Educational Research AY2016/2017

The prominent use of Literature in the school curriculum, across different countries, indicates the necessity of integrating Literature in the language classroom. With more curricula incorporating Literature into language learning, the 2015 syllabus of Singapore Primary Higher Chinese Textbooks are revised to include more Classical Chinese Literature works through “Wen Hua Wu”. The addition of “Wen Hua Wu” and encouraging Singapore Primary students to immerse in the comprehension of Classical Chinese Literature works, are inevitable trends stemming from Singapore’s Bilingual policy; as the Chinese language education in Singapore is expected to serve as the medium for transmitting Chinese cultural values. The aim of this study is to analyse how Classical Chinese Literature works are used in the latest version of Singapore Primary Higher Chinese Textbooks, as well as to put forth the author’s stand in presuming that the literature works in “Wen Hua Wu” are closely aligned with the educational goals and curriculum of Singapore Primary Chinese education. In this study, presuming that the literature works in “Wen Hua Wu” are closely aligned with the educational goals and curriculum of Singapore Primary Chinese education, the addition of “Wen Hua Wu” would therefore engage students in their Chinese Language learning; by allowing them to see the relevancy in incorporating ideas of Classical Chinese Literature works into their daily living activities. The numerous ways of presenting the Classical Chinese Literature works in “Wen Hua Wu” would also increase students’ interest for learning Chinese, as the former caters to the different learning styles of students. The consistent exposure to Classical Chinese Literature works through “Wen Hua Wu” eventually reinforces cultural roots in Chinese students and gives them the sense of belonging in a multi-racial society (Singapore). This study analysed and highlighted the rationale for the syllabus change in 2007 to 2015, as well as reviewed the 2015 syllabus of Singapore Primary Higher Chinese Textbooks and the addition of “Wen Hua Wu” especially. The author’s purposeful attempt on studying the classical works in “Wen Hua Wu” and thereafter proposing suggestions for the better utilisation of the 2015 syllabus, could either offer The Chinese Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review Committee, the author’s outlook on the next syllabus change; or present to Chinese teachers, who are working hard to improve the quality of Chinese Language teaching, concise ideas on conducting lessons with “Wen Hua Wu”, so as to enrich and ensure students’ learning. Investigating the effectiveness of using literature to improve Chinese education in Singapore, is however, beyond the scope of this paper.