Speech by Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence RAdm Teo Chee Hean at the 2nd Asian Reading Congress (2 Aug 2001)

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AT THE 2^ND ASIAN READING CONGRESS ON 2 AUG 2001 AT 9.30 AM AT THE RELC AUDITORIUM

Dr. Chern Chiuo Lan
Chairperson of The International Development in Asia Committee (IDAC),

1 I am delighted to be here this morning to open the Second Asian Reading Congress.

2 When the Ministry of Education launched the "Thinking Schools, Learning Nation" vision four years ago, it was with the aim of tuning our education system to ensure that it remains responsive to the driving forces of globalisation and technological change. As Singapore transits into a knowledge-based economy, we have taken steps for our school curriculum to keep pace with the expectations of the new economy. For example, we have introduced critical and creative thinking skills into all aspects of the school curriculum. While we set out to nurture critical and creative thinkers among our students, it is even more fundamental for us to explore how we can help teachers set the pace for such a change. The theme of today's conference -- "Creative Language Teaching: Methods and Materials for the New Millennium" is therefore most apt.

3 The challenge to think creatively and critically must first begin with teachers who are the mentors and guides in the learning process. It is not uncommon for children to contradict their parents by saying, " My teacher says so…" thereby hushing all other discussion of an issue. What the teacher teaches and says can have a big impact in shaping young minds.

4 For decades, teachers had been contented to stand in front of a class and either read from a text or from old notes with scant attention to what the children were doing, as long as they kept quiet. Such an image of the classroom is still fresh in many of our minds, but increasingly, this image has been replaced with a different picture. Step into any classroom today and you will see teachers sitting down and listening to their children instead. And if the teachers are speaking, they are not presenting a monologue. Their lessons are interspersed with activities, questions, brainteasers, pictures and graphic organisers all supported by the computer as a teaching tool.

5 Having said this, I must add that creative teaching is not a bunch of new fangled ideas. Creative teaching is about engaging and challenging the mind. It is teaching that attempts to present materials and information in ways that will allow students to develop new perspectives and insights.

6 In language learning, creative teaching is even more crucial because the mastery of English is a fundamental pre-requisite for learning other subjects and for thinking. The creative language teacher must seek to inculcate in students not just a love for the language and for reading but also a curious delight with its many linguistic and non-linguistic facets. The creative language teacher does not merely teach; she inspires, she arouses the imagination, she sets minds wondering, and ignites the imagination with words and language. She encourages playing and having fun with the language. Through her skilful teaching, language is both taught and caught.

7 To be a creative language teacher, one must possess an extensive knowledge of and a love for the subject. The best way to develop a love for any language is through reading. Research has shown that children who read widely develop effective language skills, extensive vocabulary and comprehensive general knowledge.

8 As parents and teachers, helping our children nurture a reading habit is one of the most positive gifts we can give them. And there is no better way to do this than through modelling. Parents, I exhort you to read to your children daily and lead them through the magical worlds in books. Weave a spell around them with words and images and immerse them in book language and book talk. Is there a more pleasurable or creative way to learn a language than this?

9 In Singapore, we are fortunate to have excellent library facilities to complement our language teaching efforts. Our libraries have about 7 million books. It is indeed encouraging to know that we are the top city library system in the world in terms of the number of books borrowed. Singaporeans borrowed 22.5 million books in 1997, and last year, this was increased to 24 million. However, a separate study suggests that we are 25th in the world where book reading is concerned, and each Singaporean reads only 6 books a year compared to 16.6 in Helsinki, which was the top book reading community. We can do much more to encourage reading in school and at home.

10 In a world where we are bombarded with information relentlessly, it is not enough to teach children facts. Instead, we need to teach them how to learn for themselves. Skilful reading is an essential first step. Those of us who think we can hop on to the information super highway through good computer or IT skills alone are sadly mistaken. You need to read your way through this highway, and because of the mass of information there, you need to be able to read well and read critically. The teacher's task has never been more challenging as our children prepare to face the world of their future.

11 I want to congratulate the Society for Reading and Literacy for organising the second Asian Reading Congress. The Society, which is run by a group of volunteers, is an excellent example of voluntary service that we want to encourage in Singapore. Through their public education programmes and publications, they have succeeded in giving reading and literacy a much-deserved profile in Singapore.

12 Finally, I would like to wish all participants a meaningful and enjoyable time at this Congress.