Dr. Usha Sadasivan

Assistant Professor and Head of the Department

Contact Details

Email: ushasadasivan14@gmail.com

Qualifications

Title of the Ph.D. Thesis: Modules For Developing Effective Conversational Skills Among Tertiary Level Learners - An Experimental Study

Title of the M.Phil Thesis: Developing Pragmatic Awareness : An Approach to Teaching Oral Communication

Date of Joining the College: 6 October, 2007

Areas of Interest

  • Communication skills

  • Mass communication and Journalism

  • British and American Literature

  • English Language Teaching (ELT)

Book Published

  • Language skills for Undergraduates . Emerald Publishers, Chennai (2005) (ISBN No. 81-7966-164-4)

  • Panorama- English for Communication Emerald Publishers, Chennai , (2014 ) (ISBN No. 978-81-7966-220-4)

  • Kaleidoscope ‘ a textbook for college students , Emerald Publications (ISBN No. 978-81-7966-317-2)

  • Contributed to I,II,III,VI Semester books brought up by the Department of English for the Under Graduate Foundation Course - General English (B.A.,B.Sc.,B.Com.,B.B.M)

Research Publications

  1. “Tribute to a tragic past and glimpses of a glorious future- a reflection on the works of Virginia Hamilton” at the International conference on Defining the Ethos of the new Millennium- Literature from the United States and the Indian sub continent, at the Ethiraj College on 12 and 13 March , 2009. Paper published in the proceedings .

  2. ‘Cultural constraints and the language teacher’ at a national seminar on ‘Cultural Barriers in Communication’ conducted by the Department of English, Kanyaka Parameswari College for Women, Chennai, held on 4th and 5th February 2009. Paper published in the conference souvenir.

  3. “ An Effective Teacher is an Excellent Communicator – and Teacher Effectiveness is Directly Proportional to his/ her Interpersonal Skills,” at a national seminar on English and Communication skills for Employability at the Anna University on 25th/26th March, 2009. Paper published in proceedings.

  4. ’Protest Writing – a Platform for being Heard and Heeded’ at the UGC sponsored National Seminar on Protest As a Way of Life - An Analytical Study of Literatures in English in the Modern Socio-Cultural Contexts conducted by Department of English, National College- Tiruchirapalli on 3rd and 4th September, 2009

  5. ‘Speaking skills for personal success and employment’ at the National seminar on ‘Transformation, Adaptation and Sustainability towards a better future’ conducted by the Patrician College of Arts and Science, Chennai on 5th March , 2011 (ISBN: 978-81-88331-19-8 )

  6. ‘An analysis of the works of Mark Twain and R.K. Narayan’ at the National seminar on Comparative Literature – An Analysis of classical storytellers with an enduring appeal’ conducted by PKR Arts College for Women, Gobichettipalayam , Tamilnadu on 16th September, 2009.

  7. ’ Delineation of Women characters by Indian Women Writers- with specific focus on Lakshmi Kannan (Kaaveri) at the UGC sponsored National seminar on ‘ Battling for their legitimate space: Interaction with contemporary Indian writers and critics’ conducted by the PG Department of English and Research Centre , Holy Cross College ( Autonomous) Nagercoil, Tamilnadu , on January 21 and 22, 2010.

  8. ‘Matching Teaching methods to suit Learning styles’ at the national seminar on ‘English for Empowerment’ conducted by the Vel Tech Dr.RR and Dr.SR, Technical University , Tamilnadu, on 15th February, 2011. (ISBN No.97881-898-43-465)

  9. ‘Teaching- a Learning. Unlearning and Relearning Process’ at a national conference on ‘Paradigm Shift in Education in the Present Scenario’ conducted by the Department of Education, Mother Theresa University, Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu on 19th and 20th February, 2011.

  10. Dickens’ preoccupation with the mechanisms of the child’s mind. at the International Conference on the Contemporaneous Effect Of Charles Dickens And His Works on 30th August, 2012 held at the Dr.M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University, Maduravoyal, Chennai. (ISBN No. 978-81-910287-8-4)

  11. Treatment of Law and Providential Justice in Bernard Shaw’s plays at a National level seminar on Law and Justice in Western Drama ( UGC sponsored) held on 15th September 2012 at the Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

  12. ‘Ban Stereotypical Images of Women !!’ National seminar on ‘Empowerment of Women’ conducted by Department of English, Nesamony College,Marthandam, Tamil Nadu on 11th September 2009, Paper published in the proceedings.

