Cleopatra “Zinhle” Mabaso

Research Interests

My research interests include the literacy practices of English Second Language (ESL) speakers; Literacy practices and experiences of transnational scholars; Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) initiatives and the role of empathy in fostering writing self-efficacy during writing center consultations and related discourses.

Profile

I hold a Master’s degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures; a Master of Education in Languages (English) and Media Studies; a Bachelor of Education Honours in English and Media Studies; and a Bachelor of Pedagogics in English and Speech & Drama. I am currently serving as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures, where I teach First-Year Writing. Previously, I worked as a Writing Center Coordinator for Writing Across the Curriculum. My teaching experience spans from secondary to higher education, with a focus on English.

Driven by a strong interest in academic writing, I conducted a study titled “Literacy Practices of English Second First-Year Students at a University of Technology,” which explored the relationship between ESL first-year students’ literacy practices and their academic writing. To further expand my expertise in writing studies, I am currently pursuing a PhD in Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures.

Education

Master’s Degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Culture: Michigan State University, 2025.

Master of Education: Languages and Media Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), 2018.