Head of Department - Languages: Arena Park Secondary School

I supervise and coordinate 11 teachers in both English and Afrikaans and I teach English Primary and Second language. Even though the nature of my job demands involvement in administrative and managerial tasks my real passion lies with teaching English.

I am currently undertaking a program of Intensive English at Ohio University which is thoroughly invigourating and which also provides a space for developing materials that are in keeping with social justice concerns.

I have completed a masters degree in MEDIA, LANGUAGE and CRITICAL LITERACY in which I have developed a critical analysis of short stories within a poststructural framework aimed at grade twelve learners of English Primary language. This project investigates current literacy practices which it regards as being limited and therefore sets out to provide a different and arguably more relevant approach to textual practice in the English classroom which enables a more critical interrogation of texts in terms of the relations of power that are conveyed through the discourses that underpin them. It is my sense that such classroom practice is in line with transformative education proposed by the New National Curriculum.

I consider sociability to be my forte because i live by the adage/maxim that cheerfulness can only broaden the vision.