Proficiency in English (or for that matter, any language) is generally measured in two aspects – speech and reading/writing.
No education is complete without character building. Character building and moral education are intertwined. Nurturing a morally upright child is more important than anything else. Would you want a child who is academically bright and has achieved great results, but uses his intelligence in immoral or deceitful ways later in life? We come across many such examples today. Newspapers report of successful lawyers siphoning millions of their clients’ money and leaving their families behind, and disappearing without a trace. Civil servants have been prosecuted for allegedly receiving sexual favours in exchange for doling out lucrative business contracts or helping certain parties escape detection.
Education is more than just a paper-and-pen exercise. Our education scene has also evolved with the times to move closer towards cultivating students with the ability to speak confidently in the presence of a crowd. Primary 1 and 2 students often have ‘show and tell’ sessions. More of such presentation exercises will be introduced when children progress to secondary school, junior college, polytechnic and university. In the working world, one cannot escape from making the occasional business presentation.
I am a regular presence at many Mind Stretcher, 学汇乐 （Xue Hui Le） and MS Junior Campus parent seminars. After the seminars end, many parents (those who recognised me) had invariably come forward and asked me this question: “How did you train your son to become a President’s Scholar?" I find this question more difficult to answer than any PSLE question! That said, I will attempt to share my perspectives on this issue.
Though English is the lingua franca of the world, in a time of rapid modernisation and globalisation, it has become increasingly important to broaden our perspectives and world views, master other languages, and interact with people across different cultures and backgrounds. Today, people from all around the world are seeing the need to increase their proficiency in languages used in other markets in order to stay competitive. While most only realise this when they enter the workplace, it is undeniable that learning a new language at a young age not only makes eventual mastery of it easier, but also opens up many doors of opportunity for them later on.
Do you know your child’s learning style?
We seldom hear of parents feeling stressed when they are raising their pre-schoolers. Parents who complain about being stressed out by their children’s education are almost invariably those who have children in primary school. Why is this so? The reason is that upon entering primary school, the children are not equipped with the necessary skills for our primary school education system.
English is undisputedly the lingua franca of the world. Being unable to express oneself clearly, either in speech or writing, is likely to set one at a disadvantage. For most children, the aptitude for writing lags behind the aptitude for speaking. In many cases, the former never catches up with the latter, even in adulthood.
Of the academic subjects taught in primary school, Science is the one that demands the most memory work. Textbooks dump a barrage of facts and figures at the young, green learners, which can be overwhelming and can kill their interest if not managed proper doses. What can we do to make learning Science more enjoyable for them?
To learn a language, it is essential to acquire the way of thinking in that language. This is applicable to all levels of learning the Chinese language. For children in kindergarten, thinking in Chinese builds the foundation that enables them to construct short sentences in Chinese; for school students, it helps them read and digest a passage more efficiently and hones their ability to express themselves more clearly in the language.
Literature may seem like a daunting subject to many Secondary students. In Primary school, you had a textbook with clearly defined sections to study – but now, in secondary school, you may have to study an actual novel! In some other cases, poetry and passages of prose are the order of the day.
The 2015 PSLE Mathematics question about the weight of eight $1-coins generated much online discussion among students and parents alike that year as well. Some pointed out that the question might be “misleading” or not logical.
Tongue-twisters for English eloquence, fun & laughter, peace & joy!
In Singapore, the A-Level examination is conducted and structured a little differently from its namesake equivalent (the International Cambridge A-Level examinations) in other parts of the world. This 'revised' Singapore A-Level curriculum model came into effect in 2006, as part of an enhanced curriculum framework to emphasize multi-disciplinary learning, breadth and flexibility of learning, and to better prepare students for university education.
Most of us would know that English is the main lingua franca of the world (it is the official language of 67 countries!), and it is the medium of instruction in Singapore. Other than that, what do we know?