Emeritus Prof. Ryhana Raheem

Professor of English e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 0112881476

• B.A. (Hons.) University of Ceylon,  Peradeniya. Sri Lanka.
• PhD (Sociolinguistics) University of Leeds, Leeds, England

Professional Membership / Affiliation

International

• International Consultant (Research), National Education Commission of Pakistan. Islamabad, Pakistan (2003 – 2006).
• Member,   Executive Council,  AsiaTEFL  Organisation, Seoul, Korea.( 2002- to date)
• Member, Committee for Communication and Education, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, Switzerland. ( 1994- 2002)

 National

• Member, Public Service Commission of   Sri Lanka.(2002 -2005).
• Member, Standing Committee on English, University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka ( 2000 – to date)
• Project Director, Test of English Proficiency for the IRQUE Project ( 2009)
• Consultant/Advisor,  British Council Project for Development of University English Language Teaching.( 2000- 2004)
•  Member, Ethics Committee of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. ( 2002 – 2008)
•  Co-Director,  Project to establish Computer-based Testing of English, Open University of Sri Lanka.( 2000- 2003)
•  Chairperson, Sri Lanka English Language Teachers Association ( 2002 – 2004)
•  Chair, Sri Lanka Chapter of the International Corpus of English. ( 2002 – 2006)
•  Representative of the Senate, Council of the Open University of Sri Lanka. (2003 – 2006)
•  Consultant for English,  Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.( 2001 – 2003)

Publications

(Teaching Materials)

University of Colombo:

• A Course in Writing English. (1989)- for the Faculty of Arts.
• Reading and Study Skills for Science (1980 – 1990).-for the Faculty of Science
• Grammar and Writing for Medicine (1985 – 1990)- for the Faculty of Medicine.
• Reading and Study Skills for Medicine (1985 – 1990)
• English for Careers. Part 1.

Open University of Sri Lanka.

Coursebooks for Language Proficiency

• Course in English for Technology .
• Course in English for Science
• Course in English for Nursing.
• English for Legal Studies.
• Certificate Course in Basic English.
• Certificate Course in Professional English.

Coursebooks for Literature

• Introduction to Drama.
• A Guide to English Poetry: The Sonnets of John Donne.
• The Odes of  John Keats.
• An Introduction to Stylistics.
• Teaching Language &Literature: Part II:Teaching Literature.
• A Guide to Bertolt Brecht’s “ The Caucasian Chalk Circle”
• The Poetry of Philip Larkin- A Guide.
• Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” – A Guide.

Coursebooks in Advanced Language Skills

• A Course in Advanced Writing.
• A Course in  Advanced Reading.
• Research Communication

Other:

• Language and Style in Journalism.
• The History and Development of the English Language.
• English for Special Purposes

Research Publications (After 2000) :

• “Changing Times, Changing Attitudes: History of English Education in Sri Lanka” (with Dinali Devendra).
• AsiaTEFL publication. 2007.
• “Configuring the Mosaic: Investigating Language Use and Attitude in Sri Lanka.” in ‘English in the Multilingual Environment: Proceedings of the 3^rd SLELTA International Conference.Colombo. Sri Lanka” Ed: H V. Ratwatte and S.Herath. SLELTA. Colombo. 2006.
• “Visible Strategies: Invisible Results: Language Policy and Planning in Sri Lanka. (with H. Ratwatte). (2004)
• in S. Mansoor, S, Meraj and A Tahir ( eds.) Language Policy, Planning and Practice –A South Asian Perspective. Karachi. Oxford  University Press.
• “English Language  Teaching  in Sri Lanka: Future Perfect? (2004)
• in.  R Raheem and A Hamlyn (eds): Innovation in English Language Teaching: Proceedings of the 2^nd SLELTA International Conference. The British Council. Colombo.
• “Gender & Language Learning at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine” (March 2004)
• Proceedings of the 9^th National Convention  on Women’s Studies. Centre for Womens Research. Colombo. CENWOR.
• “International Language Assessment and Local Performance: the Case of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine”. (with V. Medwattegedera and G.Mithapala).(2006)
• OUSL Journal. Open University of Sri Lanka.Nawala,  Sri Lanka. In Press..
• “Regional Variation in English Language Proficiency and its implication for Language Planning (with H Ratwatte) (2001)
• in  D. Hayes (ed.) Teaching English: Possibilities  & Opportunities. Proceedings of the First SLELTA International Conference. Colombo.The British Council.

 Presentations at Conferences and Seminars (After 2000).

• Establishing Benchmarks in Academic English: the Sri Lankan Experience. Paper presented at the 7^th AsiaTEFL Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, August  2009

• “The Road not taken: Language Policy and English Education in Sri Lanka. Invitational Address. Roanoke College, Salem, West Virginia, USA. September 2007
• “The Good ELT Teacher: Perspectives from a Sri Lankan Context” Plenary Address at the 5^th SLELTA International Conference. Maharagama, Colombo,August. 2008.
• ‘Parrot or Peacock? Defining Professionalism for ELT in Asia” Plenary Address at the Hornby Regional School. Kalutara.  August 2007.
• “Investigating Teacher Contribution to Academic performance” Plenary Address, English for Schools Conference. Colombo. August 2006.
• “Compliance or Deviation? Investigating English Medium Instruction in Sri Lankan Universities”. Paper presented at the Invitational Symposium on ‘English Medium Universities in Asia’. University of Hong Kong. June 2006.
• “ELT in the Universities” – Plenary Paper presented at the Conference on ‘Enhancing University English’, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. Colombo. June 2006.
• Workshop on “Writing a Research Proposal” –Workshops organized for academic staff of Pakistan universities by the National Committee for English. Higher Education Commission. Karachi, Pakistan. May 2006.
• “The Challenges of Change: English, Social identity and the ESL Teacher” Plenary presentation at the Conference on“Language, Culture and Identity: Issues and Challenges”. Aga Khan University, Karachi. Pakistan. July 2005.
•  “Top-Down or Bottom Up? Investigating Responses to Changes to English Language Policy in Sri Lanka.” November 2004. Featured Presentation.  2^nd AsiaTEFL  International Conference. Seoul, Korea.
•  The Language of Advertising in Sri Lanka: An investigation of code-switching between English and Sinhala, English and Tamil in print and electronic media. (With Lal Medawattegedera) (Sept. 2004)
• Presentation at the 3^rd SLELTA International Conference. Colombo. Sri Lanka. “Establishing Computer-based Testing of English: Issues and Concerns” ( with S.Wijesinghe).
• Inaugural Annual Academic Sessions. Open University of Sri Lanka. Nawala, Sri Lanka. November 2003
• “Writing Abstracts” Workshop. 2^nd SLELTA International Conference. Colombo. Sri Lanka. August 2002.
• “Establishing Computer-based Testing of English: the Open University Experience”. ( with H. Ratwatte and S. Wijesinghe.) 2^nd SLELTA International Conference. August 2002.
•  “Teaching Speech and Listening” (with M.Gunasekera). British Council EAP Conference,  Kandy, Sri Lanka.March 2001.

• “English in Sri Lanka” ( with M.Gunasekera) Regional Meeting of British Council Representatives. Kandalama,  Sri Lanka. May 2001.
• “The ‘Academic’ in “Academic Purposes” British Council ESP Conference .Colombo, Sri Lanka. August 2000    
• “Teaching Writing” Workshop. 1^st SLELTA International Conference, Colombo. Sri Lanka. 2000.