Currently, she teaches English to all levels, from primary to junior college and Literature to secondary school students. She also teaches students who are in the Cambridge GCE and IGCSE `O’ level and IB tracks. ​Dr Pereira brings to The Pear Tree her valuable and varied experiences that have informed her findings on student learning and her formulation of best practices.

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Areas of Expertise

• Curriculum Development

• Literature-Driven English Curriculum

• Language Approaches

• Multi-modalities in English Language Teaching

• Materials Design

• Language Testing

• Research Methodology

• Teaching of Literature

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Her Research Interests

• Reading, literacy and English Language curriculum reform

• Integrated English and Literature curriculum

• Gender-related implications of acquiring language skills

• Curriculum reformation to aid at-risk students

• Learner preferences and varied teaching strategies to aid learning

• English Language learning and teaching of various skills

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Her Research Experiences

• Research Mentor, Early Childhood Development Agency (2013 - 2014)

       - Mentoring two teams of principals and teachers from two preschools In Singapore on their Action Research projects in their respective schools

• Principal Investigator, Office of Educational Research, National Institute of Education, Singapore (Mar. 2009 – Dec. 2010)

      - Recipient of Grant (OER10/MDP08)

      - With the teachers from the two participating schools and research team, designed the Literature-Driven English Curriculum for                                              the Normal (Technical) classes in the schools

      - Tested the effectiveness of the Literature-Driven English Curriculum on these two Secondary One Normal (Technical) classes

• Part-time Research Associate, Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, NIE, Singapore (Mar. 2006 – Jun. 2007)

• Doctoral Research, University of Notre Dame, Australia (Jan. 2006 – Dec. 2006)

       - Designed the Literature-Driven English Curriculum

       - Tested the effectiveness of the Literature-Driven English Curriculum on 16 Secondary One Express and 2 Normal (Academic) classes in 4 schools               in Singapore

• Research Assistant, University of Notre Dame, Australia (Nov. 2003)

 

Her Publications

In refereed journals:

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• Pereira, M. D. (2010). A Literature-Driven English Programme's Effectiveness in Improving the Writing Skills of Grade 7 Singaporean Students. English in Education, 44(3), 232-249.

• Bokhorst-Heng, W., & Pereira, D (2008). Non-at-risk adolescents' attitudes towards reading in a Singapore secondary school. Journal of Research in Reading, 31(3), 285-301.

• Pereira, M. D., & Vallance, R. (2008). Implications of conducting naturalistic research in multiple sites. Journal of Educational Enquiry, 8(2), 71-85.

• Pereira, M.D., & Vallance, R. (2006). Multiple site action research case studies: Practical and theoretical benefits and challenges. Issues in Educational Research, 16(1), 67-79.

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Technical Report:

• Wolf, J., Bokhorst-Heng, W. D. & Pereira, M. D. (2008). A Study of One Secondary School's Extensive Reading Programme in Singapore. Singapore: Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, National Institute of Education.

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Unpublished Doctoral Thesis:

• Pereira, M.D. (2006). The effectiveness of a Literature-Driven English Programme in improving the English Language skills of secondary one students in Singapore. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.

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Conference Papers and Workshops:

• Pereira, M. D. (2010, December). The impact of multimedia and multimodality in enhancing the motivation of Grade 7 low-achieving English language learners in Singapore. Paper presented at the 2010 AsiaCALL Conference in Anand, India.

• Pereira, M. D. (2009, April). Effectiveness of the Literature-Driven English Programme in improving the writing skills of grade 7 students. Paper presented at 2009 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, San Diego.

• Pereira, M.D. (2009, November). The impact of the inclusion of diverse materials, activities and teaching methodologies in the LDEC on the motivation and achievement of lower secondary students in Singapore. Paper presented at 14th English in South-East Asia, Manila.

• Hui, C., & Pereira, M.D. (2009, November). An analysis of a novice teacher’s regulative discourse. Paper presented at the 2009 International Conference on English Language Teaching in Malacca, Malaysia.

• Pereira, M. D. (2008, November). Factors that have an impact on the success of a curriculum initiative project. Paper presented at Asia-Pacific Educational Research Association Conference 2008, Singapore.

• Pereira, M.D. (2006, November). The Literature-Driven English Programme to Enhance English Language Skills. Paper presented at Asia Pacific Educational Research Association Conference, Hong Kong.

• Pereira, M.D. (2006, November). The Gender-related Implications of Implementing a Literature-Driven English Programme in Secondary One Classes in Singapore to Improve English Language Skills. Paper presented at Asia- Pacific Educational Research Association Conference, Hong Kong.

• Pereira, M.D. (2006, May). The Effectiveness of a Literature-Driven English Programme in Improving the English Language Skills of Secondary One Students in Singapore. Paper presented at Educational Research Association of Singapore Conference 2006, Singapore.

• Pereira, M.D., Vallance, R. (2006, May). Implications of an Action Research Conducted in Multiple Sites. Paper presented at Educational Research Association of Singapore Conference 2006, Singapore.

• Pereira, M.D., Vallance, R. (2005, August). Multi-site action research case studies: Practical and theoretical benefits and challenges. Paper presented at Western Australian Institute for Educational Research 20th Annual Research Forum, Edith Cowan University, Perth.

• Pereira, M. D. (2009, November). The Literature-Driven English Curriculum. Workshop conducted at the 2009 International Conference on English Language Teaching in Malacca, Malaysia.

• Pereira, M.D. (2008, December). The Literature-Driven English Curriculum. Workshop conducted at the 13 th English in South-East Asia, Singapore.

• Pereira, M. D. (2007, May). The Literature-Driven English Curriculum. Workshop conducted at the CRPP Conference 2007, Singapore.

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Other Publications:

• Pereira, M.D. (2003). English Language: A Structured Study Programme (Lower Secondary). Singapore: Study Aids Publications.

• Pereira, M.D. (1999). G.C. `O' Level English: 10 Year Series Classified. Singapore: Study Aids Publications.

• Pereira, M.D. (1997). G.C.E `N' Level English: Ten Year Series Classified Singapore: Study Aids Publications.

• Pereira, M.D. (1993). Composition writing made easy for upper primary/ lower secondary. Singapore: Study Aids Publications.

• Pereira, M.D. (1993). Composition writing made easy for lower primary. Singapore: Study Aids Publications.

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