Welcome to the English Department!

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From left to right:

Top row: Mr Gerard Nonis, Mr Syamsul Anwar, Ms Ang Bee Lee (LH), Mdm Toh Yeok Tee, Mr Md Zulkefly

Middle row: Mr Arthur Kok (HOD),  Ms Nicola Cheong, Ms Sharmila Gopal, Mr Eugene Quake, Mr Md Fadly, Mr Noor Aidil

Bottom row: Ms Justina Ang, Ms Hezlin, Ms Bernice Ho, Ms Tham Yuen Peng, Ms Puranadharshini  

CORE BELIEFS AND BUSINESS

 A good grasp of the English Language and Literature is vital in this shrinking interconnected global village because it is a means to

• fully appreciate another’s ideas and sentiments
• clearly express one’s thoughts and feelings
• make an impact on others by communicating fluently and persuasively

Bukit View Secondary School’s emphasis on English aims to equip students to do well in other subjects, in post-secondary education and in life.

You can find out all about our programmes, activities, syllabus and staff at our department web portal. You will also find useful learning resources and highlighted student work.

POLICY AND PROGRAMMES

Focused teaching and learning of English and Literature takes place in the classrooms. In addition, students in Bukit View Secondary School enjoy these subjects through a committed focus on English and activities that strengthen reading, writing, listening and speaking. Some key initiatives and programmes are as follows:

a.         Speak English Policy

To encourage immersion in and creation of an English-speaking environment, students are constantly reminded and encouraged to use English as a medium of communication. The use of the Mother Tongue is only allowed during the Mother Tongue classes and when students speak to their Mother Tongue teachers. Students are put in multi-racial groups when they have to do group/pair work. 

b.         ‘Rise with English’ Morning Programme

To help set the tone for the rest of the day, there is a slew of English-focused activities for all students.

VIE

Everyday, students learn good vocabulary, idioms and expressions that will help them captivate their reader or listener. High performing graduating students communicate these phrases to their peers via punchy slides.

Newspaper Reading

Once a week, this activity increases the general knowledge of our students and exposes them to non-narrative text types found in The Straits Times.  Students experience the format, tone and style of various genres and improve their writing by these positive models.

Critical Response

Once a week, this activity gives students the opportunity to critically express their views in writing on a current issue in the Straits Times singled out by teachers. Students are also asked to verbally share their responses, and their responses are included in the students’ oral participation grade.

Slice of Life

Once a week, this activity improves students’ listening and viewing skills. Topics covered aim at self-improvement and provide life-affirming perspectives on happiness, success, worry, contentment, forgiveness, relationships and more.

Speak Up! Speak Out!

Once a week, this activity allows all excellent student presenters to speak before the entire student body, touching on different school values. Those listening get to evaluate the presenters’ manner of speaking and note down good reflection points.

Silent Reading

Once a week, this activity promotes the habit of reading for pleasure. Students engage with books that have been specially selected for their literary merit and compile good words/phrases from these books, and from other sources, in a Writer's Logbook.

c.         Vocabulary Development

Students are given a set of 100 words per term. They sit for a test on these words each term and the marks will go toward the Continual Assessment for English. By the end of the year, each child would have learned 400 words.

 d.         ICT-Supported Learning

Students have access to learning activities that leverage on the technology to make learning more multimodal.

News in Class

Students are given access to this package developed by Channel News Asia which helps to extend their general knowledge. News clips come with comprehension, composition, oral and vocabulary exercises.

Audiocast 

Held in Semester 2, this is an additional platform for students to practise oral skills and work collaboratively with others. Integrated with the Geography curriculum, this interdisciplinary avenue involves students in engaging, authentic and meaningful tasks.