Dr Sarah Pasfield-Neofitou - Researcher Profile

Biography

While undertaking Honours at Monash, I became interested in Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). In particular, I was fascinated by the use of CMC in intercultural settings, especially involving the use of Japanese and English.

My Honours research focused on the use of chat by intermediate and advanced level Japanese language learners, with their Japanese friends and other contacts. I later expanded this into my PhD study, which looked more broadly at a variety of forms of CMC use by learners at many different levels of competence, and with a much larger portion of their social contacts. Drawing on discourse analysis and social realism, I studied the social settings of CMC use, features of the situated activity of CMC use, and the use of contextual resources and opportunities for second language acquisition. I graduated from the doctoral program in October 2010.

I have worked as a Japanese language teacher at Melbourne and Monash universities for several years, and at Monash have also taught Japanese Sociolinguistics and Applied Linguistics classes. I enjoy interacting with students and preparing creative teaching materials, especially blending technology with quality face-to-face learning. Recently, I have also taken up a position with the eEducation centre, where I am expanding my expertise in this area.

Qualifications

PHD

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2010

PHD

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2010

BACHELOR OF LANGUAGES (HONOURS)

Institution: Monash University

Year awarded: 2007

Publications

Books

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2012, Online Communication in a Second Language: Social Interaction, Language Use and Learning Japanese, Multilingual Matters, Bristol UK.

Book Chapters

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., Morofushi, M., Spence-Brown, R.L., 2009, Jisshakai e no kakehashi, in Gakushuusha shutai no nihongo kyooiku - New Pedagogies for learner agency: Japanese Language Education Research and Practice in Australia, eds Chihiro Kinoshita Thomson, Coco Shuppan, Tokyo Japan, pp. 143-160.

Journal Articles

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2012, Introduction: (Re) Conceptualizing the interface of language, technology and literacies, Monash University Linguistics Papers [P], vol 8, issue 1, Monash University, Australia, pp. 1-10.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., Koshiba, M., 2012, Normalizing social networking in a beginners' Japanese course, Language Learning Journal [P], vol 40, Routledge, United Kingdom, pp. 1-18.

Koshiba, M., Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2012, 'Typing literacy' in a Japanese beginners course: Developing an overlooked skill via explicit instruction and social networking, Monash University Linguistics Papers [P], vol 8, issue 2, Monash University, Australia, pp. 81-90.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2011, Online domains of language use: second language learners' experiences of virtual community and foreignness, Language Learning and Technology [P], vol 15, issue 2, The National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC), University of Hawaii, USA, pp. 92-108.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2009, Learners' participation in informal Japanese-English internet chat, New Voices [P], vol 3, Japan Foundation, Australia, pp. 43-63.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2009, Paper, electronic, or online? Different dictionaries for different activities, Babel [P], vol 43, issue 2, Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Association, Australia, pp. 12-18.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2008, Creative applications of social networking for the language learning class, The International Journal of Learning [P], vol 14, Common Ground Publishing, Melbourne Australia, pp. 235-240.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2007, Textual features of intercultural internet chat between learners of Japanese and English, CALL-EJ Online, vol 9, issue 1, CALL-EJ Online, Australia, pp. 1-16.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S.E., 2007, The gender preferential use of minimal responses in daytime TV interviews, Monash University Linguistics Papers, vol 5, issue 2, Monash University, Clayton Vic Australia, pp. 43-52.

Conference Proceedings

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2011, Developing soft skills via CMC, Developing Soft Skills via CMC, International Language Conference Proceedings, Malaysia, pp. 1-12.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2007, Intercultural Japanese-English internet chat and resources for language learning, CASTEL-J in Hawaii 2007 Proceedings, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Hawaii US, pp. 241-244.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2007, Intercultural internet chat and language learning: A socio-cultural theory perspective, Refereed Proceedings from Learning and Socio-cultural Theory: Exploring Modern Vygotskian Perspectives International Workshop 2007, 19 February 2007 to 21 February 2007, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW Australia, pp. 147-162.

Pasfield-Neofitou, S., 2007, Japanese-English chat interactions: Language use in internet chat, CASTEL-J in Hawaii 2007 Proceedings, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Hawaii US, pp. 5-6.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Celebrating Gender-Bending Performance in Japanese Rock "Visual Kei" Community in Indonesia.

Supervisors:

Pasfield-Neofitou, S (Joint), Stevens, C (Joint-co).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Investigating the discursive construction of desire: Japanese gay men, magazines and the internet.

Supervisors:

Pasfield-Neofitou, S (Joint), Stevens, C (Joint-co).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Language Teachers in an Online Teaching Environment: A Look at their Beliefs and Perceptions.

Supervisors:

Sharifian, F (Main), Pasfield-Neofitou, S (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The Use and Opinions of Animals in Contemporary Japan.

Supervisors:

Trefalt, B (Main), Breaden, J (Associate), Pasfield-Neofitou, S (Associate).