Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL), in collaboration with Singapore Chinese Teachers' Union (SCTU) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Humanities & Social Sciences (NP HMS), organised the 7th International Conference on Teaching and Learning of Chinese as a Second Language cum the 11th International Forum on Chinese Language Education on 5th and 6th of September 2023. About 800 participants attended the event. The Guest of Honour was Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower.  

  Under the theme of "Deepening Pedagogies, Exploring Possibilities", teachers were encouraged to deepen their knowledge of teaching pedagogies and foster a strong culture of professional learning in their daily teaching.

   The conference featured keynote speeches by distinguished scholars, including Dr Yuan Boping (University of Cambridge & Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Professor Jiao Jianli (South China Normal University), Dr Cheong Choo Mui (The University of Hong Kong), and Dr Wen Yun (National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University). For the Preschool Forum, preschool experts Mr Lu Yu-Ke, SCCL senior lecturer Dr Cheng Wan-Ni, and lecturers from the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) - Ms Foo Wan Yueh, Ms Corinne Madelyn Fan, Ms Sannie Cheng Yuen San, Ms Janice Foo Fang Wei - conducted various professional sharing sessions. Ms Lin Rongchan (lecturer, National Institute of Education) hosted the panel discussion, inviting young working adults, Ms Tay Yu Rong, Joey (radio DJ), Mr Ong Kah Jing (documentary film director), Ms Wang Shi Mei (lawyer), and Mr Tan Wei Han (home nursing caregiver) to share their views and experiences in learning and using Chinese language in their working life.

  A total of approximately 140 papers were presented during concurrent sessions and seven Spotlight Sessions by educators from primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges/centralised institutes, and local or overseas institutions. During the event, Minister of state Gan Siow Huang, presented the SCCL Eminent Scholar award to Dr Yuan Boping and the SCTU Academic Consultants' appointment letters to Dr Chin Chee Kuen and Dr Cheong Choo Mui. Minister Gan also officially launched the "Unboxing the Treasured Memories" Graded Picture Book Series (Grades 4-6) and presented awards to the winners of the 2022 National Preschool Teaching Aid Competition.

      Exhibition booths from SCCL, SCTU, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Singapore University of Social Sciences showcased research projects, publications, and activities of these organisations.

 

Speech by Dr Foo Suan Fong, SCCL Executive Director

 

Speech by Mr Tang Chun Chieh, SCTU President

 

Speech by GOH, Minister of State Gan Siow Huang

 

"Unboxing the Treasured Memories" Graded Picture Book Series (Grades 4-6) Book Launch From the left: Dr Jocelyn Lim (Deputy Director, Mother Tongue Languages Branch, Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Education), Dr Foo Suan Fong, Minister Gan Siow Huang, Mr Ong Kong Hong (Divisional Director, Curriculum Planning and Development Division 1), Mdm Heng Boey Hong (Director, Mother Tongue Languages Branch, Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Education)

 

Panel Discussion From the left: Ms Lin Rongchan, Ms Tay Yu Rong, Joey, Mr Ong Kah Jing, Ms Wang Shi Mei, Mr Tan Wei Han

 

Keynote Speaker Dr Yuan Boping

 

Keynote Speaker Professor Jiao Jianli

 

Keynote Speaker Dr Cheong Choo Mui

 

Keynote Speaker Dr Wen Yun

 

Keynote Speaker Mr Lu Yu-Ke

 

Professional Sharing Session conducted by Dr Cheng Wan-Ni

 

Professional Sharing Session conducted by NIEC Lecturers