English
English
About Us
A dedicated group of teachers who believe in the importance of building on the foundation in the English language through exposure and creative use, in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Contemplations
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2022
Chong Pang's Next Top Speaker 2022
After a hiatus of two years due to COVID-19, Chong Pang’s Next Top Speaker was back once again. Eight students from Secondary One to Secondary Three took part in the competition, which pits the best speakers from the secondary schools in Yishun against one another. Elamaran Tarana (2E4) made the school proud by clinching the Crowd Favourite for the Impromptu Speech segment of the competition.
AI's Next Top Speaker 2022
In this year’s rendition of AI’s Next Top Speaker public speaking contest organised by the English Language Department, in conjunction with the school’s National Day Celebration, participants delivered a speech on what they wish to see for SG75. Among the three finalists, Toh Jun Yi Jamie (2E1) emerged as the best speaker of AI’s Next Top Speaker 2022
2021
Yishun's Next Top Speaker is a speech contest for the secondary schools in Yishun organised by the English Department of Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School, in collaboration with Chong Pang Toastmasters Club (CPTMC). The objectives are to raise awareness amongst youth of the importance of public speaking, provide a platform for students to showcase their oratorical skills, and to provide an opportunity for students to learn from their more eloquent peers.
A total of 82 students participated in the inaugural Yishun's Next Top Speaker.
Our students have done the school proud by attaining Champion and Second Runner-Up placings in this contest.
- Champion: SHREYA S NAIR
- Second Runner-Up : MOHAMED MANASEER MASROORA
View the exciting finalist entries at:
https://sites.google.com/moe.edu.sg/yishuntopspeaker2021/home/2020
“…higher…higher…HIGHER… LOWER… lower… lowest…”
Make no mistake! This is not a choir practice but a session during this year’s Public Speaking Workshop run by the renowned Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama Centre. Participants were given tips on how to carry themselves and how to speak off the cuff, a feat that is daunting to most.
Boosted by the training, students put the skills they acquired to good use. They participated in public speaking competitions and were handpicked to host events in school.
2019
Few things strike fear into the hearts of students as unequivocally as these two words: public speaking. Hence, it is all the more commendable that 20 of our Secondary 1 to 3 students, identified through a stringent selection process, managed to successfully complete the Public Speaking Skills Programme conducted by Julia Gabriel Centre.
The purpose of this programme is to equip our students with emceeing and persuasive speaking skills which they can apply when giving presentations. All participants have been given opportunities to emcee for a variety of school events, ranging from formal occasions like Achievement Day to adrenaline pumping festivities like the National Day Celebration.
Besides participating in inter-school competitions like Chong Pang’s Next Top Speaker, our public speaking students also took part in the annual AI Speech Competition. After a hard-fought Preliminary Round in which students had to give one-minute impromptu speeches, Shreya S Nair (1E2), Nurul Ailis Lee (1N1) and Loo Carol (3E1) emerged as the top three contestants and proceeded to the Final Round.
During the Teachers’ Day Celebration, the three girls spoke about gratitude for teachers, giving engaging and heartfelt speeches that moved the audience with their sincerity.
2018
Izwan Bin Indra, 2018 Chong Pang's Next Top Speaker
Izwan Bin Indra (3E2) was declared 2018 Chong Pang's Next Top Speaker after battling with 8 other finalists. He exuded commanding stage presence and delivered his speech with conviction and flair. A pertinent speech (entitled Anti-social Social Network) wrapped in sincerity and adorned with a sprinkle of humour, it made us laugh, and it made us think. He also won the Crowd Favourite for Prepared Speech. Watch Izwan in action below.
Mercado Jose Gabriel Domingo (1E1) was the other finalist from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary. Although he is only Secondary One, he delivered his speech with much confidence. Watch Gabriel in action below.
Winner of Unseen Poetry Debate at National Schools Literature Festival
One may say it was beginner’s luck that 4 students bagged a trophy in their maiden debate competition, but a stroke of luck it wasn’t. With all the weeks of practice, mock debates with teachers, and video-calling to discuss and hone their arguments, these Pure Literature students from 4E3 demonstrated nothing less than pure grit and determination, scrutinising two poems in preparation for the Unseen Poetry Debate. New and inexperienced in debate they might have been, but won the praise of the judges they did for their close analysis. Winning despite being up against a debate-trained team from Evergreen Secondary School really gave these 4 young ladies a boost of confidence! Congratulations, Sarah, Sarefina, Serena and Chi Rou!
Winners
1. Sarah Tan Xin Hui 4E3
2. Sarefina Sindhu Victor 4E3
3. Yong Yi Xuan, Serena 4E3
4. Tay Chi Rou 4E331st YMCA Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA)
This year, total of four students from the Public Speaking Programme represented the school to take part in the 31st Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA), an annual public-speaking competition organised by the YMCA.
Lau Jiaxi (1E2) and Loke Xin Yue (2N1) participated in the Lower Secondary category, while Chan Jun Da Edward (3E4) and Nawal bte Muhammad Mustafah (3E4) took part in the Upper Secondary category.Julia Gabriels Public Speaking Course
In its second year of running, the Julia Gabriels Public Speaking Course aims to provide opportunities for interested students to hone their public speaking skills.
