Melinda Dewsbury MA

Assistant Professor of Writing; Coordinator of GLC First Year Academic Programs; Faculty Mentor for Visiting Scholars

Department: Global Learning Connections; TESL; MA TESOL(Collaborating Instructor)

Email:

Phone1: 604-513-2121 ext 3882

Phone2: 604-513-2067

Area of Expertise: Academic writing and composition; rhetoric and contrastive rhetoric; textual analysis; international students; cultural ideology; cultural literacy; English for academic purposes (EAP); critical thinking; curriculum and program design

Research: Cultural literacy and its affect on language acquisition; university as a community of practice; contrastive rhetoric; refugee settlement

Education: BA (Honors) English (Trinity Western University); MA Applied Language Studies (Carleton University)

Melinda Dewsbury was born and raised in rural Ontario. Her enthusiasm for learning brought her first across the country to study English literature at Trinity Western University, then back to Ottawa for graduate studies and multicultural experiences and finally back to apply those experiences at TWU. Melinda has been teaching on the Langley campus since 1997. She is married to Jeff, a freelance writer and has two sons. The Dewsburys live in Langley, BC.

Research Interests
  • Academic Writing
  • International Student Success
  • Discourse and Textual Analysis
  • Cultural Maintenance through Narrative Discourse
  • The impact of cultural literacy

Courses Taught - Past and Present (including as Collaborating Instructor)

  • ENGL 099, ENGL 101, WRTG 100, WRTG 101 (in development)
  • LING 317, LING 314 and 319 (directed studies)
  • ANTH 101 (online)
  • BUSI 111, PSYC 106, COMM 111 (companion course instructor)
  • Graduate English Language Support (Writing and reading instructor and the graduate level
  • English for Academic Purposes

Publications
  • Dewsbury, M. (2006). Cracking the code. Trinity Western University in-house publication.
  • Dewsbury, M. (2004). ESLI students at Trinity Western University: Academic success analysis. Trinity Western University in-house publication.
  • Dewsbury, M. & , Kristjansson, C. (2001). Teachers’ Handbook: ESLI/TWU Langley Campus. Trinity WesternUniversity: ESLI In-house publication.
  • Dewsbury, M. (1996). Ideology and second language academic writing: Implications for teaching, learning, and assessment. Unpublished M.A. thesis, Carleton University, Ottawa.

Presentations
  • Dewsbury, M. (2005, May). Cracking the code: Applying principles of mathematics to academic writing. Presentation at the 19th TESL Canada National Conference, Ottawa, ON.

Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor of Writing (full time sessional) at Trinity Western University, January 2003 to present. Includes ENGL 099 (Composition), ENGL 101 (Introduction to Writing), WRTG 100 (University Writing), WRTG 101, guest lectures

Academic Coaching at Trinity Western University. 2003 to present. Companion Courses (part of the Bridge Program), Learning Coach for freshman programs and Adult Degree Completion, instructor for writing and reading at the graduate level (Graduate English Language Support). Online and face to face, individual and class sessions.

TESL instructor at Trinity Western University. 2003 to present. Includes LING 317 (Curriculum and Materials), directed studies in LING 314 (Teaching Beginners) and LING 319 (Issues in TESOL and Missions), LING 538 (Teaching EAP), guest lectures at graduate and undergraduate levels.

ESL (EAP and Communication) instructor at ESLI, Trinity Western University. 1997 to 2004. Primary focus on reading and writing in advanced levels. Other experience in beginner levels reading and writing and advanced listening and speaking.

ESL instructor at Burnaby College in LINC (ELSA) levels 1-3. 1996 to 1998.

ESL instructor at Gateway Language Program, Langley School District 35. 1998.

Administrative Experience

Academic Coordinator of GLC First Year Programs. Trinity Western University. Current position.

Mentor and Coordinator for Academic Visitor Program. Trinity Western University. 2005 to present.

Administration of English Diagnostic Exam at TWU. January 2003 to present.

Interim Director of Short Term Study Tours for ESLI, Langley Campus. Spring-Summer 2003.

Assistant to the Director/Academic Coordinator for ESLI, Langley Campus. 2001.

 

Curriculum and Program Development

New course development: WRTG 100 (Writing in the University Context) for first year students at TWU. Traditional and online versions available. 2006. WRTG 101 (Writing and Culture) for first year international students entering TWU. 2008.

Designed a course pack (Cracking the Code) of all original materials for the instruction of academic writing. 2006. Revised 2007. Portions of these materials are now being taught in China and Africa.

Supervised numerous teaching practicums at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 1998 to present.

Managed "Supplements for Academic Growth," a collection of online lectures in reading, writing, and researching for Global Learning Connections, TWU. 2004-2006.

Performed a needs analysis, designed, and carried out a support program for L2 MA students in two programs (MA TESL and MAL) at Trinity Western University. 2003 to present.

Created a new English Diagnostic Exam for first year international students at TWU. 2004.

Conducted a statistical analysis of L2 student success in Trinity Western University.
2003-2004.

Evaluated and revised ESLI's EAP curriculum; supervised and mentored instructors. 2001-2002.

Created a test to evaluate the preparedness and language ability of ESL students requesting direct entrance into ACTS seminary and TWU undergraduate and graduate programs. 2001.

Created a formal oral evaluation for students entering ESLI. Revised various tests for entrance and exit from all levels in ESLI. 2001.

Developed a program outline, curriculum and materials for Gateway Language Program, Langley School Board. 1998.

Professional Memberships

Member of BC TEAL, the British Columbia branch of TESL Canada.

Member of The Foundation for Critical Thinking.