Profile

Name: Chitra Varaprasad
Telephone: 6516 6079
Email: elcvarap@nus.edu.sg
Office: CELC #02-25 (10 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117511)

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD, National Institute of Education/Nanyang Technological University Singapore
  • MA, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • MA, Sri Venkateshwara University, India
  • BA, Osmania University, India
  • Cert TESL, Regional Language Centre, Singapore

Modules/Courses Taught

  • EG1413 Technical Communication
  • EG1471 English for Engineering
  • FEM101 Foundation Skills Course: Academic Discourse Skills
  • ECS100 English Communication Skills
  • EA1101 English for Academic Purposes
  • ES1000 Basic English
  • EA English Assist
  • ES5001A: Intermediate Level Writing for Post-graduate Students
  • ES5002: Advanced Level Thesis Writing for Postgraduate students

Research Interests

  • Approaches to teaching academic reading/writing and grammar
  • Materials Development
  • Reflective teaching
  • Classroom-based research
  • Learning strategies

Department Duties/Committee

  • Head, Professional Development 2009
  • Chair, Professional Development Committee, 2009
  • Member, Pedagogical Research Committee
  • Member, Symposium 2010, Logistics and Hospitality Member Committee (2007-2010)
  • Arts and Social Sciences: Faculty Coordinator (2004-2007)
  • English for Academic Purposes: Course Coordinator: (1997-2002), (2004-2007)
  • Testing Committee: Member (2003-2005)
  • EAP Course Committee: Member (2002-2003), Chair (2004-2006)
  • CELC Symposium 2004: Chair: Abstracts Sub-committee (2002-2004)
  • Reflections on English language Teaching: Member, Editorial Committee (2002-2003), (2006-
  • Office of Human Resources English language Testing Committee: Member (2005-2006)
  • Salt Team1: Member
  • CELC Symposium 2007: Member, Abstracts Review Committee

Publications

  • Varaprasad, C, (2011). English for Specific Academic Purposes: A Balancing Act? Paper presented at The 2011 BALEAP biennial conference EAP within the HE Garden: Cross Pollination between Disciplines, Departments, Research & Teaching. University of Portmouth, UK. April 10-12.
  • Varaprasad, C. (2011). A Place in the Community: SINDA at 20 Looking Back, Moving Forward. Balji, P. N., Audrey Pereira, Chitra Rajaram, Chitra Varaprasad and Pradeep Paul (Eds.). SINGAPORE INDIAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
  • Varaprasad, C. (2011). Teacher Reflections: Teaching Article Use to Graduate Students. ELTWO online, CELC.
  • Varaprasad, C. (2011). Reading for summarizing: How do international graduate students read? Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics. Vol 13, Issue no 1 pp 1-26.
  • Varaprasad, C., Deng, X. D., Lee, K.C. and Lim, M. L. (2010). Academic writing development of ESL/EFL graduate students in NUS. In Jack C. Richards (Guest Editor). Reflections on English language Teaching, pp 119-138. Singapore: NUS, Centre for English language Communication.
  • Varaprasad, C. and Deng Xudong. (2009) Manual for Level Three Workplace Literacy Series. Singapore: National Trade Union Council (NTUC).
  • Varaprasad, C. (2009) Teaching Reading in ESL and EFL settings: A comparison. CELC’s English Language Teaching World Online: Voices from the Classroom (ELTWO), Online journal
  • Varaprasad, C. (2009). Developing the Academic Essay. In Communicating in the University Culture, pp (9-18.). T. Ruanni F. Tupas, Catherine Cook, Norhayati Bte Mohd Ismail (Eds.). Centre for English language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (2009). Interview with Tom Farrell. CELC’s English Language Teaching World Online: Voices from the Classroom (ELTWO), Online journal
  • Varaprasad, C. 2008. The English Language Teaching and Learning Landscape: Continuity, Innovation and Diversity. CELC Symposium 2007 Proceedings. Wu Siew Mei, T. Ruanni F. Tupas, Chew Moh Leen, Maria Luisa C. Sadorra and Chitra Varaprasad (Eds.), Centre for English language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2008. Testing Language Understanding: Process and Product. In CELC Symposium 2007 Proceedings. The English Language Teaching and Learning Landscape: Continuity, Innovation and Diversity, pp 195-210. Centre for English language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2008. Reflections on English language Teaching. T. Ruanni, F. Tupas, Deng Xudong, Susan Lopez-Nerney, Maria Luisa Sadorra and Chitra Varaprasad (Eds.), Vol 7: No 1,
  • Varaprasad, C. 2007. Reflections on English language Teaching. T. Ruanni, F. Tupas, Deng Xudong, Susan Lopez-Nerney, Maria Luisa Sadorra and Chitra Varaprasad (Eds.), Vol 6: No 2, Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2007. Reflections on English language Teaching. T. Ruanni, F. Tupas, Deng Xudong, Susan Lopez-Nerney, Maria Luisa Sadorra and Chitra Varaprasad (Eds.), Vol 6: No 1, Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2006. Reading Strategies: Caught or Taught? Reflections on English language Teaching, Vol 5: No 2, pp 63-86. Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2006. Book Review of English for Academic Study: Reading by John Slaght and Paddy Herben for STETS Communication Review. 5: 1, 33.
  • Varaprasad, C. (2003). Explicit strategy training: Some classroom findings. In Reflections on English Language Teaching, (pp 41-72) Centre for English Language Communication, NUS.
  • Varaprasad, C (2003). Teaching English to students from China . Lee, G.L., Ho., L, Meyer, L., Varaprasad, C. & Young, C. (Eds.), SUP: National University of Singapore .
  • Varaprasad, C (2003). Reflections on English Language Teaching. (2003). Laina Ho, Jan McNeil, Lisa Meyer, Maria Luisa Sadorra, Chitra Varaprasad, Carissa Young (Eds.). Centre for English Language Communication, NUS.
  • Varaprasad, C (2001). Facilitating content reading and learning through text Patterns. In Teng , S.C. & Teoh, B. S. (Eds.). Reading in a Multilingual Context: From Theory to Practice (pp. 153-171). Singapore : Singapore Association of Applied Linguistics.
  • Varaprasad, C. (2001). Exploiting generic features : The link between process and product. Working Papers on Language, 7. Centre for English language Communication, NUS.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2000). Juxtaposing process and product approaches : a classroom perspective. In AILA '99 Tokyo (in CD ROM), edited by Organizing committee of the 12th World Congress of International Association of Applied Linguistics. Tokyo , Japan.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1997). Developing critical literacy awareness : some classroom strategies. English Teaching Forum, 35, 3 24-29. United States.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1997). Revising as a process: A case for raising awareness among students. In The Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on English Teaching, edited by Zjohana Katchen, Leung Yiu-nam, pp. 195-202. Taipei , Taiwan : English Teachers' Asssociation/ Republic of China.
  • Varaprasad, C.( 1997). Structure of modern English, 26, edited by Dr Tony Hung & Dr N S Prabhu. Singapore : Singapore Institute of Management.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1997). Making connections while reading. Working Papers on Language, #5 pp1-10. English Language Proficiency Unit, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1994). Reading and writing: An integrated approach. In Research in Reading and writing: In Makhan Lal Tickoo (Ed.), A South-east Asian Collection:. Anthology Series 32. Singapore : SEAMEO Regional Language Centre 1994, pp 163-74.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1994). Opening doors to reading: Role of community groups. In Promoting Reading in an Urban Environment. Singapore : The National Library, pp75-83.
  • Varaprasad. C (1993). A rhetorical approach for integrating reading and writing abilities. In Proceedings on Literacy in Asian Societies. Edited by Jamaliah Mohd. Ali et al. Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Reading Association and the International Development in Asia Committee, International Reading Association, pp66-69.
  • Varaprasad. C (1993). Motivating reluctant readers. Tamil Murasu (Reading Month Supplementary Issue). 5 September, Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1992). A reader-centred approach for teaching professional communication. In STETS Language and Communication Review. Issue 2. Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1991) Books for early readers in Tamil: A parent/professional perspective. Singapore Book World||, 22 pp3-7. Special on Festival of Books Issue. National Book Development Council of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1990). A taxonomy of semantic relations and its application. Working Papers on Language. English Language Proficiency Unit, No.3 pp82-99. National University of Singapore.

