Mastering Languages outside of book-reading

Mastering Languages outside of book-reading

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Beyond book-reading, what are some other ways that children can learn to master languages? Read on for some recommendations – backed by research related to the science of reading! 1)   Drama-based activities Drama involves rich stories, interactions, and imagination. These components make drama an engaging and effective method in helping children develop language skills. Conversational ability is one direct impact of drama-based activities on language skills. Research suggests that collaborating in drama-based activities helps to promote self-initiated discussion among peers…

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Five Finger Rule for Selecting books for children

Five Finger Rule for Selecting books for children

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Reading is an important skill in learning how to use a language. However, reading abilities may differ across individuals, even for children. Books need to be challenging enough for one to learn from and be interested in, but not to the extent that it discourages one from trying to read! How might we find this balance? The five-finger rule is one method  parents can use to select appropriate books for their child. Try it out by following the steps in…

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The Dual-Route Model of Reading

The Dual-Route Model of Reading

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Reading is a multisensory task that requires the integration of visual and audio stimuli, namely printed letters and speech sounds, respectively. According to the ‘Dual-Route Model of Reading’, reading can be achieved by either the lexical route or the sublexical route (Coltheart et al., 1993). The lexical route allows us to map a word’s orthographic structure (for instance a string of letters) onto its pronunciation directly, while the sublexical route allows us to pronounce words by breaking down the word’s…

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Using MRI to Explore Brain Structures and Functions

Using MRI to Explore Brain Structures and Functions

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What is MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and non-invasive scanning procedure that is commonly used for medical and research purposes. The MRI scanner is like a very motion-sensitive camera that can take pictures of our body, including our brain! MRI is unlike other neuroimaging techniques, such as X-rays and CT scans, that use radiation to obtain images of our body parts. Rather, it utilises magnets and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of brain structures, body organs…

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How Do I Get My Child to Read More?

How Do I Get My Child to Read More?

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Reading is important for children’s language growth and development. In contrast to children who read less, children who are avid and frequent readers not only receive higher reading proficiency scores, but they also have greater opportunities for lifelong learning and good mental health (Sun et al., 2021).  Given this, how can we motivate our children to read more and reap the benefits? According to a report by NIE (2021), it was found that children would be more motivated to read…

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What Is Bilingualism Research About?

What Is Bilingualism Research About?

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Bilingualism refers to the ability to speak or understand two languages. Singapore is a multilingual society with English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil being the main languages used. A child can become bilingual in multiple ways. For example, a child learns two languages when the child’s parents and caregivers switch between two languages frequently during daily interactions, thereby becoming bilingual. Another way is when the language spoken at home differs from the language spoken in school, the child picks up both…

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