[lg policy] Singapore Highlights Importance Of Raising English Language Proficiency

Mon Oct 26 21:55:28 UTC 2009

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- The Gov Monitor - http://thegovmonitor.com -

Singapore Highlights Importance Of Raising English Language Proficiency

Posted By admin On October 25, 2009 @ 10:40 pm In Asia, Education,
Governance | No Comments

Speech by Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade
and Industry and Ministry of Education at the Second Inspiring Teacher
of English Awards Presentation Ceremony on Thursday, 22 Oct 2009

Mr Goh Eck Kheng, Chairman, Speak Good English Movement,

Ms Ho Peng, Director General of Education,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Principals, Teachers, and Students

Good evening,

Tonight we recognise the commitment and contributions of our English
Language teachers by conferring The Inspiring Teacher of English
Award. This award, organized by the Speak Good English Movement and
The Straits Times, and supported by the Ministry of Education,
celebrates English Language teachers who ignite within their charges
an abiding love for the English language.

Now more than ever, there is an important need to cultivate in our
students fluency and proficiency in English, and a keen appreciation
of the language. English is the “Lingua Franca” of global commerce,
science and technology. Effective communication in English is a basic
requirement of the highly interconnected economy and society of the
21st century. The ability to express ourselves clearly and accurately,
in both the spoken and written form, is a valuable asset.

Effective communication is not just about grammar or textbook
accuracy. It is about conveying one’s message or intent with clarity
and a sense of context. Indeed, it has been said that the ability to
express an idea is almost as important as the idea itself. In that
regards, the current slogan of the Speak Good English Movement is apt
for it emphasises that the use of language should “Inspire”, “Impress”
and “Intoxicate”.

4In Singapore, we have come a long way since we adopted English as the
language of business and commerce, as well as for instruction in our
schools. Our schools have made steady progress in the teaching and
learning of English. Our students consistently perform well in
international competitions such as the Commonwealth Essay Writing
competition, the Angus Ross Prize for Literature and the World Schools
Debate Championships. At a broader national level, we have recorded
significant improvements in international studies such as PIRLS
(Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) between 2001 and
2006.

Notwithstanding these accomplishments, we cannot be complacent about
our relative proficiency in English. Most of us are not native
speakers of English and we are immersed in a bilingual, if not
multi-lingual, milieu. Techno lingo and other forms of patois pose an
additional challenge. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us, as
individuals and as a society, to undertake a deliberate and sustained
effort to continually strive to improve the standard of English in
Singapore. It has been a traditional source of strength that we must
safeguard and nurture for the future. This does not mean that every
student needs to be an eloquent speechmaker; rather, we must strive to
ensure that our students are able to convey their thoughts clearly and
confidently in standard English.

Indeed, we are not alone in this quest. Many countries are concerned
with precisely the same problem—the need to sustain the command of
standard English, particularly among their youth. Hong Kong is
allowing more schools to increase curriculum time in the English
medium in schools, in a refinement of its policy on medium of
instruction after 11 years. Even in the United Kingdom, there is
concern over ‘word poverty’—that a limited vocabulary and the
inability to adjust what they say according to the context and needs
of their audience, hamper the ability of their young people to
communicate effectively.

Raising the level of English Language proficiency will depend on the
motivation to improve and an immersion in an appropriate linguistic
environment. It is a goal that must be embraced by all and an effort
with many dimensions. It entails a societal effort from parents, the
community, businesses and the media to set the tone. Such a collective
initiative from all segments of society will help raise general
English proficiency and fluency in Singapore.

8The Ministry of Education can also play a catalytic role, and the
establishment of the English Language Institute of Singapore is an
important aspect of this effort. The Institute will train EL teachers
in the newest and most effective Language pedagogies, and provide a
range of custom-designed courses in written and spoken English for all
EL-medium teachers. In the long term, the English Language Institute
of Singapore can serve as a teaching and research hub for EL learning
in Singapore, and beyond.

Ultimately, our teachers and schools play an essential role in
motivating our students to speak well and in fostering an environment
within which English is well-spoken. Our schools are committed to
maintaining a conducive EL environment. This is achieved when teachers
role-model standard English in conversing with students and others,
and demonstrate the need to continually develop their own proficiency
in English with a creativity and passion that their students will
strive to emulate. The cornerstone of this effort is the expertise and
passion of EL teachers throughout Singapore.

10This brings me to our award winners. Tonight’s awardees are here
because they have clearly demonstrated the ability to inspire both
their students and their colleagues. By sharing their expertise and
passion and, where necessary, offering their guidance and support, our
awardees, and other teachers like them, can develop a truly collegiate
spirit towards the development of English. Such camaraderie and
commitment will be vital to nurturing a whole school culture of
English proficiency and fluency.

Each of tonight’s 10 award winners has demonstrated the qualities and
commitment essential for fostering such a culture. I will mention
three examples.

Mdm Jaswinder Khosa of Huamin Primary School has many years of
teaching experience but retains the same enthusiasm and passion that
motivated her on her very first day of teaching. The secret behind her
youthful vigour and excitement is simple: Mdm Jaswinder always demands
the best of herself and seeks to evoke the best in each of her
students. She continually renews her teaching and leads others through
sharing best practices in her cluster, as well as at national and
international forums.

13Mrs Yvonne Cheen-Tay of Hong Kah Secondary School comes from a
family of teachers. Her secret is to touch her students’ hearts so as
to motivate and encourage them. Her classes adopt her practice by
sending notes of encouragement to each other. Both Mrs Cheen-Tay and
her students keep personal logs which they also share among
themselves. Mrs Cheen-Tay has summed up her caring philosophy in one
simple phrase, “As long as I can touch one student, it’s worth being a
teacher.”

Mr Ong Chin Meng, of Anderson Junior College is, apparently, an
‘accidental’ teacher. Whilst pursuing a PSC Scholarship in Science, he
was required to take some EL modules. Much to his surprise, he fell in
love with the language and consequently switched to Arts. Growing up
in a Mandarin-speaking home has given Mr Ong very real insights into
the challenges many of our students may face in acquiring proficiency
and fluency in English. These insights are reflected in his lessons
which appeal to a wide range of learning styles and give his students
many opportunities to learn from each other.

Each of these 10 awardees has his or her own ways of engaging students
and making the most routine of lessons memorable. Our goal of good
English for all must be sustained by the passion, drive and skill of
such inspired and inspiring English Language teachers and specialists.
To the award Winners, I congratulate you and urge you to continue to
infect others with your enthusiasm and passion for English.

I would also like to express my appreciation to The Straits Times and
the Speak Good English Movement for co-organising the Inspiring
Teacher of English Award. Since 2000, the Speak Good English Movement
has worked unflaggingly towards raising the standard of Good English
in Singapore. Their sponsorship and co-organisation of the Inspiring
Teacher of English Award recognises the efforts of all EL teachers who
strive each day to practise and enliven the qualities of inspiring
teaching. It also recognises the pivotal role our English Language
teachers play in instilling and furthering the use of good English
among all Singaporeans.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your presence here
tonight and your support for this award. I am confident that the
inspiring examples of our Award recipients will imbue us with a
renewed and abiding passion for the English Language.

Thank you.

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Article printed from The Gov Monitor: http://thegovmonitor.com

http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/singapore-highlights-importance-of-raising-english-language-proficiency-12175.html

-- 
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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