Dr. Dinali E Devendra

Senior Lecturer (G I)

PhD (Ulster University, UK) MA in English (University of Colombo) BA (Hons) (University of Sydney, Australia)

Language Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Contact:

CRC, 1st floor, HSS Building

Office: 2881056, Ext: 2203 Mobile: NULL

E-mail: dedev@ou.ac.lk NULL

I have a special interest in teaching adults in Distance Education contexts and I see the DE mode as a means of empowering students – especially those who are interested in lifelong learning.

Last Updated on 3 months

Areas of Specialization:

Teaching literature in second language contexts

Research interests:

Teaching literature in ESL contexts, ESL reading, issues in DE

Ongoing Research:

Teacher professional knowledge in in Literature Instruction, Issues in Academic writing skills of undergraduate students

 

Research Supervisions:

  • MA in TESL(PGIE)
  • MA in TLSC(PGIE)
  • MPhil (Faculty of Graduate studies Colombo)
Affiliations:

SLELTA – Sri Lanka English Language Teachers Association, Member UGC Standing Committee on the Teaching of English

Programme Coordination:

Level 5 BA(Hons) in English and ELT

Awards:
  • AIDAB Australian Government Award for undergraduate study
  • Asian Development Bank (DEMP Project) Scholarship for Doctoral Studies
Researches:
  • Devendra, D.E., & De Silva, R. (2022) A Tracer Study of Graduates of the BA in
    English and ELT Programme at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Vistas Journal of
    the Faculty of Humanities and Social sciences OUSl, 15(1), 1-15.
  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2021) Exploring the research trajectories of senior
    academics: A qualitative study at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Full paper
    published in conference proceedings of 34 th Annual Conference of the Asian
    Association of Open Universities. June 1-3, 2021, The Open University of Sri Lanka,
    Nawala.
  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2021). Undergraduate Researcher Stories: Insights for
    Mentoring in an Open and Distance Learning Context. Journal of Education (bujoe).
    Sage. DOI:10.1177/00220574211032579
  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2019) A qualitative study of novice researchers’
    experiences in completing an undergraduate research project. Paper presented at the
    OUSL Annual Academic Sessions 2015, October 30– 31 2019, The Open University
    of Sri Lanka, Nawala.
  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2014). Responding to English Language Needs of
    Undergraduates: Challenges and Constraints. OUSL Journal, 7, 1-24.
  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2015) Self-Reflections of Student Teachers on Their
    Practice Teaching: An Exploratory Study. Paper presented at the OUSL Annual
    Academic Sessions 2015, August 24 – 25 2015, The Open University of Sri Lanka,
    Nawala.
  • Medawattegedara, V. & Devendra D (2014) Adult Learners’ Reflections on Obstacles
    and Challenges in Distance Education: A Case Study Of Learners In The Diploma In
    English And ELT.. Paper presented the OUSL Annual Academic Session 2014. The
    Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala
  • Devendra D. (2012) Exploring Knowledge and Beliefs of Teachers of English
    Literature in Sri Lanka. Virtual Paper presented at Asian Conference of Education,
    Osaka, Japan
  • De Silva, R., Devendra D., & Bogamuwa, I. (2012) Efficacy of the English for
    General Academic Purposes (EGAP) course at OUSL: Student Perceptions. .Paper
    presented at OUSL Annual Academic Sessions, 2012. Retrieved from
    http://digital.lib.ou.ac.lk/docs/handle/701300122/585
  • De Silva R and Devendra D. (2011) Determining Undergraduate Students’ English
    Language Needs: An Exploratory Study. Paper presented at the Annual Academic
    sessions 2011, The Open University of Sri Lanka. Retrieved from
    http://digital.lib.ou.ac.lk/docs/handle/701300122/806
  • Raheem, R. & Devendra, D. (2007). Changing times, changing attitudes: History of
    English education in Sri Lanka. In English Education in Asia: History and policies,
    Y.H Choi and B. Spolsky (Eds.), Asia TEFL, (pp.181-203).
  • Devendra, D & Medawattegedara, V. (2006).Teaching Literature in non- native
    contexts: Some issues related to interpretation”. In English in the Multilingual
    Environment. H. Ratwatte and S. Herath (Eds.), Colombo: SLELTA ( selected
    conference papers)
  • Medawattegedara, V. & Devendra D. (2004) Which English to teach? A study of
    teacher’s attitudes towards Sri Lankan English. In Innovation in ELT, R. Raheem and
    A. Hamlyn (Eds.), Colombo; SLELTA ( selected conference papers)
  • Devendra, D. & Medawattegedara V. ( 2002) ‘Students’ perception & reaction to
    feedback on CA assignments” Paper presented at the 2 nd Annual Academic sessions of
    the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Devendra, D. (2001). Text difficulty & its effect on the comprehension of referential
    ties. VISTAS, Journal of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, 1,
    Devendra, D. ( 2001)“The effect of readability on the comprehension of referential
    ties” Paper presented at the 1 st Annual Academic sessions of the Faculty of
    Humanities & Social Sciences

