Dr Xolisa Guzula

Elevating literacy through innovative curriculum design and mentorship, I leveraged my expertise at the University of Cape Town and PRAESA to enhance language education. Skilled in online teaching and academic publication, I've significantly contributed to the development of literacy programs, emphasizing research-driven strategies and the mentoring of educators for impactful learning outcomes.

• Guzula, X., & Abdulatief, S. (2024). Supporting teacher dispositions towards translanguaging-for-learning in a grade 9 mathematics classroom. Special Issue. Journal of Reading and Writing. Literacy Association of SA
• Abdulatief, S., Guzula, X., & Probyn, M. (2024). Crossing the frontier from oral to written translanguaging for epistemic access in Natural Science. Special Issue. Journal of Reading and Writing.Literacy Association of SA
• Guzula, X. (2022). Children’s Use of Their Full Linguistic Repertoire to Establish a Social and Linguistic Third Space for Learning: A Case Study of the Stars of Today Literacy Club. In Dr J. Purkarthofer and M. Flubacher (eds). Speaking Subjects in Multilingualism Research: Biographical and Speaker-centred Approaches. Multilingual Matters. UK PhD
• Guzula. X. (2021). Constructing a pedagogical third space with multilingual children: A case study of the bilingual Stars of Today Literacy Club# (STLC#). PhD dissertation. University of Cape Town.
• Abdulatief, S., Guzula, X., McKinney, C (2021) Delinking from Colonial Language Ideologies: Creating third spaces in teacher education. In Z. Bock and C. Stroud (Eds). Decolonising Languages and Literacies in Higher Education: Reclaiming Voices from the South. Bloomsbury. UK
• Abdulatief, S. & Guzula, X. (2017) Whatsapp as postgraduate writing support tool. In Theresa Lillis & Mary Jane Curry (eds) Global Academic Publishing: Policies, Practices and Publishing. Multilingual Matters. UK
• bua-lit collective. 2018. How are we failing our children? Reconceptualising language and literacy education. https://bua-lit.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/bua-lit-language-literacy-education.pdf
• Guzula, X. (2021). De/coloniality in South African Language in Education Policy: Resisting the Marginalisation of African Language Speaking Children. In C. McKinney and P. Christie. Decoloniality, Language and Literacy: Conversations with teacher educators. Multilingual Matters. UK
• Guzula, X. (2019) Moving beyond artificial linguistic binaries in the education of African Language speaking children: A case for simultaneous biliteracy development, in Special Issue of Perspectives in Education. Vol 36 (2). Pp 1-14
• Guzula, X., McKinney, C & Tyler, R. (2016). Languaging for learning: Legitimising translanguaging and enabling multimodal practices in third spaces. Southern African Linguistics and Applied language studies. Vol. 34 (3) 211-226

Editorial Experience:

• 2024, co-editor of the Secial Issue for Reading and Writing Journal, titled: (Trans)languaging-for-learning in the South: innovating with teachers.

Publications in Press

• Guzula, X., & Tyler, R. (in press). Disrupting Anglonormativity in Southern schooling: a decolonial bilingual Science learning materials project. In S. Bagga-Gupta. The Palgrave Handbook of Decolonizing Educational and Language Sciences. PaDELS
• Dippenaar, H; Immelman, S; Loubser, E; Mudzielwana, N & Guzula, X (in press). A short historical overview of children’s literature. In Rinelle Evans, Ina Joubert & Meier, Corinne (Eds). Introducing Children’s Literature: A Guide to the South African Classroom. Pretoria. Van Schaik.
• Guzula, X. Writing as a form of critical literacy: STLC# children transforming a narrative about a monster. In Hilary Janks, Barbara Comber, Vivian Vasquez (Eds). Research Agenda for Critical Literacy.Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd

Examining

2024 - August- examined a joint phd for Ugent and UWC - Viva jury member - Nov 2024

2024 - July - examined a joint phd for Ugent and UWC -Viva Jury member - Oct 2024

2024 – April – examined a masters dissertation for Stellenbosch University

2024- April – examined a masters dissertation for Rhodes University

2024 – January – examined a masters dissertation for Stellenbosch University

2023 – June – examined a Ph.D. dissertation for the University of the Western Cape

