English Language
English Language Department Processes
Vision: Every Child an Effective, Empathetic and Confident Communicator
Proficiency in the English Language is necessary in today’s increasingly connected and global environment. It is important to be able to communicate effectively, but equal importance must also be placed in communicating confidently and empathetically. In order to achieve our vision, Sembawang Primary School English Language teachers are guided by a pedagogical approach that closely aligns to our Ministry of Education’s direction.
We believe that a multiliterate student will be best poised to take on the role of an effective, empathetic and confident communicator. Therefore, our lessons are rich in multiliteracies and multimodal texts in order to ignite joy and rigour in learning.
A multiliterate student is one who is able to critically read multiple modes of communication (e.g. printed texts with accompanying visuals, digital animations, music and sound effects etc.) while also taking into account socio-cultural factors. Students learn to read critically through Curriculum Innovation lessons where inquiry through dialogue takes place and metacognitive skills are practised. Below are some photos taken during these lessons:
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Authentic Learning Experiences Beyond the Classroom
1) Sensory Path
The sensory path began as an inter-departmental initiative between the English Language and Physical Education departments. It is a vibrant amalgamation of engaging stations and walkways designed to stimulate both the physical and cognitive abilities of our learners. Lower Primary teachers, as well as MK teachers, conduct lessons with their students as they explore the interactive Sensory Path for enriched learning experiences. As they journey through this dynamic space, our young learners are encouraged to harness their kinesthetic instincts while also engaging with visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli.
By immersing students in this multi-sensory environment, the English Department aims to enhance their acquisition of linguistic and fundamental psychomotor skills. Through hands-on activities and immersive experiences, the collaborative effort between departments and the kindergarten promises to create a rich educational tapestry that nurtures holistic development.
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2) Learning Journey to the Singapore Zoo
The school organised a learning journey to the Singapore Zoo for the Primary 1 students. The students watched a performance by Tiago the Sealion at the Splash Safari Show. After watching the show, they walked around the zoo where they were introduced to different wild animals. Once they returned to school, they were tasked to do a writing reflection based on their learning experience. They enjoyed the outdoor learning experience at the Singapore Zoo!
Developing Student Voice
1) ‘Good Morning, Sembawang!’ Radio Show
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“Good Morning, Sembawang!” is into its successful 3rd season this year. Keeping our school’s objective and English Department’s plan in mind, our very own radio show was conceptualised and rolled out in the year 2022.
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Over the years, our radio show has become a platform to showcase student dedications and achievements. In allowing our students to present the radio show to their schoolmates, “Good Morning Sembawang!” has allowed for the development of our students’ voices and promoted active student agency.
Season 3 of “Good Morning, Sembawang!” is slightly different from the earlier seasons, with the following considerations in mind:
- DJ/Presenters’ training
- Nurturing confident and fluent speakers
- Recognising students’ efforts and achievements
- Interviews with students who had done well for any external competition
- More airtime for students’ dedications
- Quiz based on interview session to engage attentive listening
- Local and foreign news and current affairs
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In previous seasons, we had resident DJs who hosted the complete season. This year, the “Good Morning, Sembawang!” team wanted to train more students from different levels so that a wider range of students could be given the opportunity to try their hand at presenting to the entire school.
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Some of our DJs are also roped in to brainstorm ideas for certain segments of the show which allows them to work on their script writing skills. We are proud to say that “Good Morning, Sembawang!” is ‘that’ show everyone looks forward to and is one of the main highlights of the English Department.
Faces of Sembawang
The programme “Faces of Sembawang” was created to promote students’ voices and student agency. It serves as a platform for students to share about their interests to the entire school. Some examples include:
- Hobbies
- Skill that the student had learnt / is learning
- Fun facts
- Book recommendations
- Something that the student had created
Not only can the students learn from each other, they also get to learn more things about each other! This programme is conducted monthly at the ISH & MPH catering to the lower primary students as well. The English Language teachers work closely with the “Faces of Sembawang” team to nominate potential students for the programmes.
