The Step Up experience
SHE was Chinese-educated and came from a background where Chinese dialects were the medium of communication.
She picked up an English newspaper and flipped through it. From then on and as a result of the habit, she also picked up the English language.
Today, Ngou Wai Ling is an English teacher and the English panel head of SJK(C) Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Subang Jaya - and she credits her love for the language to her habit of reading English newspapers.
“I tell my pupils that if I could do it, so can they,” she said.
The English teacher strongly encourages her pupils to follow suit in picking up the habit of reading English newspapers - starting with The Star - to increase their proficiency in the language.
It comes as no surprise then, that she’s also a firm believer in Step Up, the 24-page English language pullout specially designed for Chinese primary schools, which comes complimentary with subscription to The Star newspaper.
“The activities in Step Up are relevant to the syllabus, and it’s a resource that enables the pupils to tap into a wealth of extra information while gaining more exposure,” said Ngou, who gets her pupils to file up every issue of the pullout.
“It enables them to think critically while encouraging creativity. It’s an excellent platform for interaction where the pupils can speak their minds,” she added.
The school opted to “try out” the pullout last year when parents of the pupils showed keen interest in it. Discovering the benefits of the pullout and receiving positive feedback from all parties, the school then decided to continue subscriptions this year.
“We can always expect something new and exciting from Step Up, and the pupils are always looking forward to the next issue,” said Ngou, who also raved about the time and energy she had been able to save thanks to ready-made exercises in the pullout.
Improvements in the area of writing and vocabulary were also noted, as the English panel head found her pupils incorporating new words they had learnt from the pullout in the exams while linking their sentences coherently.
At the same time, SJK(C) Tun Tan Cheng Lock headmistress Lee Hooi Gaik noticed the pupils’ growing interest in current news as well as improvements in their reading habits, since the school began its journey with Step Up.
“We see them reading the newspaper while waiting for their parents to pick them up from school,” she remarked.
Another English teacher at the school, Foong Yin Yin, also stressed the importance of reading newspapers to improve one’s general knowledge.
“Such exposure to local and foreign news would make a person more well-rounded and holistic,” she explained.
Foong also opined that the activities in Step Up were interesting and suitable for the pupils’ level.
“It follows the syllabus closely and the pupils find the content, illustrations and colours attractive,” she said.
Being in the field for a long time can render a teacher dried out of ideas. But since the school began using Step Up last year, Foong has found herself with a new source for creative juices to flow when it came to preparing lesson plans.
“I could use the activities in Step Up to conduct games and competitions for my pupils in the classroom. It makes learning English fun!” she said.
While the pullout catered to pupils in Years Four, Five and Six, Foong also discovered that the activities could be adapted to suit her younger pupils.
Meanwhile, Ong Kai Li, 12 and Chiong Sze Hui, 12, both pupils of the school shared the same sentiments for the pullout, describing it as “fun” and “exciting, and citing the new vocabulary learnt as one of the main benefits.
“Our grades for the English subject have improved too, as we finally managed to score ‘A’s’ for the exams since using Step Up!” exclaimed Sze Hui.
Step Up offers a blend of workbook and enrichment-type exercises.
The pullout is published on alternate Thursdays, twice a month with a total of 17 issues for the year.
For enquiries, contact The Star’s Customer Care Unit at 03-79671777 or 03-79671703 from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm. Subscription is through schools only.