我们通过文学来理解世界、把握世界和思索生命
我们通过文学提高感受力、辨析力和审美鉴赏力
我们通过文学提高阅读能力、表达能力和创造能力

曹文轩教授说：
⋯⋯没有文学，就没有今日之世界，就没有今日之人类。人类当然应该像仰望星辰一样，仰望那些曾为我们创造了伟大作品的文学家。
⋯⋯也许文学最重要的意义在于它创造了一个能够让我们可以永生的世界。在那里，你在现实世界中深感无奈的缺陷可以得到弥补；在那里，你躁动不安的灵魂可以得到安宁；在那里，你可以摆脱尘世的一切烦恼；在那里，你可以梦想，并在充满诗意的梦想中享受精神的快意；在那里，你可以追回失去的一切，其中包括时间；在那里，你能够实现你所渴望的一切，包括你想成为世界之王。

Abstract: After his demotion to Huangzhou, Su Shi produced many literary masterpieces. The Rhapsody on the Red Cliff is an outstanding example. It inherited many of the stylistic traditions of rhapsodies from the Pre-Qin and Han eras, including quasi-dialogue, enumerative cataloguing of ideas or images, parallel constructions, admixture of rhymed and prose expressions, use of objects as metaphors, and concluding with moral or philosophical pronouncements. It also broke new grounds by borrowing, transplanting, grafting and absorbing the characteristics and stylistic devices of the ancient prose, and by thus "making rhapsody out of prose", gave birth to a new style. The "Red Cliff" that Su Shi visited might not have been the site of the eponymous battle in the Three Kingdoms era. The rhapsody, then, would be akin to an artistic allegory in the tradition of "banana trees in the snow" that deftly expresses a realm of meaning beyond the plain words on the page. Influenced by his father, Su Shi believed deeply that literature must reflect the ills of contemporary society. His scholarship was grounded in Confucianism, while integrating his consummate knowledge of the Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Buddhism (including Chan Buddhism). Elements of the Laozi, Zhuangzi, Surangama Sutra, and On the Immutability of Things can all be traced in the Rhapsody on the Red Cliff. A handwritten copy of the Rhapsody by Su Shi himself, now housed in the Palace Museum in Taipei, carries the line "the wonders of nature are for the nourishment of you and I", which is an expansion of the expression "form is nourishment for the eyes, sound is nourishment for the ears" in the Mahatejas Dharani Sutra. In short, much of the novel combination of stylistic devices and its integration of different philosophies in this rhapsody originated from the poet's creative thinking, which may be the source of the innovative originality of this literary masterpiece.

Keywords: Rhapsody on the Red Cliff, stylistic deviation, Anders-streben, innovation, interpretation, Su Shi

Abstract: When teaching literature, especially fiction, Singapore teachers tend to confine to two aspects, namely the theme and writing skills. Many a time, the discussion of the latter focuses on how the author portrays the characters in the fiction, and, sometimes, the figures of speech. However, the language aspects of the literary works, especially the choice of lexical items, though closely related to the theme, are often insufficiently explored. This article aims to investigate on how and what types of lexical items are chosen in highlighting the theme of a literary text. Ministry of Education (MOE) prescribed literary texts are used as examples.

Keywords: literary language, artistic characteristics, textural analysis

Abstract: The Chinese curriculum in Singapore emphasizes the transmission of Chinese culture as well as the development of students' cultural literacy and aims to enhance their understanding of Chinese culture. Classical Chinese poetry is an important means of enhancing students' knowledge of traditional Chinese culture. Effective teaching of classical poetry will not only strengthen students' basic knowledge of Chinese language, but also raise their self-confidence when communicating in their mother tongue language, thereby, playing an important role in students' development. This study seeks to use classical poetry to enrich the Chinese curricula, to delve into the teaching of poetry in both breadth and depth, and to explore ways to connect the teaching of classical poetry with the teaching of reading skills. In sum, this study is an exploration of the unique role that classical poetry can play in enhancing students' reading and writing skills and interests.

Keywords: Singapore secondary schools, Chinese education, classical Chinese poetry, reading, writing

Abstract: Over the past 20 years, schools in Hong Kong have implemented a series of educational policies and measures in promoting "Assessment for Learning" (AfL). Eight primary schools were selected as the research subjects to investigate parents' engagement in AfL in Chinese language learning. Through analyzing policy documents, interviews and other related materials, this study found that the implemented policies, multi-stakeholder participation and backup measures have achieved good effects in guiding parents to participate in AfL. However, there still exists issues about parents' degree of engagement and their areas of attention. It is suggested that setting well-situated regulations, changing the assessment foci and using online learning platforms will help to enhance parents' engagement in AfL. The findings in this study would provide valuable insights in establishing an effective home-school collaboration on assessment.

Keywords: Chinese language, parents' participation, Assessment for Learning (AfL), Hong Kong primary schools