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Mr. MDSS Kumara



Lecturer

skmenikpure@ssh.rjt.ac.lk

Biography

I am an academic striving to serve and research in the field of Education. My areas of research interest are Corpus Linguistics, Contact Linguistics, World Englishes, Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP).

Educational qualifications

  • M.A. in Linguistics, Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
  • BA (General) Degree: Second Class (Lower Division) honours, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
  • Certificate Course in Staff Development (Wayamba)
  • Methodology for TESOL – Online (University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA)
  • Training on Compilation of spoken language data for International Corpus of English -ICE (University of Giessen, Germany)
  • Research Attachment on ‘Computer Assisted Language Learning -CALL (Institute for Applied Language Studies (IALS), The University of Edinburgh, UK)

Research Interests

  • Corpus linguistics
  • World Englishes
  • Contact Linguistics
  • English for Academic Purposes
  • Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Research Publications

  • Kumara, M.D.S.S. (2019). Contact Language Influence on Sri Lankan English Prepositional Verbs. In K. Kalainathan (Ed). Journal of Science and Management 04 (01), 13-27. Vavunia Campus of the University of Jaffna.
  • Shantha Kumara, MDS (2018a):  “English in Contact”: An Evaluation of Language Contact Situations of World Englishes. . In CR Withanachchi et al (eds) SAMODHANA-Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities 7 (III) pp 23-40. Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale.
  • Shantha Kumara, MDS (2018b): “English” and “Englishes”- A survey on the spread of varieties of English around the world. In CR Withanachchi et al (eds) SAMODHANA-Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities 7 (II) pp 29-38 Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale.
  • Kumara, MDSS (2017a): Acculturation in Sri Lankan English. In WMTB Wijepala & DT Mendis (eds) The Journal of Archeology and Heritage Studies. 4(1) Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale pp. 63-84.
  • Kumara MDSS (2017b): Prepositional Adjectives in Sri Lankan English. In Kanagasingham V (Ed.) International Journal of Integrative Sciences (IJIS) 2(I), Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Trincomalee. pp 10-22.
  • Kumara MDSS (2013a): Information and Communication Technology for Language Learning, In Performance Enhancement through Personality and Life Skills Development – Selected Topics, Ed. Jayasinghe U &Jayaweera A, Staff Development Centre- Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, 58-75.
  • Kumara, M.D.S.S. (2018c): Sinhala and Tamil influence on Sri Lankan English particle use: A corpus-based study on the case of ‘for’. In Premadasa, KMGP, Wijesinghe WLPK and Adikari AMTN (eds), Proceedings of the 10th International Research Conference of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana Sri Lanka, February 2018. Pp. 730-736.
  • Kumara, M.D.S.S., Wehella, D.A., Pathirana, H.P.K., Abeynayake, T.S., De Silva, K.H.D.N., Rajapaksha, T.S., Egodage, W.A. (2023). Computer Corpus Applications in English Teaching Programs for Social Sciences and Humanities. Proceedings of First National Research Symposium of Department of Social Sciences, Mihintale, Sri Lanka (77)
  • Kumara, M.D.S.S.,  Abeywardane, P.L.N.,  Abeynayake, T., & De Silva, K.H.D.N.  (2019). ‘Should English Teachers Teach Science?’-An Action Research on the Foundation English Program of Applied Sciences. Paper presented at Rajarata International Research Conference, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale. November 6-7.
  • Kumara MDSS (2018d): Postcolonial developments in Sri Lankan English lexis-grammar, paper presented at National Research Symposium on Historical Studies – Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, January 2018.
  • Kumara MDSS (2017c): Contact language influence on Sri Lankan English preposition use. Paper presented at Vavunia Campus International Research Symposium, August 2017.
  • Kumara MDSS & AAM Nizam (2017): Contact effects of Sinhala and Tamil languages on Sri Lankan English noun-preposition combinations.  Paper presented at the 3rd National Buddhist Conference of the Biksu University of Sri Lanka, November, 2017.
  • Kumara, MDSS (2014a): “We sat for the public service exam”: An innovation in New Englishes outdoing the continued form. Paper presented at the 8thInternational SLELTA Conference, Oct., 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Kumara, MDSS (2014b): “Up-country, low-country, hill-country, and mid-country”: Semantic extension in Sri Lankan English. Paper presented at the 8thInternational SLELTA Conference, Oct., 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Kumara, MDSS (2013b): Use of dedicated multimodal corpora for curriculum implications of EAP/ESP programs in ESL settings, Paper presented at the Corpus Linguistics 2013 conference, July 2013, Lancaster, UK.
  • Kumara MDSS (2012): Distinctive Particle Verbs in South Asian Varieties of English. A paper presented at the tenth Asia TEFL International conference, October 2012, Delhi, India.
  • Kumara MDSS & Gunawardana R (2011): Taking a decision on making decisions: A corpus based study of two English Light Verb Constructions, paper presented at the second Annual Research Sessions of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, November 2011, Mihintale, Sri Lanka.
  • Shantha Kumara, MDS. &Mendis, D (2010): Making out SLE: A Corpus Based Study of Sri Lankan English Phrasal Verbs. Paper presented at the 6th International SLELTA Conference, Oct., 2010, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Kumara, M. (2009b). Compilation and linguistic analysis of a dedicated corpus for the Applied Sciences. Paper presented at the Annual Research Symposium 2009 – Faculty of Graduate Studies. University of Kelaniya.
  • Parakrama, A & Shantha Kumara, MDS (2009): SLELTA survey on Varieties and Standards of English. Findings presented at the SLELTA Conference on Varieties and Standards of English with special emphasis on Sri Lankan English, October 2009, Maharagama, Sri Lanka.

