Official Release of The Art of Classroom Language for Chinese Teachers by SCCL Visiting Lecturer Mdm Xiao Hai Yang

Dr Chin Chee Kuen, Mdm Xiao Haiyang, Dr Chan Chiu Ming, Dr Zhang Hui Mei (from left)

Dr. Chan Chiu Ming, Editor-in-Chief of NTU-SCCL Press, signed on 7th August 2012 a Memorandum of Agreement with Mdm. Xiao Haiyang for the publication of Mdm. Xiao's book The Art of Classroom Language for ChineseTeachers. The occasion was witnessed by Dr. Chin Chee Kuen, President of NTU-SCCL Press and Dr. Zhang Hui Mei, Managing Editor. Also present were other staff members of NTU-SCCL Press.

Mdm. Xiao Haiyang, a graduate from Hunan Normal University, currently teaches at The Experimental School affiliated to Haidian Teachers' Training College, Beijing, China. Mdm. Xiao is an outstanding Master Teacher from Beijing Province and an academic leader of high school Chinese language. She has been invited twice to Singapore to deliver keynote lectures in seminars and conduct workshops on lesson-plan design for Chinese Language teachers. Mdm. Xiao has convened or participated in a number of China's national level experimental projects, such as "Colourful Chinese Language" and "Reflective, Ruminative and Modular Approach of Teaching." She is also the deputy director of the National Reflective and Ruminative Teaching Committee in China. Mdm. Xiao has authored over 200 academic papers and compiled several supplementary teaching materials. In addition, over 40 student writings have been published under her guidance.

Mdm. Xiao Haiyang has been conducting the course "Teaching Strategies to Stimulate Student Interests" at SCCL as a visiting lecturer since 2010. This is a very well-received course. Mdm. Xiao's book The Art of Classroom Language for Chinese Teachers, published by NTU-SCCL Press, is a by-product of the course.

The Art of Classroom Language for Chinese Teachers is a book on instructional language in the Chinese language classroom. It reviews and critiques classroom language as currently used in many classrooms in Singapore and China, and it also proposes a number of strategies for improving the effectiveness of instructional language. The book will provide practical methods for frontline teachers to improve their language art in the classroom. Published in December 2012, it will be a most useful reference for Chinese language teachers.