Seminars & Conferences

  • Varaprasad, C. 2008. Teaching Reading in an EFL Classroom Setting. SEAMEO RETRAC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Academic Exchange, May 2008.
  • Varaprasad, C. 2008. Teaching Reading in an EFL Classroom Setting. . Paper presented at CELC Staff Seminar, Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.28th January.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2007). Testing Language Understanding: Process and Product. CELC Symposium 2007. The English Language Teaching and Learning Landscape: Continuity, Innovation and Diversity. 30t May to 1stJun.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2007). Merging the Social and the Cognitive: Implications for Reading Pedagogy. Ontario Conference of Applied Linguistics (OCAL 2007). University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 19th and 20th May.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2006). A Focus on Form and Function: One Approach to reading Literacy. ALAA Congress, University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2006). Bridging Theory and Pedagogy: One Approach to Academic Literacy. Paper presented at CELC Staff Seminar, Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C, (2006). Designing Questions for Global Comprehension: A Teacher Training Tool. Workshop presented at Teacher Education in language Teaching, 41st RELC International Seminar, SEAMEO RELC, Singapore
  • Varaprasad, C, (2001). Reading for Organisation :A Genre Approach. Paper presented at Genres and discourses in education, work and cultural life: encounters of academic disciplines on theories and practices, 3-16 May, Oslo University College , Oslo , Norway.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1999). Juxtaposing Process and Product Approaches: A Classroom Perspective. AILA Congress, Tokyo , Japan.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1998). Facilitating Content Reading and Learning through Text Patterns. Reading in a multilingual context, York Hotel, 21 Mount Elizabeth Road, Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1998). Reading for Meaning. Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Wong, L A, C Varaprasad, P R Nerney, L Ho and S Lopez-Nerney (1997). Constraints and Prospects for doing Research in CELC. Paper presented at CELC Staff Seminar, Centre for English Language Communication, National University of Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1997). Interactive Revision Procedures: Some Pedagogical Insights. Paper presented at Learners and Language learning, SEAMEO RELC, Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1997). Facilitating Reading to Learn: Some Instructional Strategies. Third International English Language Teaching Conference on Quality Learning in English Medium Higher Education: The Challenge of Content, Skills and Language. Ankara , Turkey , Bilkent University of English Language.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1997). Revising as a Process: A case for raising awareness among students. Fifth International Symposium on English Teaching, Taipei , Taiwan : English Teachers' Association/ Republic of China.
  • Varaprasad, C, (1995). Making Connections while Reading. TESOL '95 Twenty-ninth Annual Convention and Exposition, Long Beach , California , United States.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1995). Read and Write: Tasks for Integrating the Two Skills. SAAL/STU/DELL workshop on The English Language in Singapore : The Teaching of writing. Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1995). Developing Critical Literacy Awareness: Some Classroom Strategies. Asian Reading Congress , Singapore.
  • Varaprasad, C. (1992). A rhetorical approach for integrating reading and writing abilities. Literacy in Asian Societies. Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Reading Association and International Development in Asia Committee and International Reading Association, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.