Academic Writing & Presentation

The module focuses on critical thinking, academic writing as well as presentation and listening skills. The module aims to equip students with the skills for academic writing and presentation. Finding and evaluating academic sources, reading, note-taking, essay planning and writing, and presentation skills will be developed in this module.

Career & Professional Preparation 1

This module gives students a foundational introduction to their three-year diploma course curriculum and how it prepares them for industry. It will help them to embark on their course with the end in mind, through guided reflection of their personal characteristics and producing an overall game plan for their future education and career goals. The module aims to deepen students’ commitment to the sector that the course prepares them for.

General History of China

This module gives students an outline of Chinese history. It covers all the important events and major historical figures throughout all the dynasties in China. Students should be able to form a general idea of Chinese history and its people and gain insightful reflections to the development of Chinese history; probing them to read more extensively and reflect critically on the Chinese culture and history.

Introduction to Chinese Cultural History

This module introduces various aspects of Chinese cultural history, including the development of social culture, Chinese philosophy, ethical values, educational system, the arts as well as other aspects of Chinese culture. Students will also be encouraged to critically evaluate Chinese traditions, customs and lifestyles.

IT Applications

This module develops the e-competencies by equipping students with the essential computing concepts and necessary skills to use computer applications for information research, organisation, collaboration and presentation.

Written Communication in Chinese 1

The module aims to teach students the fundamental skills to write effectively in both academic and professional settings. On top of acquiring the basics of structure and style, students will learn to formulate and develop clear writing objectives. Students will be able to write coherently and cohesively in formal, expository and creative style, and also in academic research papers.

Contemporary China

The module examines Contemporary China from its political, economic, societal and cultural aspects. In order to deepen their understanding of China, students will learn about the challenges that China faces. Topics such as economic development, urbanisation, migration and others will be covered in the module.

Fundamentals of Translation

This module introduces fundamental strategies and techniques of English/Chinese (EC) and Chinese/English (CE) translation. Students learn the basic principles of translation and apply these principles to the translation of a variety of text genres. Students will also explore how a translator makes decisions in actual practice by considering a host of factors, including the author's intention, the desired function of the translated text as well as the needs of the readers.

Introduction to Chinese Drama & Theatre

This module aims to help students develop critical and creative thinking skills to produce short theatre pieces. Students enjoy hands-on experience in directing, writing and acting a short play. The module will also introduce techniques in the application of theatre and drama in various fields of work.

Introduction to Chinese Literature

This module surveys the development of classical Chinese literature from ancient times to the late Qing era. It introduces students to representative literary works of each period, ranging from the Book of Songs to the Qing novels. The module explores the historical background of literary works, the lives and experiences of major writers, as well as the structural and formal characteristics of different literary genres.

Professional Communication 1

This module prepares students to communicate effectively in business settings. Students will learn both oral and written communication skills that demonstrate concepts of business communication principles, interpersonal skills and intercultural skills. Topics such as proposal and report writing, elevator pitch and professional presentation will be covered.

Speech Communication in Chinese

In this module, students learn the basics of Chinese phonetics as well as speech communication styles in different social settings. It trains students to be effective, articulate, confident, composed and credible Mandarin speakers in a variety of professional situations. The module also explores how communication affects human behavior and social development.

COMMON MODULES FOR EDUCATION AND BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Intermediate Translation

This module exposes students to the theory and practice of Chinese-English (CE) and English-Chinese (EC) translation in greater depth and breadth. Students will have hands-on experience in translating different types of texts, including advertisements, movie/song/book titles, news and basic legal writing.

Professional Communication 2

This module prepares students to write effective cover letters and resumes. Preparation and enhancement of portfolio to meet professional standard as well as development of presentation skills, and improvement of job-seeking techniques will also be covered in the module.

EDUCATION SPECIALISATION

Child Development & Learning

This module examines the nature of child development. Students will learn the holistic nature of development, the biological foundation, pre-natal development, brain research and major developmental theories in relation to physical, social, cognitive and emotional development. Students will be introduced to child study and observation techniques.

Classical Chinese Poetry & Fiction

This module provides a brief introduction of the development of Chinese poetry and fiction starting from pre-Qin to late Ming and Qing dynasty. Poets from different schools and their representative works will be studied. Students will also learn to appreciate and analyse literary works related to ancient social life, history and culture of the elites in these eras.

Language Lesson Planning & Teaching

The module aims to prepare students to construct lesson plans with appropriate learning activities and develop effective teaching strategies in the teaching of the Chinese language and to assess the diversified learning outcomes of students during classroom time. Students will be exposed to different language pedagogies and teaching techniques for the local primary school context.

BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Chinese Business Communication

This module exposes students to the context of commercial exchange and communication skills between people of different countries and cultures. Students will learn the cultural and social differences, the use of international business language and business correspondence and other non-verbal communication, and understand international business etiquette, and the style and strategy of international business negotiations.

Introduction to Business

This module aims to provide the fundamentals of financial and business management. Students will be equipped with the relevant technical and conceptual skills in financial and business management to plan, evaluate, execute, control and monitor financial and business projects.

Marketing & Publicity

This module equips students with the necessary strategic skills, as well as tools and techniques to organise and implement marketing and publicity activities. Students are involved in planning, coordinating, staging, and managing events. They will also learn to write persuasively for various audiences, with a focus on the Chinese-language audience. The module is conducted in Chinese.

COMMON MODULES FOR EDUCATION AND BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Critical Thinking & Writing in Chinese

The module aims to equip students with the important techniques of critical analysis to develop their ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking and writing. Students will learn through different genres of Chinese articles, books, movies and will be taught to critically analyse them. They will be expected to express their analyses through the written critical pieces.