The course consisted of a series of workshops conducted across Semester 1, where students were taught pronunciation, speech development, voice projection and improvisation.
After the programme, the participants were given opportunities to apply their public speaking skills in many school events and public speaking competitions. Students served as emcees in major events such as Achievement Day, and school celebrations such as Teachers’ Day and National Day. In addition, students also represented the school in public speaking competitions such as YMCA’s Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA) and Chong Pang’s Next Top Speaker 2017.
It was a joy to witness these students grow as confident and persuasive communicators.
Participants
1E2 LEE WEE TECK 3E3 ATREYO BANERJEE 1E2 LAU JIA XI 3E3 SAREFINA SINDHU VICTOR 2E1 WONG WAI YI 3E3 IZZARILHAN B SELAMAT 2E1 DEEN LATOZA FEROZDEEN 3E4 CHAN JUN DA EDWARD 2E1 IZWAN B INDRA 3E4 NAWAL BTE MOHAMAD MUSTAFAH 2E3 THIAN YI EN 3E4 JESSICA LONG MEI YUN 2E3 LIM URNYI 3E4 KETHEESAN OLIVIA SURRTHI 2E4 ZURYN AISYAH BTE ZAINUDIN 3E4 FU KAILIN 2E4 NUR AMIRAH BTE ROHAIZAD 3E4 WANG XIN TIAN 2N1 LOKE XIN YUE 3N1 MOHAMED ANEESKHAN 2N1 TAN KAI YOUNG JEROME 3N2 VAISHNAVI VIGNESWARAN 3N2 SHAKIRA TEO ZIROU 3N2 MUHAMMAD NAZIRAN B NAZLAN 3T1 SHAUN LIM CHUANG YE -
The AI Reading Programme aims to encourage a love for reading in our school where every student is a reader who enjoys the process of reading. Be it through stimulating activities at the library or schoolwide reading subscriptions, we ensure no one gets left behind in discovering the page-turning worlds reading offers. Our wide range of programmes for students also helps students develop a positive disposition to reading so that they can become informed readers who read critically and deeply from an eclectic range of sources.
Assembly Sharing
Our Reading Programme also gave voice to literature by inviting local Singaporean author and activist, Ms Cassandra Chiu. Ms Chiu shared her experience growing up as a blind person in Singapore as well as being the first woman to have a guide dog in Singapore. Students even had the opportunity to meet Ms Cassandra Chiu and her guide dog, Esme, up close and personal and had their books autographed!
Top Borrowers 2022
What could be better than immersing yourself in a riveting world of stories? That, and being commended for doing so!
Each term, we round up our top readers in the school and present them with a certificate and vouchers to encourage readership in our community.
Past Events: Library Activities
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION at AISS Library
“Help! Someone has been murdered and we need your help!” posters around the school called for our students’ immediate attention to solve a murder mystery at our library in 2020. They enjoyed investigating the various clues and even managed to clinch attractive prizes as they solved the intriguing mystery. Beyond the suspenseful activity, they also got the chance to explore a wide array of Mystery, Thriller, and Crime novels, and gained a greater understanding of this genre.
VALENTINE’S DAY with AISS LIBRARY
Have you ever been on a blind date with a literary read? Well, our students did so on Valentine’s Day in 2020 where they got to pick any of the wrapped books which caught their eyes. Page by page, they learn that like people, there is more than meets the eye with a book.
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2022 Creative Writing Programme
Writing as a performing art? With singing and serenading to boot?
This year’s Creative Writing workshop conducted during the first week of the June holidays was a great cathartic release from the online versions conducted over the past two pandemic years. While acquiring writing strategies over online sessions was plausible, nothing could beat meeting face-to-face. Students enjoyed impressing their peers with their brave attempts at acrostic poetries, visual poetries or prose embellished with detailed descriptions enhanced by carefully chosen literary devices. There was also a sensory walk to the nearby Sembawang Hotsprings to stimulate participants’ imaginations.
Two workshops by established contemporary Singapore writers, Balli Kaur Jaswal and Jennifer Anne Champion, were also conducted, giving participants greater insights into the myriad possibilities of writing.
2022 Creative Writing Camp
Picture this. The words you have penned on paper dances to the beat of spoken word poetry or plays with images to form multimodal works of art, enchanting your audience.
This is what students from our AISS Creative Writing Program experienced during this year’s Creative Writing Camp, conducted during the first week of the June’s holidays. It was a great cathartic release from the online versions conducted over the past two pandemic years. While acquiring writing strategies over online sessions was plausible, nothing could beat meeting face-to-face.
Through a series of workshops led by our teachers as well as established contemporary Singapore writers, Balli Kaur Jaswal and Jennifer Anne Champion, students gained great insights into the myriad possibilities of writing. Not only that, but they also went on a sensory walk to the nearby Sembawang Hot Spring Park and gained an immersive experience on how creative works can be inspired by what we see, hear, smell and so on.
