Dr Bronwen Dyson
Postgraduate Academic Writing Adviser
Discipline of English and Writing
Bronwen Dyson is a Senior Lecturer in English and Writing, with a specialisation in Professional Writing, specifically doctoral writing. Bronwen’s research takes an inter-disciplinary approach to the English language by adopting the perspectives of Second Language Acquisition, Applied Linguistics and Academic Literacy and by exploring links between Second Language Acquisition and Speech Pathology. She coordinates three units of study on doctoral writing and is the sole and co-author of numerous articles and books. Most recently, she has published the monograph Dynamic variation in second language acquisition: a language processing perspective (2021) and a reflection on variation in language processing (2022), and collaborated on A developmental approach to assessing and treating agrammatic aphasia (2022) and the contribution of writing scholars to debate about the use of AI (2024).
As English continues its breath-taking spread across the globe, Bronwen's research engages with the timely topic of the acquisition and teaching of English. For this, she adopts an interdisciplinary, socio-cognitive approach.
One strand of this work focuses on the social context of language acquisition, including:
- curriculum for doctoral writing - see our podcast on the doctoral writing courses offered at USYD, hosted by Dr Isabelle Hesse with Dr Jiva Lamsal, Zeina Taleb and Dr Bronwen Dysonhttps://soundcloud.com/usydenglish/englishusyd-ep8-doctoral-writing-at-usyd
- language policy and
- the potential of Artificial Intelligence as a pedagogical technology for teaching academic honesty, language and writing.
The other strand in this work focuses on cognition as interpreted by Processability Theory. This work studies:
- the grammatical acquisition of adolescent and adult second language learners,
- variation in this development,
- what patterns in development and variation can show about developmental readiness to learn and.
- what patterns in development and variation suggest about the developmentally-attuned treatment of people with aphasia.
Bronwen coordinates a suite of three WRIT5000 units on Higher Degree Research (HDR) thesis writing: WRIT5001: Staring the thesis, WRIT5002: The middle chapters and WRIT5003: Completing a thesis. She has also taught into other units including FASS3999: Interdisciplinary Impact and WRIT6001: Professional Editing.
Bronwen currently supervises five HDRs.
- Discovery Program 2025 EOI, Led by S. E. Thomas
- Higher Education Research and Development, (2023) B. Wise, L. Emerson, A.Van Luyn, B. Dyson, C. Bjork, S. E. Thomas.
Language support vs. language development: A critical discourse analysis of two Australian universities' policies on student linguistic capabilities, in collaboration with G. Ramia:
- Accepted byHigher Education Research and Development.
Language acquisition and loss
Acquisition of English plurals by Vietnamese learners: revisiting the debate about the numeric context,an international collaborative project with Vi Thanh Son (University of Gothenburg, Sweden), data collection being undertaken in Vietnam
First language loss in aphasia (Developmentally-attuned language treatment for non-fluent primary progressive aphasia and Broca's aphasia), a national project based at The University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre is being conducted in collaboration with Kirrie Ballard (Speech Pathology, The University of Sydney), Jess Feng (PhD student, The University of Sydney), Yui Ting (Alice) Chang, Kar Yu (Cherry) Hung. Following data collection in 2023, two publications are in preparation:
J. Feng, B. Dyson & K. Ballard, How has agrammatism being assessed? A systematic review.
Y-T Chang, J. Feng, B. Dyson & K. Ballard, Using Processability theory to account for the morphosyntactic production in agrammatism: A cross-sectional study.
We have made one conference presentation:
J. Feng, B. Dyson & K. Ballard,Assessment of agrammatism in individuals with Broca’s Aphasia and Non-fluent variant Primary Progressive Aphasia: A scoping review. Speech Pathology Australia conference, 26-29 May 2024.
Association of Academic Language and Learning
Applied Linguistics Association of Australia
Sweden | (University of Gothenburg) Bronwen is involved in a project with Vi Thanh Son (University of Gothenburg) on the acquisition of English plural morphology by Vietnamese secondary learners. |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Exploring Processability and Second Language Acquisition Dynamics: A Longitudinal Study of English Language Development in Children of Indonesian International Students | Amelia MEIDHIATININGSIH |
| Riding the edge of oblivion: Dopamine Addiction Creativity — what the human reward system teaches us about the work of the artist and the road to recovery | Mark PAYNE |
| Processability theory (PT) and genre-based pedagogy (GBP): A case study of speaking and writing skills in the Indonesian high school context | Rudi SUHERMAN |
| Investigating receptive bilingualism from a family language policy lens. | Zeina TALEB |
Selected publications
(John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2021)
(John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2017)
Publications
Books
- Dyson, B. (2021). Dynamic Variation in Second Language Acquisition: A language processing perspective. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
- Dyson, B., Hakansson, G. (2017). Understanding Second Language Processing: A Focus on Processability Theory. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
Book Chapters
- Dyson, B. (2019). Are speech and writing teachable? Re-examining developmental constraints on pedagogy. In Ragnar Arntzen, Gisela Hakansson, Arnstein Hjelde, Jorg-U. Kebler (Eds.), Teachability and Learnability across Languages, (pp. 71-93). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2018). Developmental sequences. In John I. Liontas (Eds.), The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, (pp. 1-8). Hoboken: Wiley. [More Information]
Journals
- Wise, B., Emerson, L., Van Luyn, A., Dyson, B., Bjork, C., Thomas, S. (2024). A scholarly dialogue: writing scholarship, authorship, academic integrity and the challenges of AI. Higher Education Research and Development, 43(3), 578-590. [More Information]
- Dyson, B., Ramia, G. (2024). Language Development vs Language Support: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Two Australian Universities’ Policies on Student Linguistic Capabilities. Higher Education Research and Development, 43(8), 1737-1753. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2023). SLA as complex, dynamical and predictable: A Processability Theory perspective. Second Language Research, 39(4), 1279-1292. [More Information]
Edited Journals
- Dyson, B. (2010). Sociocognitive Approaches to Second Language Pedagogy. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 33(3). [More Information]
Report
- Dyson, B. (2011). A Report on an evaluative study of the Centre for English Teaching.
