The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused disruptions around the world with devastating consequences socially and economically. Education was not spared. Schools and institutions of higher learning (IHLs) had to grapple with new sets of demands. With most countries forced into lockdown to stem the spread of the virus, some turned to technology-mediated learning to provide some kind continuity for learning to still take place. This concept paper will share some of the key learning points and strategies culled from experiences having to pivot almost overnight to embracing technology and new learning environments, which were sometimes remote or neglected in a milieu and culture that often prided itself in effective physical face-to-face interactions. This article will then draw upon how the Blended Learning approach, undergirded by Connectivism, was implemented in a local IHL. Examples of the different types of blended learning designs that were employed will be described alongside examples on how educators can distinguish between them to engage their learners in both modes.

This book guides teachers, teacher educators and pre-service student teachers on using grammar as a pedagogical tool for meaning making, linking grammar as a meaning-making resource to literacy development. When grammar is meaningfully linked to literacy skills such as reading and writing, there is contextualised teaching of grammar. The authors thoroughly explore key concepts in grammar, including grammar as structure and grammar as choice. They illuminate these concepts by analysing a range of authentic texts from Asian contexts, showing how specific grammar features are purposefully used to convey meaning. Examples and illustrations of teaching ideas and materials focusing on contextualised teaching of grammar, including lesson plans, activity outlines, worksheets and teaching strategies, are contributed by current teacher practitioners who have tried out these ideas in their language classes. These teacher practitioners also share their reflections on how these ideas have worked in their classes. As a result, this book is an indispensable resource for teachers, teacher educators, pre-service teachers of English as both a first language and a second or foreign language, as well as anyone who is interested in harnessing the power of grammar to enhance English language teaching and literacy development. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->

Narratives are traditionally associated with the printed word. On the other hand, when visuals are introduced in a classroom context, the printed word often tends to be left out of the discussion with most attention focused on the illustrations. For multiliteracy development and a deeper understanding and appreciation of multimodal texts, the reading of such texts could entail a process where learners 'mirror' print texts and illustrations simultaneously. This paper examines the changing landscape of literacy teaching and learning in ESL and EFL classrooms. It discusses the nature and key issues related to reading multimodal texts. It also introduces a binary-reading process in which multimodal texts can be analysed through a modified narrative theory framework. It defines the various components of the framework and demonstrates application, ultimately addressing the subject of what constitutes appropriate and effective literacy pedagogy for changing times.

This concept paper describes the changes made to Singapore’s initial teacher preparation (ITP) programmes with a specific focus on its thinking teacher model (NIE, 2009) – a model of teacher agency and an approach to ITP that requires self-reflection on roles and practice, understanding theories and research, and adapting to changing learner needs (Tan & Liu, 2015). An important component of this model is a ‘meta’ course which all pre-service teachers are required to undergo. This ‘meta’ course called Professional Practice and Inquiry (PPI) initiative – which was introduced to develop reflective professionals – cuts through the entire ITP programme providing them with both a framework and a platform to curate their understandings across all their courses, reflect deeply about teaching and learning and highlight their best work. This paper demonstrates, by the use of vignettes from their reflective pieces, how the goals and various components made possible by the PPI initiative provided the impetus for English pre-service teachers to develop into autonomous thinking teachers.