Research projects and publications

Oh no, Baozi and Xiajiao are fighting, again! They have to say sorry to each other or they cannot play together! Can Shaomai get them to say sorry to each other? A delightful book to read aloud as a family blending humor and a heartfelt message about the true meaning of an apology. A yummy, funny and bilingual book!

Citation:
Woo, Yen Yen, et al. Sorry, Not Sorry!: A Dim Sum Warriors Bilingual Tale. Singapore, Yumcha Studios, 2024, ISBN / ISSN: 9789811896637.

In an exciting literary collaboration, three Singaporean storytellers, Woo Yen Yen, Colin Goh and Josef Lee have teamed up to bring young readers a captivating Lunar New Year children’s book that promises to be a celebration of culture, tradition, and bilingualism. Yen Yen’s bilingual expertise, Colin’s adept wordcraft, and Lee’s thoughtful illustrations have collectively crafted a delightful book. It is ideal for families and schools aiming to empower children not only with a second language but also with an appreciation for cultural traditions.

Citation:
Woo, Yen Yen, et al. Celebrating is Hard Work: A Dim Sum Warriors Bilingual Tale. Singapore, Yumcha Studios, 2024, ISBN / ISSN: 978-981-18-9263-9.

“I suppose people are just not willing to go that far, because, “At the moment I barely know you. I’ll be nice to you on a superficial level, but it will be too much to go beyond that.” And people have these perceptions that when they see me, “Oh, she’s doing fine,” especially my teachers. ... I usually feel left out in my class. (Participant 15)”. Having arisen from personal encounters of teaching at tertiary level and the challenges of catering to learners presenting a broad spectrum of educational needs, I have become increasingly aware of the diversity of students seeking assistance. Initially training as a social worker and working in the disability sector for several years, I have always gravitated towards personal narratives. The lived experiences of learners presenting a wide range of differing needs provide insights into their realities and concerns. Rather than deconstructing differences through the ableist lens and the “conception of disability informed by the primacy of normalcy”, lived experiences need to be heard so that moral and ethical decisions can be made about how goods and services can be distributed fairly.

Citation:
Carlisle, Damaris. ''Oh! She’s doing fine: Realities and Concerns of Learners with Disabilities at University in Singapore.'' Not Without Us: Perspectives on Disability and Inclusion in Singapore, edited by Kuansong Victor Zhuang, et al., Singapore, Ethos Books, 2023, pp. 295-314, ISBN / ISSN: 978-981-18-6113-0.

This practitioner research in education paper is based on the experiences of two English language educators taking part in a collaborative online international learning project, otherwise known as COIL. Synchronous and asynchronous teaching methods were used for English language learners to meet and work with students from other countries. The collaboration took place virtually between two institutions of higher education, located on different sides of the globe, namely Mexico and Singapore. Students met to work in groups on a project, in an authentic situation to practice the target language. The experience provided students with intercultural and transnational learning through interaction, collaboration and taking ownership of their learning. With little or no experience of taking part in COIL projects, the practitioners investigated three key questions: 1. What are the benefits to students of taking part in international collaboration? 2. What are the challenges of such a project? 3. How do students cope with misunderstandings resulting from cultural and ethnic differences? Data was collected through the analysis of written online learning logs using thematic coding to create a survey given to participating students at the end of the project. The benefits, as well as the challenges, are considered followed by recommendations based on first-hand experiences and reflections to offer a practical reference for colleagues and educators who may wish to explore the feasibility of taking part in such a project.

Citation:
Carlisle, Damaris, and Judith M. M. Luna Sáenz. ''COIL, COILer, COILing: English Language Learners Participating in Collaborative Online International Learning.'' Proceedings of The Southeast Asian Conference on Education 2023, Singapore 02/2023. iafor: 2023, pp. 1-13, doi: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-5240.2023.1.