A dissertation with a wider impact
What began as a Coventry University MA dissertation has developed into award-winning research, a published journal article and new professional opportunities for Chathuska.
Chathuska studied the former English and Education Management MA after nearly a decade of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Sri Lanka. She came to Coventry University hoping to strengthen her academic writing and research skills and explore a change in career direction.
Instead, her experience helped her rediscover her passion for teaching and gave her the opportunity to investigate an issue she was seeing first-hand in the classroom.
Finding the research question in the classroom
While completing her MA, Chathuska began working as an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher with refugee and migrant learners in the UK.
The move from a bilingual or monolingual teaching environment to a class representing almost 14 languages transformed the way she thought about English language teaching.
Hearing about her students' experiences and seeing their resilience also had a personal impact. Having grown up in Colombo during the Sri Lankan civil war, Chathuska felt she could empathise with some of the experiences they shared.
“Hearing my students' life stories and seeing their incredible resilience deeply moved me.”
It led her to think more closely about the importance of including learners' languages, cultures and lived experiences in ESOL teaching.
That became the focus of her dissertation, which explored the effectiveness of classroom strategies for promoting cultural inclusion in UK ESOL teaching.
As part of the project, Chathuska developed a practical checklist to help ESOL teachers select effective classroom practices and plan culturally inclusive lessons.
Turning research into publication
Chathuska completed her dissertation with a distinction under the supervision of Dr Benet Vincent. The work was later recognised with the British Council's MA dissertation award for English Language Teaching in 2024/25.
Dr Vincent then encouraged her to develop the dissertation into a journal article, an opportunity Chathuska had not previously considered.
“Before my supervisor suggested rewriting the dissertation for publication, I hadn't realised MA dissertations could be published and knew absolutely nothing about academic publishing.”
Turning her dissertation into an academic paper gave Chathuska another opportunity to develop the research and academic writing skills that had originally brought her to postgraduate study.
She credits Dr Vincent's continued guidance with helping her navigate the process.
“I am really grateful to him for dedicating his time and expertise to guiding me on the writing of the article.”
Their co-authored paper was published in Language Teaching Research in May 2026.
Sharing her research with a wider audience
Chathuska's research has also created opportunities to share her findings with English language teaching and research communities.
She has presented her work through national and international platforms, including the IATEFL conference, the ESOL Research Community in the UK and the TESOL Association.
What started with an issue Chathuska encountered in her own classroom has therefore allowed her to contribute to wider conversations about culturally inclusive ESOL teaching and advocate for the learners who inspired her research.
Rediscovering her passion for ESOL teaching
Chathuska originally came to Coventry University considering a move away from classroom teaching.
Her experience took her in a different direction.
Working with refugee and migrant learners renewed her enthusiasm for English language teaching, while her MA allowed her to connect her professional experience with academic research.
Engaging more deeply with the field has also supported Chathuska's professional development, helping her secure her current role as a full-time ESOL teacher.
Looking back, she sees her time at Coventry University as having given her much more than the qualification she initially set out to achieve.
“Coming to the UK to study at Coventry University gave me far more than a degree. It gave me my passion for teaching back, helped me refine my skills, and provided me with an entry into a global platform to advocate for vulnerable learners.”
Where could postgraduate study take your research?
Chathuska's experience shows how an MA dissertation inspired by professional practice can develop beyond the course itself, from exploring a question in the classroom to award-winning, published research with practical value for other teachers.
If you're interested in English language teaching, ESOL, education management or developing your research skills, postgraduate study can give you the opportunity to explore questions relevant to your own interests and professional experience.
Explore English Literature MA at Coventry University to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities available. to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities available.
Similarly, if you’re considering a career in teaching, take a look through our range of teacher training options with NITE, the National Institute of Teaching and Education.