The Chinese in Southeast Asia

This module studies the mass migration of the Chinese to Southeast Asia in the mid-nineteenth century and the Chinese communities in the region. The focus is on their economic, political, cultural activities, identity transformation as well as their contributions towards the region’s development since the early twentieth century.

EDUCATION SPECIALISATION

Introduction to Children’s Literature

This module introduces students to children’s literature and explains how it has reflected cultural, social and ideological change. Students will examine the ways in which the child has been depicted in literature, learn to appreciate and critique different genres of children’s books and be able to select age-appropriate books for young children. A study of children’s television and drama is included.

Special Needs & Exceptional Child

This module introduces students to various special and exceptional needs in primary school children including physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and sensory characteristics that make them different. Students will learn about their roles in an inclusive learning environment, design of individualised learning plans and communication with families.

BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Chinese Business Practices

This module equips students with the basic knowledge of business operations in 21st century China. Students will be exposed to an overview of the global economy and the current China market. They will understand the current business environment of China and gain important commercial knowledge. The instrumental business ethics and Chinese business culture will also be covered to better prepare them for the competitive Chinese commercial world.

Culture Heritage Tourism

This module studies the tangible and intangible value of cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. It also exposes students to the concept of culture tourism. Through visiting historical and heritage sites, and interacting with industry speakers, students will formulate creative projects based on the knowledge and skills learned in the module.

COMMON MODULES FOR EDUCATION AND BUSINESS

Chinese Folklore & the Arts

This module offers an introduction of Chinese folklore and the arts. Students will be introduced to the key relationship between folklore and folk arts. Important Chinese festivals and customs from both Mainland China and Singapore will also be discussed with a comparison of specific case studies. Students will be able to grasp a basic understanding of Chinese arts as well as the contemporary cultural phenomenon in Singapore.

Professional Communication 3

The module equips students with the knowledge and skills in professional etiquette in a variety of workplace settings. Personal branding and the use of social media (LinkedIn) and the Internet in job-seeking will also be covered in the module. Students will also learn to curate and develop a digital portfolio that highlights their accomplishments, past works, projects and skills.​

COMMON MODULE FOR EDUCATION AND BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Introduction to Chinese Linguistics

This module provides the core foundations in Chinese language and linguistics. The course introduces students to formal features of the Chinese language, including its phonological system, philology, lexical features, as well as syntactical structure, to provide a mastery of the language use as applied in their daily lives.

EDUCATION SPECIALISATION

Educational Technology

This module equips students with the knowledge and skills to become more proficient in integrating technology into teaching and learning. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of educational technology, and infuse teaching and learning in a creative way through information and communication technology. They will also learn basic digital ethics to meet the rapid and continuing technological changes in the educational field.

Readings in Chinese Classics

This module introduces the four traditional categories (经史子集 jing shi zi ji) comprising the historical, philosophical and literary aspects of the Chinese classics. Students will learn about the Thirteen Classics, Twenty-Five Histories, and a variety of Chinese philosophical genres and traditional Chinese literature from the pre-Qin to the Qing dynasty.

BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

Business Translation

This module equips students with the effective skills and techniques for translating business and trade-related documents, including business correspondence, contracts and agreements, memorandums, notices and press releases. Students will learn to translate texts from English to Chinese and vice versa through proper diction and expressions.

Technology in Business

This module provides students with an understanding of e-commerce and technology in business settings against the modern era. Students will learn various platforms on e-commerce. Through this module, students will also master the effective and efficient utilisation of technical and organisational procedures to boost business performance in contemporary organisations.

EDUCATION SPECIALISATION

Chinese Etymology & Modern Chinese Script^*

This module equips students with a basic knowledge of Chinese etymology and the modern Chinese script. It deals with the origin and evolution of Chinese writing, the analysis of the structure, form and meaning of Chinese characters, as well as the reform movement of Chinese writing in later stages. Such knowledge will enhance students’ ability when they become Chinese language teachers, especially in the teaching and recognition of Chinese characters.

Modern Chinese Grammar^*

This module aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of modern Chinese grammar, as well as an understanding of the nature and classification of the Chinese lexicon. It will equip them with concepts and skills to analyse various parts of speech and sentence structures of different modern Chinese texts in daily and academic life. It also deals with the functions of rhetoric in literature and everyday life. It aims to enable students to determine the linguistic structure of an expression and relate it to its meaning and rhetorical effects.

Teaching of Civics & Moral Education^*

This module introduces students to the use of various approaches to teach civics and moral education at the primary school level. Students will learn core values such as love and humility, filial piety, family harmony, courtesy, responsibility, compassion and loyalty. Important subjects like the cultural practices, values, places of worship, customs and traditions of the different races of Singapore will be included in the module.

Techniques in the Teaching of Chinese Language^*

This module equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the various methods and practical techniques in the teaching of different language skills. The use of IT in the teaching of Chinese language will be included.

Use of Chinese in Teaching (Hanyu Pinyin)^*

This module develops the oral communication skills of students for teaching purposes. Three main sections will be emphasised: Phonetics, Speech Skills and Effective Classroom Communication. Errors in Mandarin pronunciation relating to vowels and consonants, the four tones and the change of tone with specific words will be taught. Students will also be exposed to practical knowledge and skills in Hanyu Pinyin, accurate pronunciation and standard Mandarin.

6-Month Internship/Industry-Based Project^**

This module places students on semester-long internships that match their abilities and interests. Alternatively, students may work on career-related or research-related projects in their areas of interest.

BUSINESS SPECIALISATION

6-Month Internship/Industry-Based Project^**

This module places students on semester-long internships that match their abilities and interests. Alternatively, students may work on career-related or research-related projects in their areas of interest.