The student presenters prepare their own script and deck of slides to showcase in front of the audience. Through this programme, students are exposed to writing draft scripts for their presentation to the cohort. They also get to hone their oracy skills by speaking confidently with appropriate pronunciation and fluency. Teachers assist the selected student presenters by checking their content and language in their scripts and slides.
The success of the show is evident when even lower primary students have shown great enthusiasm and volunteered to come forward to present for “Faces of Sembawang”!
Moving forward, the “Faces of Sembawang” team will be collaborating with
other departments like Science, Art and MTL to identify students who have
an interest in niche areas to present for the programme.
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Literacy Programmes
Reading plays an important part in language development and is key to understanding the world at large. In Sembawang Primary, we believe that all students are capable of learning to read and understand what they are reading. To aid students in their reading journey, the English Department has outlined several programmes to supplement their learning.
1) P2 KidsRead
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Since 2022, Sembawang Primary School has been collaborating with the National Library Board (NLB) to conduct a nationwide reading programme called KidsRead. This programme promotes the love of reading and cultivates good reading habits among young children. The KidsRead Club is conducted by volunteers trained by NLB and coordinated by our teachers-in-charge from SBPS. The students enjoy listening to the books read by volunteers and doing hands-on activities that spark their imagination and creativity based on the theme of the books.
2) P1 Reading Mum
Volunteers from our Parents’ Support Group read with a select group of students every Thursday from 7.45 am - 8.30 am. In small groups, parent volunteers read to and with weaker readers to instil the joy of reading and encourage reluctant readers to read along.
3) P2 and P1 Buddy Reading Programme
The Buddy Reading Programme pairs P2 strong readers with P1 weaker readers to provide support and encouragement in developing their reading skills. The reading sessions take place from 7.15am to 7.30am at the Indoor Sports Hall (ISH) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Our P2 buddies have been trained by teachers from SBPS to effectively support their peers in improving their reading skills.
Experiential Learning Week
During the Experiential Learning Week in Week 10 of Term 1, students were immersed in a series of enriching experiences that transcended the boundaries of conventional curriculum. This unique opportunity enabled them to acquire skills essential for navigating the complexities of the 21st century. Our carefully curated activities integrated both traditional and contemporary elements, along with interdisciplinary programs, fostering a holistic approach to learning. Through hands-on engagement, students not only gained knowledge but also applied it across diverse subject areas. The Experiential Learning Week was truly a catalyst for igniting the joy of learning among our students!
Here are some memorable photos that capture the highlights of the week this year.
P1 - Book Cover Design
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P2 - Reader’s Theatre
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P3 – Upcycling Project Presentation
P4 – Gracious Commuting
P5 – Building A Smart Home
P6 – Visual Text Representation
Media Resource Library (MRL) Programmes
Every month, our library introduces an Author of the Month and a Thematic Display. We encourage our students to visit the library and participate in monthly quizzes and activities to earn their Hi DEAR badges. We also encourage students to read regularly by borrowing books from the school library and acknowledge the top borrowers from each class and level at the end of each term under the Class of Avid Readers Award.
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School e-Resource Repository (SERR)
SERR is a website for students to enjoy a wide range of curated Storytime videos and e-books. While most of the e-resources on SERR are available for free, some e-books will require students to log in to their NLB accounts before they can access them. As such, we highly encourage all students to sign up as a member of NLB to enjoy the full-range of NLB services.
Click here to access the SERR website!
Developing Student Talents through Competitions
1) Singapore Moo-O Awards 2024
Our Primary 3 students, namely, Chee Kai Ting (3RE), Vincci Cheng (3G), Rainie Yong (3G) and Valerine Chuah (3E) participated in the annual Moo-O Awards Digital Storytelling Competition on 17 April 2024.
This competition is supported by the Speak Good English Movement and the students did our school proud by clinching the Gold Award. The students exhibited positive speaking dispositions, demonstrated good oral communication skills and spoke with accurate pronunciation, articulation and intonation. Kudos to all participants and teacher mentors for their outstanding effort and work!
Last updated : 29/05/2024