Standard English or Singlish for the Workplace

Target Audience
– Division 1 & 2 Officers or Executive, Junior Executive & Support Staff.

Course Objectives
At the end of this programme, you would be able to:

  • Understand the importance of speaking Standard English
  • Identify differences between Standard English and Singlish
  • Apply basic techniques to improve pronunciation
  • Code switch between Standard English and Singlish
  • Use strategies to speak better English

Course Duration

1 day (8 hours), 9:00am – 5:00pm.

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Course Content

Can lah.  Like that also can meh.  We hear these all the time, and they can be fun too.  It is our unique brand of Singlish.  However, its rampant use at the workplace may give the wrong signal that we are shoddy in our work and cause us to lose credibility.  This course highlights the importance of using Standard English and strategies to hone our language proficiency.  It also deals with the differences between Standard English and Singlish, and why and how to code switch within the right context.

Course Outline

Differences between Standard English and Singlish

Say it right

  • Word stress
  • Schwa sound
  • /th/ sounds
  • Silent letters

Use the right word

  • Words with dialect origin
  • English words with non-standard usage

Correct the grammar

  • Plural noun markers
  • Verb forms – present and past
  • Prepositions
  • Question forms

Code switch based on the context

Strategies and resources to improve communication