Writing & Giving Speeches

It's an oft-heard complaint that our education system emphasises too much on written tests and tends to neglect the oratorical skills of our children.


Many a times I've heard ex-colleagues and old friends from school who are still in the corporate world talk about how the eloquent get ahead in the rat race because, let's face it, out there in the real world form is as important as substance. If you look and sound impressive, you've got a head start.


Hence the latest MOE syllabus for secondary school English includes speech-writing and public speaking as core skills that pupils should pick up.


In the same spirit, I've got our Secondary 2 and Secondary 3 pupils to prepare and give a 3-minute speech. Some took it earnestly and prepared a polished speech whilst others were more light-hearted and injected some impromptu humour into their presentations. I am fine with either approach as long as the pupils learn something and have a chance to practise their public-speaking skills.


The theme for the speeches: The Singaporean Identity. The pupils were free to pick any topic that touches on Singaporean culture, psyche, way of life, etc.


Their efforts have been captured on film for the reader's pleasure and the students' viewing so that they could observe themselves on camera and see how they could improve their presentations.


So lights out, curtain up and drum rolls please...

Spelling Lists for Semester 2 Week 15

Advanced Composition

1. Hordes of shoppers thronged the attractively-lit and -decorated shops.
2. muzak
3. wandered aimlessly
4. a sweet temptation
5. It seemed only the victim was unaware of his impending fate.
6. guilt-stricken
7. instinctively
8. fretted



Intermediate Composition

1. indifferent
2. deliberately
3. A wave of fury swept over him.
4. clenched his fists
5. bellowed
6. abruptly
7. inconsiderate
8. tirade

Cookies For A Third Time by Grace Song

Here is the last instalment of the Cookies series:

More Cookies by Tan Wen Xin

I was supposed to put up a composition a week on this blog but procrastination and some health issues got in the way of the schedule and the truth of the matter is that I'm very bad when it comes to keeping to a schedule. Also, there are times when there are no outstanding pieces that speak to me.


To make up for the drought, I'll be putting up more compositions this week.


I'm able to put up more compositions this week because the pupils did a great job last week and there were quite a few pieces that I found satisfactory. Good work should be published, right?


Now, please sit back and enjoy the second instalment of Cookies.

'Cookies' - Teo Yee Shuen

The children did some pretty good in the Writing classes the previous week so I thought I would share some of the better pieces.

Spelling Lists for Semester 2 Week 14

Advanced Composition

1. replenished the groceries
2. Just as my boredom reached its zenith, the telephone rang.
3. glass shards
4. wailing like a banshee
5. promptly
6. on tenterhooks
7. Swoosh! The cane sliced through the air as it descended rapidly.
8. welts



Intermediate Composition

1. gorgeous
2. beautiful scenery
3. It was an enormous rambutan tree laden down by its fruit.
4. crimson
5. succulent
6. clamber
7. tumble
8. glutton

P5/6 Composition - Flesh and Blood

FLESH & BLOOD