By the end of the camp, they learned how to bring their written words to life as they performed or presented their works in front of an audience. It was a joy to see them impressing their peers with their brave attempts at acrostic poetries, visual poetries or prose embellished with detailed descriptions enhanced by carefully chosen literary devices.
The Creative Arts Programme
The Creative Arts Programme (CAP) is a prestigious programme jointly organised by the Gifted Education Branch of MOE and Yale-NUS College which aims to nurture talented young writers in Singapore. To participate, students will need to submit a portfolio of original works which show distinctive literary flair as well as sensitivity to the world at large.
In 2021, Nadira Aisyah Shahrin from 3E1 from our Creative Writing Programme was selected to represent AISS in CAP.
In 2022, Klenn Teo Yuan Jun Kai from 3E4, Avita Tang Enwei from 3E2, and Bellelyn Ong from 3E2 from our Creative Writing Programme have been selected to represent AISS in CAP.
Klenn and Bellelyn have also ventured forth and successfully became mentees for the CAP programme from 2022 to 2023. As mentees, they will work under the tutelage of published authors to further hone their repertoire of creative writing techniques.
On the whole, the AISS Creative Writing Programme empowers students by giving them ample opportunity and support to find their own unique voices and express them creatively through their curated works. During this journey, they also develop a keen understanding of cultural, societal, and world issues as their pieces work to shed witty insights into such issues.
Student Mentors for AISS Creative Writing Programme
Students in our writing program have the exciting opportunity to become mentors to their juniors and help them to discover their vast potential in their creative expression. Through encouraging feedback and role modelling, they nurture their juniors to revise their works and try out new and different literary styles. On 12th April 2022, our Student Mentors, Arlynn Natasha Binte Rahimi, Bellelyn Ong, Dawn Alethea Lowe En, Klenn Teo Yuan Jun Kai, Marsha Ardyana Binte Shahiman Azmi and Nadira Aisyah Shahrin received certificates of appreciation in grateful recognition and appreciation for their mentorship for our AISS Creative Writing Programme in 2021.
Singapore Writers' Festival 2022
AISS Creative Arts Programme writers and our Pure Literature students were treated to one of the few multi-lingual literary festivals in the world, The Singapore Writers’ Festival (SWF). Organised by Arts House Limited, SWF is a much anticipated event on the cultural calendar, presenting the world's major literary talents to Singaporeans while shining a spotlight on home grown and Southeast Asian creative talents. Students had fun engaging in meaningful conversations with the writers and attending workshops that will help them in their writing and literary works.
Results of 2022 Commonwealth Competition
The Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world’s oldest international essay writing competition for students, is organised annually to provide opportunities for young people to express their thoughts on current global issues.
To find out more, please access the link here:https://www.royalcwsociety.org/essay-competition.
We are pleased to announce this year’s winners from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School. The good news is that there were not one but four Gold Award winners..
Congratulations to all participants! May you continue to express your ideas through writing and harness the power that your voice holds within your immediate and global community. You can be the change you wish to see so please continue to write for a better world..
Gold Silver Bronze Nyla Batrisyia Evbuomwan, 3N1 Lucas Lim Jun Hui, 2E1 Nur Insyirah binte Mohamed Azhar, 4E2 Anagha Jiji, 2E3 Wichelle Tan, 2E1 Ting Ze En Ada, 3E4 Derick Goh Zhen Yu, 2E4 Jamie Toh Jin Yi, 2E1 Jayden Png Jun Eng, 3N1 Terry Zhang, 2E4 Caden Toh, 2E3 Caleb Ng Jin Kai, 2E1 Chong Ning Xin, 2E1 Chua Wee Jia, 2E1 Tan Kai Leng, 2E1 Ng Yu Xuan Constance, 1N1 -
English Language Day
After a two-year hiatus, the English and Literature festival is back!
This year, the Sec 1s enjoyed themselves tremendously doing Reader’s Theatre and Choral Reading. Students focused on reading the text with expressive voices, facial expressions, and gestures. Students were also exposed to choral reading where they gained confidence reading the text together as a group.
The Sec 2s had a wonderful time dramatizing their Literature text – Perfecting Pratas. Students were given the space to express themselves confidently and use their imagination to create and achieve an improvisation of a script written entirely on their own.
It has been a fun-filled and inspiring two days of seeing English and Literature come to life!
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1 Mdm Nah Ser Yen HOD/EL 2 Mr Burton Row ST/Lit 3 Ms Woon Sher Lin Sheralyn SH/Art 4 Mdm Lilian Ngui 5 Mdm Chew Hui Leng Faith 6 Mdm Hafizhah Jamel 7 Mdm Phua Eng Sze 8 Mdm Jennifer Koh Pei Pei 9 Mdm Kasturi Manoselvam 10 Mdm Amelia Y Dizon 11 Ms Nur Syakira Zamri 12 Ms Tan Wiphaporn 13 Mr Fong Tjen Shan Ryan 14 Ms Wang Xuejuan 15 Mr Mohamed Imran Ishak 17 Ms Ang Xin Ru Ruby 18 Mr Enzo Charles Victor Buttazzoni 19 Mr Kesavan Ramakrishnan