Appointments

  • Chairperson: Self Evaluation Report writing team: General Degree Program – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – RUSL
  • ELT Coordinator of the Faculty of Applied Sciences
  • Academic Coordinator for Diploma in English (Extension) Programme\Overall Coordinator/Coordinator-Expert Liaison/Editor – Post-symposium publication of Extended Abstracts (RUISELT-2021)Member of the Sri Lanka English Language Teacher’s Association Member of the Asia, TEFL
  • 2011-2013: University Development Grant (UDG) Coordinator- OTS office of the HETC Project/Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
  • 2010: Member and the key proposal writer, UDG Sub-committee on English, OTS office of the HETC Project.
  • 2008-2010: Acting Coordinator Quality Enhancement Fund program, LTS office of the IRQUE project/ Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
  • 2006-2010: Person in Charge-Activity 04 QEF program, LTS office of the IRQUE project/ Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  • 2011: Ministry of Higher Education/ Academic Member of the Monitoring Committee, Leadership and Personality Development Program (Future Leaders), Police School-Pahalagama
  • 2010-2012: Former ELT Coordinator – Faculty of Applied Sciences
  • 2010-2011: Former Academic Coordinator-Diploma in English (Internal) program
  • 2012, 2011: Department of Examinations/ Co-Controlling Chief Examiner-GCE A/L General English
  • 2010: Department of Examinations/ Chief Examiner-GCE A/L General English
  • 2005-2007: Faculty of Applied Sciences-Rajarata University of Sri Lanka/ Volunteer Student Counsellor
  • 2004-2006: Ministry of Higher Education/ UNFPA project Coordinator for Reproductive health

Memberships and Awards

  • Sri Lanka English Language Teachers’ Association (SLELTA)
  • Asia-TEFL

Training

  • Training on Compilation of spoken language data for International Corpus of English (ICE), University of Giessen, Germany.

Work Experiences

  • Over 20 years of teaching experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to undergraduates of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
  • Lecturer in English for the Diploma in English (internal).
  • Lecturer in English for the Pre-University Online Certificate Course in English.

As a resource person in Seminars/ Workshops/ Staff Development