  13. "Keeping Pace with Technology is an Essential Teacher Requirement" , at the International Conference on Outcome Based Teaching and Learning of English held at Anna University, Chennai on March 1st and 2nd 2013. (ISBN No. 978-81-909269-4-2)

  14. "Exploring Pastoral Themes And Motifs In English Literature ", at the International Conference on Story concepts in Media in Tamil and English Literature held at Loyola College on 10th January 2014 by the PG Department of Media Arts.

  15. Exploring the narrative skill of Indumathy with specific focus on Tharaiyil Irangum Vimanangal at the International Journal of English Language, Literature and Humanities, Volume II, Issue III,. ISSN: 2321 – 7065, pp.235 – 240, July 2014 www.ijellh.com

  16. Growth of Children’s literature in India - An Overview in ROOTS: International Journal of Multi Disciplinary Researchers , 17.02.2017, Vol 3 Special Issue No: 6 ISSN :2349-8684 pg 99-103

  17. The study of Pragmatics in relation to the Teaching of English Competence in BODHI International Journal of Research in Humanities Arts and Science, , Vol 1 spl issue 15 ISSN 2456-5571 Pg 59-61 www.bodhijournals.com, UGC Number – 44274, July 2017

  18. International seminar on Synchronizing the Cognitive perceptions and Emotional Responses to Indian Literature in English , Blend of Eastern and Western Cultures in the select works of Anita Desai, . ISBN number 978-81-923897-9-0, PG Research Department of English, Auxilium College BSRB Consortium publication , 2013

  19. International Conference , Shakespeare the Quintessential Zeitgeist Shakespeare’s enduring appeal and contemporary relevance ISBN no. 978-81-925141-7-8 Dr.M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University.2014

  20. Re Constructing the Gender Archetype , Stereotypes and Preconceptions of Women’s Roles And Abilities , ISBN : 9788179664186 Women’s Christian College Emerald Publishers, 2015.

  21. International Seminar on Essentiality of Developing and Updating Competency Skills in Higher Education , article on ‘ Relationships Matter!! Relationships Matter: Empowering the student to handle professional relationships, International Seminar, 2015. ISBN: 978-93-81992-77-7. Presidency College and University of Cambridge, Today Publication, 2015

  22. International Conference on Transnational approach to literary studies . Article titled ‘ Aspects of Gender Oppression and Diasporic images in Bharati Mukerjee's American Dreamer’ , ISBN:978-81-93086-81-0, Anna Adarsh College for Women Chennai, Ganesh Govindam Publications, 2016

  23. “Unheard Voices of the Subaltern”, A C T the International Journal of Research and Development, Vol 1 issue 1 pp 37-38 March 2016.

  24. International Conference on Empowering the English Language Learner- Materials, Methods, and Testing , conducted by Anna University, article titled ‘ Using The Short Story As A Tool For Vocabulary Enhancement’ , ISBN no 978-81-90856-78-2 VK publications , 2017

  25. Changing Contours of English language and Literature , Member of Editorial Committee , ISBN no 978-93-87380-00-4, Department of English MCW, Allied Publishers Pvt Ltd , 2017.

  26. Article titled ‘’The inevitable interweave between Cultural Studies and Literature with special focus on Rudaali by Mahasweta Devi’, . VEI-International journal of social sciences ISSN number 2394-1316 , March 6th &7th ,2017

  27. Redefining the Role of Women- A Study of Pradeep Bhattacharya's Translation of Yajnaseni by Pratibha Ray in Language in India January 2019 , 1930-2940, www.languageinindia.com.

Awards/Other Achievements

  • University 9th Rank awarded in M.A. Degree in English Literature

  • Editor of ‘In-house Samachar’ the college biannual newsletter from 2008 onwards.

  • Resource person for Orientation programme for TRB recruited teachers, Government of Tamil Nadu on 2 August, 2009 on ‘Communication Skills’ and 3 August 2009 on "Presentation Skills".

  • Viva-voce Examiner for M.Phil, Anna University, June 2009.

