On 31 Jul 2015, Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL) and National Institute of Education (NIE) co-organized a professional forum for the prospect of Chinese language education in Singapore. Various professionals from the Ministry of Education (MOE), NIE and SCCL attended the forum.

 

Ms. Ho Peng, Chairperson of SCCL Board of Directors, delivering the opening speech for the forum

It was a great honour for SCCL to invite Ms. Ho Peng, the Chairperson of its Board of Directors and Advisor of Ministry of Education, to the forum. In her opening speech, Ms. Ho identified the challenges of learning Chinese in an environment where Chinese is a second language and summarised the strategies employed by MOE to tackle these problems. Ms. Ho affirmed that the professional forum was a necessary platform for policy makers, researchers, and educators to align their vision in optimising our existing education system.

 

Research Consultant of SCCL Dr. Soh Kay Cheng delivering the keynote speech on pedagogical methods

Following Ms. Ho's opening speech was the keynote speech of Dr. Soh Kay Cheng, Research Consultant of SCCL. After a reflection on his decades of research experience, Dr. Soh set the direction for the day's discussion as he brought attention to the great significance of pedagogical methods. He further emphasized that pedagogical research is the key to the improvement of Singapore's education system and should be regarded as the core topic in education studies.

 

NIE Assoc. Prof. Aw Guat Poh reviewing NIE's past and recent researches

In line with Dr. Soh's emphasis, Assoc. Prof. Aw Guat Poh, Dr. Wong Lung Hsiang and Assoc. Prof. Chai Ching Sing from NIE delivered to the audience a review of NIE's past and recent researches. These researches combined the concept of seamless learning and self-directed learning with the latest information technology so that students can continue their Chinese learning in an informal, off-campus environment. Under such teaching designs and strategies, Chinese will really become a necessary part of life and the students' mastery of this language will also be enhanced so as to help sharpen their competitive edge in the world.

Mr. Lim Yee Pin, Dean of Curriculum, SCCL, leading a discussion on "Teachers' Professional Training"

With these discussions in mind, the participants engaged in solution-brainstorming sessions separately led by facilitators Mr. Lim Chin Nam, Mdm. Lim Kwee Hua, Mr. Lim Yee Pin and Dr. Cheng Wan-Ni. The brainstorming sessions focused on "Students' background", "Curriculum and Pedagogy", "Teachers' Professional Training" and "Preschool Education" respectively. At the end of the sessions, the facilitators presented their discussions, which enabled the participants to have a clearer objective on future collaborations.

 

SCCL Executive Director Dr. Chin Chee Kuen delivering a summary of the day's discussion

The forum ended on a high note as SCCL Executive Director Dr. Chin Chee Kuen delivered the closing speech. Dr. Chin pointed out that the participants have reached a common understanding that researches should be student-oriented and should cater to all students regardless of their diverse language backgrounds. He noted that the essential theme of the day's discussion was to take full advantage of Singapore's English-Chinese bilingual environment when it comes to researches and practices. He reaffirmed his stand that the ultimate goal of our research is to ensure that students can effectively use the language through a pleasant learning experience.