The education systems in China and in Singapore differ in many aspects, from the different streaming systems to the different language media. This is why there must be a bridging course for the PRC scholars entering tertiary institutes in Singapore, during which they may be exposed to the educational styles in Singapore. For SM2 scholars the duration of the bridging course is 20 months, which is supposed to be notified when the students are informed about the programs of the scholarship. Here we shall give a description of how this course is conducted by NIE/NTU, and we wish to help you, the new scholars from China, to better understand the courses and tasks you will face here in Singapore, before you enter the universities.

Overview of the Whole Bridging Course

The Intensive English Course

The first part of the bridging course is an intensive English course for 6 months, which aims to develop the English skills of the students, both for academic and for everyday purposes. It is necessary to help the students to become more effective and confident in communicating with the people in Singapore. This course is designed to help students improve their general proficiency through listening, speaking, reading and writing practices. It emphasizes the use of English to communicate with people, rather than the focus on intensive reading and grammar exercises, which is common in the teaching of English language in China.

What are the sessions like and how do students progress in this course? In the bridging course conducted by the Communication Skills Program, there are 5 subjects that each scholars must take: Integrated Communication Skills, Academic Oral Communication, consisting of Listening and Speaking, Academic Reading Comprehension and Academic Writing Skills. During these lessons, there are quite a lot of group discussions and presentations, so students must try to talk in English as much as possible and hence improve their English oral communication skills.

During the later parts of the course, students will be working on some projects, including conducting a survey and reporting its results, writing a library research essay, and preparing and presenting a talk. Though these projects, students will become acquainted with how research is done, and how to present their research results, which are crucial in pursuing their degrees in the universities. The projects are important in the assessment of students although there are two exams during the whole term. Generally, the intensive English course provides the students with a good opportunity to improve on their English. Therefore scholars need to seize it and make full use of this opportunity, because after this course when other subjects come in, probably less attention will be paid on improving English skills.

Extended Bridging Course

Of Math & Physics and English

Normally the scholars would come to Singapore in October or November, and as such, their intensive English course will possibly end in April the next year. Then the Math & Physics bridging course begins in May, proceeding until December. Students are supposed to complete the topics of Singapore A-level math and physics in nearly 30 weeks.

What are the topics covered in the math & physics courses? For mathematics, the main content to be taught is elementary (one-variable) calculus. Some other topics also be covered, like vectors matrices, probability and statistics which

are not covered in the middle school programs in China. For physics, students will review what they had learned previously, with some supplementary contents as well. These courses will prepare the students for their studies in the universities, i.e. engineering computing or science. There are two exams in the whole term. NIE & NTU did not offer chemistry for the SM2 scholars in 1999.

In 1999, MOE and the universities came up with an Accelerated Program for students who were good at math and physics and were willing to take the challenge to complete the Math & Physics course in 9 weeks. Twenty out of 136 students joined this program. The students on this program who were proven ready at the end of the course gained admission to NTU & NUS in the same year. There are pros and cons to this program. The study after the intensive English course is at a slower pace, as some may find. Entering university one year in advance may save quite some time, in the sense of graduating and finding employment. But with one year more, the scholars may have ample time to further improve on their English communication and other subjects, so that they can have a firm foundation before entering the universities. They can make more friends in Singapore too, especially in the JCs.

English lessons will be held together during the term. They aim to further improve students’ proficiency in English and the assessment is mainly based on a class project that all members in a group complete together, e.g. acting in a play, publishing a newsletter/magazine. Student will find this program less stressful and more enjoyable than the intensive English course.

At the end of the year, there will be a several-week vacation for the students, which ends early in January in the next year.

Immersion and Enrichment courses

When the new term begins, students will study in the junior colleges (JC), where they join the classes of JC students. They will be assigned to different JCs, like Raffles JC, Hwa Chong JC, National JC. This is an immersion course that acquaints the scholars with the Singaporean pre-university students. They will learn more about what courses JC students take, how their studies are conducted, and what activities they participate in. Besides attending JC lessons, scholars will also study some enrichment courses, like economics and computer courses. At the end of all these courses, the scholars need to indicate to MOE what courses they want to pursue in the universities. The feedback will be considered by MOE, together with NTU and NUS, the two universities where the students would be enrolled. What course each student will study will also be notified. Normally the scholars will be admitted to the courses that they wish to undertake, but MOE reserves the right to change the university whereto a specific scholar goes.

This is a brief introduction to the bridging course for SM2 scholars. They have 20 months to adjust to the life in Singapore before they enter the universities, a time we hope they will enjoy and cherish in their memories.