformity to new laws in the Marriage Registration
Act [A study conducted in the Gampaha District]. (2002). Sponsored by
the National Committee on Women; Colombo - Sri Lanka.
Contributed to the following reports
1.Assessment of Minimum Learning Competencies (MLC) for effective school
learning.: A national level assessment administered at completion of
the primary cycle. A collaborative research project conducted by NIE
and NEREC, University of Colombo.(2004)
2.Research Team Member - National assessment of achievement of grade
four pupils in Sri Lanka (2003) NEREC: Faculty of Education, University
of Colombo.
3.A Study to Examine the Degree of Horizontal and vertical Integration
of the Modernized Curriculum Introduced at Secondary Level (Grade 6-11)
since 2007- Analysis on the English Language component
4.Contributed to the section on the Second National Languages in the
National Policy and a Framework of Action
5.(2008)Social Cohesion and Peace Education Unit, Ministry of Education
6.Contributor to the drafting of the Subject Benchmark statement on
Education (2009) .Appointed by the Quality Assurance And Accreditation
Council of the University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka
Conference
Papers
1. Is ability
grouping an answer to teaching English in large ESL classes in Sri Lanka?
A paper presented at the 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics,
Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China 23-28th August 2011.
2.‘ One size does not fit all” a paper presented at the 6th International
SLELTA Conference. BMICH Colombo , October 15-17, 2010
3." Three in one" - a Collaborative Action Research . A paper presented at the academic sessions 2010, Faculty of Education, University of Colombo
4."The learning teacher, experiential learning and the teaching practice cycle". Paper presented at the 7th ASIA TEFL international conference . Queens Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, 7th -9th August 2009.
5.Coping with student heterogeneity in the English Language classrooms in Sri Lanka paper presented at the Academic sessions. 2008 University of Colombo
6. "Student heterogeneity - the reality of the Sri Lankan ESL classrooms" Paper presented at the 6th ASIA TEFL conference Bali, Indonesia 1-3 August, 2008
7."Overcoming learned helplessness' Paper presented at the PGIE Research Form. Open University of Sri Lanka.14 December 2007
8."An example of a qualitative study" Paper presented at the workshop on capacity building in Education Research. Auditorium, Ministry of Education. November, 23 rd 2007;
9.'How to motivate the unmotivated? "Plenary at the Conference for RESC staff conducted by the National Institute of Education on 03.11.2006.
10."English for all" and English Language Teaching at Primary Level. Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference of the Sri Lanka English Language Teachers Association - English for Equality, Employment and Empowerment August - 4 -6, September 2006. Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. Colombo , Sri Lanka
11."Why not but I can't" - Influence of a 'culture of poverty' on learning: A case study. Paper presented at the 10 th Anniversary International symposium The issues and challenges of the 21 st century. 4 th -8 th July 2006 , Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka .
12."Apprenticeship and Guided Participation" in University English Language Teaching. Paper presented at the Enhancing University ELT Conference. 2-4 June 2006. Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. Colombo , Sri Lanka
13.The effect of western colonization on 'school cultures' and its impact on learning and teaching English. Paper presented at the 10th international conference on Sri Lanka Studies. 16th -18th December 2005. University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
14.Making Teacher Education interactive - University of Colombo experience. Joint presentation with Prof. S. Wijetunge. South Asian Consortium for Teacher Education and Development (SACTED) theme seminar,20 th May 2005.Colombo
15.Learning the second language in a disadvantaged school setting: Is 'learned helplessness' - a cause for failure to learn the second language? Paper presented at the conference on Sri Lanka; Challenges of a society in transition. 16 - 18 December 2004. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo.
16.Merging of context and methodology : M.Ed in TESOL curriculum in Sri Lanka - A pioneer effort. A paper presented at the International seminar on Effective (English) Language management in SAARC countries 14 - 15 October, 2004. Indo-American Centre for International Studies, Hyderabad, India.
17.English medium education and higher education. Paper presented at the Forum on "English medium Education in Sri Lanka: Relevance and feasibility. Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo. 19th July 2004.
18.Developing multiple textbooks for the Sri Lankan classrooms; Issues and challenges. Paper presented at the 2nd International conference of the Sri Lanka English Teachers' Association. 30 -1 September 2002. Colombo
19. Education system and the women professionals in Sri Lanka. Key note address at the Business and professional club of Wollongong - International Night. 27th February 2001.Wollongong, NSW, Australia
20.Communication or miscommunication - The case of second language acquisition in Sri Lankan classrooms. Paper presented at the Academic sessions 2000. 16th February, 2001. Faculty of Education University of Colombo.
Role of Classroom interaction in second language acquisition in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the 10th Research student Colloquium, July 21 - July 22, 2000.Graduate School of Education. University of Wollongong, Australia.
21.Education Reforms and the changing perspectives of Teaching of English in Sri Lanka: Targets and challenges. Paper presented at the 7th Sri Lanka Studies Conference . 3-6 December1999. Canberra, Australia.
22.Role of classroom interaction in second language learning in Sri Lanka . (2002) Unpublished: Dissertation submitted to the University of Wollongong in fulfillment of the requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy of Education.