External Moderation

June 2023 – moderating for Wits university

June 2023 – moderating for UFH

December 2023 – Moderating for UWC

December 2023 – Moderating for Wits University

June 2024 – Moderating for Wits University

June 2024 – Moderating for UFH

Nov 2024 - Moderating for Wits B.Ed

Nov 2024 - Moderating for Wits masters

Nov 2024 - Moderating for UWC 3rd year linguistics

Conferences

• Guzula, X.(2024). Chair and co-organisor of the Literacy Association of South Africa, Sept, 2024 Conference held at the School of Education, UCT
• Guzula, X. (2024). Co-organisor of the 2024 Neville Alexander Commemorative Conference held at the School of Education, UCT, Nov, 2024
• Guzula, X. (2024). Co-organisor of the Decolonial Summer School held at School of Education, UCT in January 2024
• Guzula, X. (2023). Oral language, drawing and emergence of literacy. Wordworks Literacy Festival. Cape Town.
• Guzula, X (2023). Languaging for learning in mathematics classrooms. Literacy Association of South Africa Conference. Gqeberha
• Kell, C., Guzula, X. & Ramadiro, B. (2023) A critique of the Science of Reading. Literacy Association of South Africa Conference. Gqeberha
• Nqandolo, L., Guzula, X., Faku, N., Hoffmann, P., Marole, R., & Mashologu, N., (2023). Literacy support through school libraries – Feedback from the front lines. Literacy Association of South Africa Conference. Gqeberha
• Guzula, X. (2003) Keynote address: The Role of libraries in children’s literacy development. Public Library Seminar. Cape Town.
• Guzula, X (2023). keynote address: Emergent biliteracy development: Integrating young children’s multilingual and multimodal resources to enrich children’s literacy experiences. Early Childhood Development Conference. CECD. Cape Town
• Tyler, R., Guzula, X. & McKinney (2023) Bilingual Education Projects in the Western Cape. Language Policy Conference. DBE.Johannesburg.
• McKinney, C., Makoe, P., Tyler, R. Guzula, X., & Molate, B. (2023). Language policy making, race and decoloniality in South Africa. Language Policy Forum Virtual Conference at SOAS, London, UK.
• Guzula, X. (2023). Virtual keynote: Multilingual Oracy to Multilingual Writing. Teacher’s conference, University of Sheffield. UK.

Professional Engagements

• In November 2023 I was elected as Chair of Literacy Association of South Africa, WC Committee and is the Chair of LITASA 2024 conference which she is organising and hosting at Neville Alexander Building in on September 13-15, 2024.
• 21 February 2024 – I was invited by the DBE to attend the launch of Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education on International Mother Tongue Day, in East London to present on Embracing MTBBE as a decolonial endeavor.
• 4-16 March 2024- I was invited by the Minister Angie Motshekga to attend the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla held in Johannesburg and presented on Models of biliteracy development.
• 7 March 2024 – I was invited by Cornerstone Institute in partnership with Oxford University Press to be a panelist at their 2nd Critical Dialogue event to address literacy challenges faced in South Africa, specifically primary education.
• April 2024 – UCT News: continuing with advocacy work for multilingual education.

Original works

• Guzula, X. & Masola, A. (2025). Together Apart: The Story of Living in Apartheid. Johannesburg. Jacana Media.

The book is also available in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi and Afrikaans.

Translations in 2024

• UNomkhubulwane uMama weKrisimesi, a translation of Nomkhubulwane, and African Mother Christmas by Nokugcina Mhlophe
• Inyathelo ngalinye ngexesha, a translation of One Step at a time, by Gregory Maqoma
• ULuba uya eZoo, a translation of Luba Goes to the zoo, by Sewela Langeni
• Isikhokelo somqeqeshi, a translation of the Facilitator Guide for teaching the book, The Invisible Child by

 Translated text 2023

• Cula Nala, a translation of Sing Nala by Nonikiwe Mashologu. Jacana Media
• Amantombazana akayenzi loo nto, a translation of Girls Don’t Do that by Thembi Kgatlana and Nikolaos Kirkinis
• Itheko lothando likaMpumi, a translation of Mpumi’s Feast of Love by Lebohang Masango. David Philipp Publishers
• Inkwenkwezi eFihlakeleyo, a translation of The Hidden Star novel for preteens by Sello Duiker. Penguin Random House
• Ukubalasela komntu endinguye, a translation of Remarkable me by Tshwanelo Serumulo. Panmacmillan
• Umntwana ongabonakaliyo, a translation of The Invisible Child by Tove Jansson, NB Publishers.
• UHector, Inkwenkwe, uQhankqalazo, neFoto eyaTshintsha Rhulumente woCalucalulo neNgcinezelo a Translation of Hector: A Boy, a Protest, and the Photograph that Changed Apartheid by Adrienne Wright
• UShudu – a translation of Shudu by Shudufatso Musinda
• Umdanisi wolonwabo - a translation of Joy Dancer by Gregory Maqoma
• Uyaphi uMpumi, a translation of Where does Mpumi go by Lebohang Masango.
• Ukuzihlobanisa neemvakalelo, a translation of Making friends with feelings by Sewela Langeni
• Ngowuphi umbala othandwa kakhulu nguMpumi? A translation of Which colour does Mpumi like the most by Lebohang Masango
• Uyakwazi ukubala uMpumi? A translation of Can Mpumi count? By Lebohang Masango
• Utya ntoni uMpumi? A translation of What does Mpumi eat? By Lebohang Masango
• Unxiba ntoni uMpumi, a translation of What does Mpumi Wear by Lebohang Masango. David Philipp Publishers

Edited Books in 2023

• Indlela Ende eya eNkululekweni, a translation of Long Walk to Freedom, by Chris van Wyk. Panmacmillan
• Ingoma kaZandi, a translation of Zandi’s song by Tshwanelo Serumulo. Panmacmillan
• Kwezi Comic editing, a translation of Kwezi, Collector’s Edition, Issue 7-9 by Loyiso Mkhize and Clyde Beech
• UTiqua, iGorha elikhulu, a translation of Tiqua, the great warrier by Stanley Grootboom

2024 IBBY/Exclusive Books award quality translation of Nonikiwe Mashologu’s book Sing Nala to Cula Nala in isiXhosa.

2024 My translation of Cula Nala by Nonikiwe Mashologu made the honour list of IBBY 100 recommended books across the world.

2022 Won Pansalb Award for contribution to translation of books into isiXhosa

2022 I won Western Cape Cultural Award/Neville Alexander Award for multilingual publication with Dr Athambile Masola 

2022 I won ALASA/VIA Africa emerging researcher award

2020 IBBY/Exclusive Books award for best translation of The Elders at the Door by Shale and Maryanne Bester to Iinkonde eMnyango

2020 My translation of Wendy Hardie’s book, The Singing Stone/Ilitye Eliculayo made the honour list of IBBY 100 recommended books across the world.