John Barnes

John Barnes has been teaching at Toronto Metropolitan University since the Spring/Summer 2014 term. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in History and English Literature from Queen’s University and Master of Arts (English Language and Literature) from Acadia University. He has also been certified by Cambridge University, UK, to teach English as an additional language and has taught courses in academic writing and research, English literature, cultural studies, intercultural relations, linguistics, anthropology, and professional communication and leadership skills at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. John specializes in working with students to develop academic reading and writing, critical thinking, and intercultural skills needed for university success and has been fortunate to explore the relationship between language, culture, and identity in his courses to date. He also recently created a new undergraduate course, LIR 208: Skateboarding as a Cultural Bridge, and was awarded the 2025 Slobodan Drakulic Cross-Disciplinary Faculty of Arts Teaching Award for these efforts. He has also been nominated for several other teaching awards since he started at the University, and as a freelance author, his work has been published by The Globe and Mail. Most importantly, however, John has and continues to be inspired and humbled by the efforts, goodwill, and support of his colleagues and students.