- Dyson, B. (2011). English language entry pathways: innovations, outcomes and future directions - Report on the Symposium.
2024
- Wise, B., Emerson, L., Van Luyn, A., Dyson, B., Bjork, C., Thomas, S. (2024). A scholarly dialogue: writing scholarship, authorship, academic integrity and the challenges of AI. Higher Education Research and Development, 43(3), 578-590. [More Information]
- Dyson, B., Ramia, G. (2024). Language Development vs Language Support: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Two Australian Universities’ Policies on Student Linguistic Capabilities. Higher Education Research and Development, 43(8), 1737-1753. [More Information]
2023
- Dyson, B. (2023). SLA as complex, dynamical and predictable: A Processability Theory perspective. Second Language Research, 39(4), 1279-1292. [More Information]
2022
- Dyson, B., Hakansson, G., Ballard, K. (2022). A developmental approach to assessing and treating agrammatic aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(3), 1188-1204. [More Information]
2021
- Dyson, B. (2021). Dynamic Variation in Second Language Acquisition: A language processing perspective. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
2019
- Dyson, B. (2019). A criterion-based approach to oral feedback on thesis writing: An analysis of supervisor and academic literacy advisor feedback. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 42(3), 251-273. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2019). Are speech and writing teachable? Re-examining developmental constraints on pedagogy. In Ragnar Arntzen, Gisela Hakansson, Arnstein Hjelde, Jorg-U. Kebler (Eds.), Teachability and Learnability across Languages, (pp. 71-93). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
2018
- Dyson, B. (2018). Developmental sequences. In John I. Liontas (Eds.), The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, (pp. 1-8). Hoboken: Wiley. [More Information]
2017
- Dyson, B., Hakansson, G. (2017). Understanding Second Language Processing: A Focus on Processability Theory. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. [More Information]
2016
- Dyson, B. (2016). EAP or genre-based? A comparison of two curricular approaches to the preparation of international students for university. University of Sydney Papers in TESOL, 11, 31-66.
- Dyson, B. (2016). Variation, individual differences and second language processing: A Processability Theory study. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 6(4), 341-395. [More Information]
2014
- Dyson, B. (2014). Are Onshore Pathway Students Prepared for Effective University Participation? A Case Study of an International Postgraduate Cohort. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 8(2), A-28-A-42.
2011
- Dyson, B. (2011). A Report on an evaluative study of the Centre for English Teaching.
- Dyson, B. (2011). English language entry pathways: innovations, outcomes and future directions - Report on the Symposium.
2010
- Dyson, B. (2010). Learner Language Analytic Methods and Pedagogical Implications. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 33(3), 30.1-30.21. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2010). On Sociocognitive Approaches to Second Language Pedagogy [Editorial]. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 33(3), 25.1-25.11. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2010). Review of J. F. Lee and A. G. Benati, (2010). Second language processing and Delivering processing instruction. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 33(1), 10.1-10.5.
2009
- Dyson, B. (2009). Processability theory and the role of morphology in English as a second language development: a longitudinal study. Second Language Research, 25(3), 355-376. [More Information]
- Dyson, B. (2009). Understanding trajectories of academic literacy: how could this improve diagnostic assessment? Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 3(1), A25-A69.
2008
- Dyson, B. (2008). SA and Pedagogy: Bio-Social Approaches - A Colloquium. ATESOL Newsletter, 34(3), 7-8.
- Dyson, B. (2008). What we can learn from questions: ESL question development and its implications for language assessment. Prospect: an Australian journal of TESOL, 23(1), 16-27.
2002
- Dyson, B. (2002). Book Review: Interfaces between second language acquisition and language testing research. Prospect: an Australian journal of TESOL, 17(1), 102-106.
- Dyson, B. (2002). Focus on Learnable Form an a Communicative Context: A Framework for Second Language Acquisition in the Classroom. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 5(1), 53-71.
- Dyson, B. (2002). Focus on learnable form in a communicative context: a framework for second language acquisition in the classroom. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 25(1), 53-70.
1996
- Dyson, B. (1996). The Debate on Form-focused Instruction: A Teacher's Perspective. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 19(2), 59-78.
1995
- Dyson, B. (1995). A Teacher's Perspective on Form-focused Instruction. Australian Studies in Language Acquisition, 3, 1-15.
Selected Grants
2013
- Second Language Processing: Development, variation and professional applications , Dyson B, University of Sydney/Faculty Research Support Scheme
2012
- Processability Theory and Feedback on Writing: A ‘teachability’ study of graduate students , Dyson B, University of Sydney/Faculty Research Incubator