23.Motivation as a contributing factor in second language learning : A case study of a disadvantaged school setting. (2003) Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science in Applied Psychology
24.How effective is the distance mode in teaching English to teacher trainees?(1995) Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the Master of Philosophy in Education.
Awards
and Grants
1. Professional
Development of Teacher Educators Fellowship to University of Wollongong
to pursue Doctoral Studies - Funded by the World Bank (1998-2001)
2. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) award to participate
in Information Technology Management - a holistic approach to Information
Communication Technology Course at LIFE academy, Karlsted, Sweden - 2004
3. Awarded SEDA accreditation for the Portfolio submitted for the fulfillment
of the requirement for the award of the Accreditation of Senior Teachers
in Higher Education (ASTHE - 2005-06)
4. Study attachment to University of West of England for Training on Educational
testing and Assessment. funded by the National Education Research and
Evaluation Centre.13th October - 8th December 2003
5. Travel Grant recipient to present a paper at the 5th Asia TEFEL conference
in Malaysia.2007
6. Travel grant recipient to present a paper at the 7th Asia TEFL conference
in Thailand Bangkok , August, 7th - 9th August 2009.
7. Won a National Education Commission, Sri Lanka Research grant for the
year 2009 for Research on Problems in English Language Teaching in the
secondary schools
8. ALIA 2011 Solidarity Award to present a paper at the 16th World Conference
on Applied Linguistics to be held in Beijing, China from 22nd -28th August
2011
Involvement
with Other Universities
1.Developed on line course material for the ITE 1002 - Communication skills Development Subject for the University of Moratuwa.
2.English Language consultant for the IRQUE Project - designed a new curriculum for an intensive Course and reviewed the existing curriculum for the first year undergraduates of the Faculty of Arts, University of Sri Jayawardenapure
3.Domestic consultant for the British Council, Sri Lanka on the consultancy assignment as English Language Teaching specialist on the Education for the Knowledge Society Project (EKSP) - ADB Loan No.:2571 - December 2009 - January 2010
4.Consultant for GIZ for Second National language teaching and learning in the Sri Lankan schools.
5.Short term consultant for the Sri Lanka Sector Development Project - Analytical work for the Excellence and Equity in Education Report - World Bank - July 2010 -June 2011
6.Consultant and curriculum developer for the Diploma in Global Partnership programme jointly offered by the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo, Cambridge Foundation. UK and the British Council
7.Served as panel member on promotion boards and evaluated the self assessment of academic staff applying for promotion to the grade of Professor in the Universities of Jaffna, Peradeniya, Eastern University and Open University of Sri Lanka.
8.Resource person for the Staff Development Centres in the University of Colombo and University of Kelaniya
9.Resource person for Curriculum Development In the National Colleges of Education
10.Subject Reviewer appointed by the Quality Assurance And Accreditation Council of the University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka
11.External Examiner of the Ph.D thesis of Gandhigram Rural University, India
12.External Examiner for the PGIE. Open University of Sri Lanka
13.Conducted a video conference session for the Global School partnership programme teachers in Nepal
14.Collaboration with Dr. David Hayes of Brock University Canada in his project "The role of school language education in the development of respect among ethnic communities in Sri Lanka and its impact on the development of the foundations for social harmony in the country". ( on going )
Administrative
Responsibilities
1.Member
of the UGC Standing Committee on Staff Development.
2.Member of the committee appointed by the National Education Commission
to formulate a bi lingual policy. (2008.05.22)
3.Member of the committee appointed by the National Education Commission
to formulate a policy. on Teaching the Second National Language (2008.05.15)
4.Member of the committee of eminent persons to provide recommendations
on school system re-structuring and admission of children to schools
from year 2009 onwards.
5.Member of the Advisory Board of the Unit of Language Coordination
- National Institute of Education, Maharagama
6.Academic Board member National Education Research and Evaluation Centre
(NEREC) Faculty of Education, University of Colombo
7.Senate nominee - Board of Study Sri Palee campus.
8.Member of the Board of Management, Post Graduate Institute of English,
Open University of Sri Lanka.
9.Served as a Senate sub committee member appointed to investigate the
appropriateness of the change of the medium of Instruction at University
Level.
10.Served as a member of the Sub Committee on English Language in General
Education, appointed by the National Education Commission. April - June
2004
11.Served as a member of the Senate Sub - Committee appointed to look
into and make recommendations on the Draft University Act . Jan.2004.
12.Course Coordinator of M.Ed. in TESOL ( Full Time ) Course
13.Coordinator for the HETC project, Faculty of Education
14.Coordinator of the Diploma in Teacher Education for teachers of Global
Partnership Programme
Current
Positions
Member of the Higher Degrees Committee, National Library and Information Sciences, University of Colombo.
Member of the Board of Management of the National Library and Information Sciences, University of Colombo.
Member of the Advisory Board of the Open School - National Institute of Education, Maharagama
Member of the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Graduate Studies University of Colombo.
Member of the Board of Management of the Board of Study for Developmental Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies University of Colombo.
Member of the Academic Syndicate of the Institute of Human Resource Advancement, University of Colombo.
Member of the Board of Management of the Staff Development Centre, University of Colombo.
Member of the UGC Standing Committee on Education and Distance Education
