English Language & Literature Department (OLD)
English Language & Literature Department
Head of Department
Mr Muhammad Hafiz Bin Salleh
Email: muhammad_hafiz_salleh@moe.edu.sg
Level Head
Ms Pay Cai Yun (Angelia)
Email: pay_cai_yun@moe.edu.sg
Senior Teacher
Mdm Siti Zubaidah Bte Arshad
Email: siti_zubaidah_arshad@moe.edu.sg
Department Goals/ Objectives:
- To build upon students’ foundation in English by consolidating and applying their knowledge and skills
- To enhance students’ use of the language that will provide students with opportunities to use English in and out of the classrooms
- To help students to become successful, effective and independent language learners and users
- To harness IT and other resources for the teaching and learning of English and Literature
- To develop a reading culture
English Literature
The study of Literature centres on literary response – the negotiation of meaning between readers and texts. This Literary Response Framework represents how teachers will design learning experiences that encourage students to respond to texts in a holistic manner. The Framework is shaped like an eye to emphasise how responding to Literature empowers students to read texts and the world in different ways and with discernment.
The various layers of this framework are as follows, starting from the centre to the outermost layer.
- The Literary Text at the Centre
- Five Areas of Study: Plot, Character, Setting and Atmosphere, Style, Theme
- Processes: Responding through Dialogue and Writing
- Lenses: Experiencing Story, Appreciating Style and Interpreting Theme
- Connections: Self, The World, Other Readers, Other Texts
Lower Secondary – Literature Texts
- Prose: Balik Kampung 2A: People and Places by Verena Tay
- Drama: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed by Ken Misuzawa
Upper Secondary – Literature Texts
- Prose: How We Live Now by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow
- Drama: Boom by Jean Tay
Curriculum & Assessments:
• Based on MOE English Language Syllabus 2020 (applicable for cohort 2020 onwards)
• Based on MOE English Literature Syllabus 2019 (applicable for cohort 2019 onwards)
Department Programmes:
-
Reading Programme (for all students) via Kaleidoscope [School app]
The spirit and intent of the reading programme is for Springfielders to keep abreast of the current affairs happening around them. Reading also exposes students to multiple sources of information and in turn learn multiples perspectives that allow them to be critical and discerning readers.Carefully curated articles from various themes suitable for the different levels and streams are put together by the department teachers for student to access readily through the school app, Kaleidoscope. These articles include a word bank quiz and questions for students to reflect on, of which will then be covered in their English Language lessons in class.
- English Language Magazines
With each magazine dedicated to the different streams, these EL magazines aims to supplement student’s learning of the language. Pitched appropriately to the different levels, students will subscribe to 4-issues of the magazines that abides closely with MOE EL Syllabuses.
-
News Reading Programme - All levels
The department believes in providing students opportunities to use the language in real-life applications. The News Reading programme aims to give students the platform for them to showcase their reading and presentation skills. At the same time, it is also to imbue students with the confidence in public speaking as well as the use of good conversational English. -
Student Activists Programme - Sec 3
Students will embark on an inquiry based on the topic of choice. Students will then conduct research, gather information and propose ways to improve the situation. Students will then present their findings at a school-level platform. The programme aims to equip students with a sense of civic-mindedness and at the same time, be aware of what is happening with the community.
Events / Competitions in 2020
Read for Books 2020 - organized by National Library Board
75 students from 1A, 1D and 1C contributed to the society by participating in the Read for Books initiative organized by the National Library Board.
Read for Books is a charity book drive with the intention of raising awareness of reading as well as sharing the gift of reading with the less privileged. For every 10 people who read for 15 minutes, one book will be donated to selected beneficiaries.
The Queen’s Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition 2020
Each year, aspiring young writers are asked to submit their pieces in response to a theme. Recent themes have included A Connected Commonwealth (2019) Towards a Common Future (2018) A Commonwealth for Peace (2017) and ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’ (2016); drawing out innovative ideas for positive change and encouraging entrants to consider new perspectives. The theme is rooted in Commonwealth values, providing an interesting introduction to the network and allowing young people to explore their own connection to the Commonwealth, whilst fostering an empathetic and open-minded world view.
For 2020 competition, the theme was ‘Climate Action and the Commonwealth’.
Springfield Secondary participated once again in this competition and we are pleased to announce the following results.
Events / Competitions in 2019
National Schools Literature Festival (NSLF) 2019
Upper Secondary Set Text Debate (Winner)
The National Schools Literature Festival (NSLF) is the biggest literary festival for students in Singapore and has provided a powerful platform to develop students’ passion and love for literature.
Our upper secondary Literature students worked in teams of 4 and engaged in a debate with another school. The debate topic is an argumentative topic based on their Sec 3 Literature text. After multiple rounds of debate with schools from all over Singapore, our Springfield team emerged as the winners for their round. Congratulations!
Literature Learning Journey to Singapore’s Civic District (Lower Sec)
As part of bringing Literature to life, the secondary 2 cohort went to watch a play based on the short story that they are reading, ‘The Mistake’ by local writer Cyril Wong. Apart from that, the students also walked along the Singapore River to put themselves in the stories that they read in their Literature text, Balik Kampung 2A.
Literature Learning Journey to Little India (Upper Sec)
Based on their Literature text of ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’, students immersed themselves in the Indian culture in order to understand their text better. Students not only learn about the Indian culture, they also got opportunity to savour authentic Indian cuisines that would whet anyone’s appetite.
