Quadrilingual Education in Singapore [electronic resource] : Pedagogical Innovation in Language Education /
Silver, Rita Elaine.editor.
Bokhorst-Heng, Wendy D.editor.
This book explores Singapore’s language education system. Unlike previous volumes, which discuss the bilingual requirement for learning, it focuses on Singapore’s quadrilingual system, bringing together articles on each of the four languages – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil – as well as articles that examine more than one language. It highlights past successes, current concerns, and future directions for language education. The book focuses on classroom pedagogy in all four official languages, showcasing how languages are taught and learned in Singapore as a basis for better understanding the system “from the inside out.” The authors present empirical, classroom-based studies on language pedagogy in all four languages, as well as updated information on the current socio-political context and how it has influenced attempts at pedagogical innovation. Consideration is given to the dialectical relationship between policy and practice.  The chapters also include discussions of pre-school-age learning, influences of language policy, home literacy practices, and commentaries by international language-in-education scholars. This approach also provides a basis for international comparison – especially for those who are interested in fostering English proficiency while maintaining one or more national languages. The volume is particularly important in light of the continuing international efforts to integrate English into national educational systems where it is not the dominant language.
Description based upon print version of record.
Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.
Introduction -- Chapter 1 Overarching themes, bilingual dreams and multilingual landscapes: Quadrilingual education in Singapore -- Section 1: Transitions -- Chapter 2 Transmission and development of literacy values and practices: An ethnographic study of a Malay family in Singapore -- Chapter 3 "I believe, therefore I practice": Teachers' beliefs on literacy acquisition and their classroom practices -- Chapter 4 Commentary on 'Transitions' -- Section 2: Competencies -- Chapter 5 A reading profile of Singapore primary school students and implications for reading pedagogy -- Chapter 6 Morphological awareness and reading development in bilingual English-Chinese children in Singapore -- Chapter 7 Taking stock of the effects of strategies-based instruction on writing in Chinese and English in Singapore primary classrooms -- Chapter 8 Commentary on 'Competencies' -- Section 3: Practices -- Chapter 9 Student engagement in reading -- Chapter 10 Distinctiveness and uniformity: Teaching language in Singapore primary grades 1 & 2 -- Chapter 11 Cultural representation in Teachers' talk: A functional analysis of Singapore's Chinese classroom discourse -- Chapter 12 Morphological teaching and Singaporean children's English word learning -- Chapter 13 Commentary on 'Practices' -- Section 4: Reforms -- Chapter 14 Use and impact of spoken Tamil in the early Tamil classrooms -- Chapter 15 Inculcation of Malay values and culture in language pedagogy in Singapore -- Chapter 16 Coding and comparing pedagogic features of teaching practices: What happens in Chinese language classes in Singapore's primary school? -- Chapter 17 Teaching Chinese to English-speaking Bilinguals -- Chapter 18 Commentary on 'Reforms' -- Conclusion -- Chapter 19 Final words: A reflective synthesis.
This book explores Singapore’s language education system. Unlike previous volumes, which discuss the bilingual requirement for learning, it focuses on Singapore’s quadrilingual system, bringing together articles on each of the four languages – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil – as well as articles that examine more than one language. It highlights past successes, current concerns, and future directions for language education. The book focuses on classroom pedagogy in all four official languages, showcasing how languages are taught and learned in Singapore as a basis for better understanding the system “from the inside out.” The authors present empirical, classroom-based studies on language pedagogy in all four languages, as well as updated information on the current socio-political context and how it has influenced attempts at pedagogical innovation. Consideration is given to the dialectical relationship between policy and practice.  The chapters also include discussions of pre-school-age learning, influences of language policy, home literacy practices, and commentaries by international language-in-education scholars. This approach also provides a basis for international comparison – especially for those who are interested in fostering English proficiency while maintaining one or more national languages. The volume is particularly important in light of the continuing international efforts to integrate English into national educational systems where it is not the dominant language.
Language and languages.
Curriculum planning.
Literacy.
Educational Policy and Politics.
Language Education.
Curriculum Studies.
Literacy.
Learning & Instruction.