  • Chairperson at International Seminar on Contemporaneous Effect of Charles Dickens and His Works on 30th August, 2012 held at the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute University. Maduravoyal, Chennai.

  • Best President Award by Lions Club International in 2013.

  • Member of Organising Committee for the national conference “Translation: Pitfalls and Profundities” in August 2010.

  • Member of Organising Committee of the International Conference on “Changing ethical perspectives in politics, literature and society” in February 2013.

  • Member of Organising Committee of Intercollegiate Workshop for teachers on Curricular Reforms on 31 March 2015.

  • Doctoral Committee Member, Department of English, Anna University, Chennai.

  • External Examiner for M Phil, Department of English, Anna University.

  • Member of Board of Studies, Department of English, M. O. P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai.

  • Subject Expert: To prepare lesson materials under the UGC – open and distance learning regulation for the IDE, University of Madras.

  • Chairperson and Keynote Speaker for the student conference on ELLI English Language and Literature in India in the New Millennium conducted by the Post Graduate and Research Department of English, CTTE College for Women, Chennai on 29th February 2016.

  • Judge for the inter collegiate Creating Writing Competition held at the Justice Basheer Ahmed College for Women, organized as part of the Chennai Literary Festival (CLF). 2016.

  • Member of ELTAI the English Language Teachers Association of India.

  • Convener of the International Seminar on Changing Contours of English Language and Literature was organized by the Department of English on 7th and 8th September 2016.

  • Chairperson at the International Conference on Empowering the English Language Learner- Materials, Methods, and Testing organized by the ‘Department of English, Anna University held between 23-25 March 2017 .

  • Milestone Chevron Award for completing 10 years in Lionism by the Lions Club International in 2017.

  • Participated in Action Research Mentoring Scheme a programme conducted by the British Council in Loyola College on 9 March 2019.

  • Successfully completed Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) conducted by National Testing Agency and Ministry of HRD, Government of India, in March 2019, SWAYAM online course.

Training Programmes Attended

  • English Language Teaching Workshop on Speaking Skills Conducted by the British Council, Chennai, February 2009.

  • Orientation Programme conducted by Academic Staff College, University of Madras from 09-11-2010 to 06-12-2010.

  • Refresher Course conducted by Academic Staff College, University of Madras from 09-11-2011 to 29-11-2011.

  • Workshop on “The Art of Storytelling” conducted by British Council on 5 February 2015.

  • Symposium on U. R. Ananthamurthy conducted Post Graduate and Research Department, Chevalier T Thomas Elizabeth College for Women, and the Sahitya Akademi, 13 February 2015.

  • Workshop on Examination Reforms at Meenakshi College for Women on 16 April 2015.

  • Workshop on Administrative Reforms at Meenakshi College for Women on 7 April 2015.

  • Workshop on Curricular Reform at Meenakshi College for Women on 31 May 2015.

  • Workshop on Public Relations as a Career by Ms.Jhankar Khemka, Good relation India Ltd on 14.09.2015.

  • Symposium on Contemporary Travel Writing organised by Dr. M. G. R. Janaki College of Arts and Science, Chennai, 15 September 2015.

  • Teacher Training Workshop on Teaching Critical Thinking Skills to Tertiary Learners by RELO-certified Teacher Trainers on 30th April, 2016 at M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai.

  • National Conference on English Language, Literature and Society; Modern Perspectives, Vivekananda College for Women, Tiruchengode, 3 and 4 March 2017.

  • Refresher Course conducted by HRD, University of Madras from 24-05-2017 to 13-06-2017.

  • One Day Faculty Development Programme on ’Teaching Learning and Speaking’ jointly organized by the Department of English, MNM Jain Engineering College and Department of English, Anna University on 28 July 2018.

  • One Day Faculty Development Program on Contemporary Literature organized by Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, T.Nagar, Chennai on 2 Nov 2018.

  • Training Programme on Microsoft Innovative Educator at Meenakshi College for Women Chennai on 19/12/2018.

  • Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Evaluation at Meenakshi College for Women, Chennai on 02.02.2019.

  • Workshop Titled ‘Pedagogies for Language and Literature in the 21st Century’ on 30 April 2019 organised by the Department of English at B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology Vandalur,Chennai-48.