  • Teaching literature in ESL contexts, ESL reading, issues in DE

Ongoing Research:

Teacher professional knowledge in in Literature Instruction, Issues in Academic writing skills of undergraduate students

 

Research Supervisions:

 

  • MA in TESL(PGIE)
  • MA in TLSC(PGIE)
  • MPhil (Faculty of Graduate studies Colombo)

 

Publications:

Journal Articles

 

  • Devendra, D.E., & De Silva, R. (2022) A Tracer Study of Graduates of the BA in English and ELT Programme at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Vistas Journal of the Faculty of Humanities and Social sciences OUSl, 15(1), 1-15.

 

  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2021). Undergraduate Researcher Stories: Insights for Mentoring in an Open and Distance Learning Context. Journal of Education(bujoe). Sage. DOI:10.1177/00220574211032579

 

  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2014). Responding to English Language Needs of Undergraduates: Challenges and Constraints. OUSL Journal, 7, 1-24.

 

  • Devendra, D. (2001). Text difficulty & its effect on the comprehension of referential ties. VISTAS, Journal of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, 1,

 

 

 

 

Book Chapters

 

  • Raheem, R. & Devendra, D. (2007). Changing times, changing attitudes: History of English education in Sri Lanka. In English Education in Asia: History and policies,H Choi and B. Spolsky (Eds.), Asia TEFL, (pp.181-203).

 

 

 

Full papers in Conference Proceedings

 

  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2021) Exploring the research trajectories of senior academics: A qualitative study at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the 34th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities. June 1-3, 2021, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala.

 

  • Devendra, D & Medawattegedara, V. (2006). Teaching Literature in non- native contexts: Some issues related to interpretation”. In English in the Multilingual Environment. H. Ratwatte and S. Herath (Eds.), Colombo: SLELTA selected conference papers)

 

  • Medawattegedara, V. & Devendra D. (2004) Which English to teach? A study of teacher’s attitudes towards Sri Lankan English. In Innovation in ELT, R. Raheem and A. Hamlyn (Eds.), Colombo; SLELTA ( selected conference papers)

 

Abstracts in conference Proceedings

  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2019) A qualitative study of novice researchers’ experiences in completing an undergraduate research proje Paper presented at the OUSL Annual Academic Sessions 2015, October 30– 31 2019, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala.

 

  • Devendra, D. & De Silva (2018) A tracer study of Paper presented at the OUSL Annual Academic Sessions 2015, August 2015, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala,

 

  • De Silva, R. & Devendra, D. (2015) Self-Reflections of Student Teachers on Their Practice Teaching: An Exploratory Study. Paper presented at the OUSL Annual Academic Sessions 2015, August 24 – 25 2015, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala.

 

  • Medawattegedara, V. & Devendra D Adult Learners’ Reflections on Obstacles and Challenges In Distance Education: A Case Study Of Learners In The Diploma In English And Elt. Paper presented the OUSL Annual Academic Session 2014. The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala

 

  • Devendra D. (2012) Exploring Knowledge and Beliefs of Teachers of English Literature in Sri Lanka. Virtual Paper presented at Asian Conference of Education, Osaka, Japan

 

  • De Silva, R., Devendra D., & Bogamuwa, I. (2012) Efficacy of the English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) course at OUSL: Student Perceptions. .Paper presented at OUSL Annual Academic Sessions, 2012. Retrieved from http://digital.lib.ou.ac.lk/docs/handle/701300122/585

 

 

  • De Silva R and Devendra D. (2011) Determining Undergraduate Students’ English Language Needs: An Exploratory Study. Paper presented at the Annual Academic sessions 2011, The Open University of Sri Lanka. Retrieved from http://digital.lib.ou.ac.lk/docs/handle/701300122/806

 

  •  Devendra, D. &  Medawattegedara V. ( 2002)  ‘Students’ perception & reaction to feedback on CA assignments” Paper presented at the 2nd Annual Academic sessions of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

 

  •  Devendra, D. ( 2001)“The effect of readability on the comprehension of referential ties” Paper presented at the 1st  Annual Academic sessions of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
The Open University of Sri Lanka
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