SCCL Welcomes Visiting Scholar Ms. Wu Chunmei from Shanghai

SCCL Director Dr. Chin Chee Kuen and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Chan Chiu Ming presenting the Certificate of Achievement to Ms. Wu Chunmei.

The Singapore Centre for Chinese Language welcomed visiting scholar Ms. Wu Chunmei from Shanghai during the period of 26 November 2013 to 28 Feb 2014. A senior teacher from the Affiliated High School of the world-renowned Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Ms. Wu plays important roles in a number of education institutes in China: Among others, she is the leader of the Language Research Team at the Yangpu District, Shanghai. She is also a member of the National Experts Committee for Language Learning and a member of the Shanghai Branch of the National Committee for the Promotion of Reading of Chinese Cultural Classics.

During her stay at SCCL, Ms. Wu Chunmei has written a paper entitled "Basic Principles for the Incorporation of Learning Guidance Function in Secondary Language Instructional Materials – A Study Based on the Higher Chinese Language Instructional Materials for Secondary Schools in Singapore" with the advice of Dr. Chan Chiu Ming, Dean of Academic Affairs, SCCL. She has also given a talk on "Differences in the Instructional Materials and Teaching Methodologies between Singapore and Shanghai as Reflected in the Chinese Language Syllabuses." Both her talk and presentation are insightful and thought-provoking.

Ms. Wu has attended a total of 17 SCCL courses, each lasting from 8 to 16 hours. These courses deal with different teaching skills and various aspects of Chinese language education in Singapore, such as the use of "iMTL platform", lesson studies at junior colleges, teaching of Chinese oral skills through videos, the use of films in Chinese lessons, language education by using newspapers articles, pedagogies of Chinese language for weak students in the upper primary, etc. An inquisitive, passionate learner, Ms. Wu had extensive exchanges with the Master Teachers and Lecturers who conducted the courses.

Under the arrangement of SCCL, Ms. Wu has had also the opportunity to observe classes at a number of junior colleges as well as secondary and primary schools, such as the Temasek Junior College, Pioneer Junior College, Dunman High Secondary and Shuqun Primary School. The class observations have allowed her to gain a wide perspective of Chinese language education in Singapore from primary to JC level.

Ms. Wu says her stay at SCCL has been most fruitful and rewarding. She believes that what she has learnt will be of great value for her future researches.