A recent CNA article highlighted a concerning trend—literacy skills among Singaporean adults are declining, falling below the OECD average. While Singapore is known for its rigorous education system, this report raises an important question: Are we truly preparing our students for a lifetime of strong English proficiency?
The Long-Term Impact of Poor Literacy Skills
When adults struggle with reading comprehension and written communication, it affects their ability to excel in the workplace. This issue doesn’t start in adulthood—it begins in school. To quote an instance brought up within the article, Fiona Smith, a media and communications director, shared how she receives business proposals riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. This makes companies appear unprofessional, causing hesitation in hiring them. Without a strong literacy foundation, students may face difficulties in:
- Understanding complex texts and instructions
- Expressing ideas clearly in essays and reports
- Excelling in subjects that require critical thinking and structured arguments
- Securing jobs that demand high-level communication skills
In today’s knowledge-based economy, strong English skills give young Singaporeans a competitive edge. Employers look for candidates who can articulate ideas persuasively, write professionally, and adapt to a globalized work environment.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe that the key to preventing such literacy struggles isn’t just about mastering English—it’s about cultivating a love for the language from a young age. When children enjoy reading and writing, they don’t just see English as a subject to pass in school; they develop a lifelong habit of improving their literacy skills, which will serve them well in their future careers.
Building a Strong Literacy Foundation with WRITERS AT WORK
At WRITERS AT WORK, we go beyond preparing students for exams—we nurture a love for the English language. Our curriculum encourages independent thinking, creativity, and structured writing, ensuring that students don’t just memorize model essays but develop the ability to express themselves effectively in any situation. We pride ourselves for having passionate teachers who go above and beyond in making classes as relevant to student’s daily lives as possible, to engage as actively as possible during lessons. Even in the E-products we have newly presented to the public, we do our best to incorporate unconventional and innovative methods, so as to truly reflect our commitment to effective learning.
By fostering both a strong English foundation and a passion for lifelong literacy, we can equip the next generation with the skills they need to excel in school, the workplace, and beyond. We want to show parents that investing in us, that investing in English tuition in Singapore today can shape confident, articulate individuals who will stand out in their future careers.
How Parents Can Help Their Children Build Strong Literacy Skills
Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s literacy development. Here are some ways to support your child:
- Encourage Daily Reading – Exposure to books, newspapers, and articles enhances vocabulary and comprehension. Most of all, it allows children to make reading a habit.
- Foster a Writing Habit – Whether through journaling, writing short stories, or structured practice, writing regularly builds fluency.
- Engage in Meaningful Conversations – Discuss current affairs, ask open-ended questions, and challenge your child to express their thoughts clearly.
- Seek Quality English Tuition in Singapore – Enrichment classes, such as those at Writers at Work, provide structured training in composition writing, comprehension, and critical analysis.
WRITERS AT WORK: Who We Are
As an established English tuition center in Singapore since 2012, WRITERS AT WORK has been dedicated to helping students build strong literacy skills and excel academically. Recognized as one of the top English tuition centers in the country, we provide the resources and structured guidance needed for your child’s improvement. Our results speak for themselves—90% of our PSLE students have achieved AL1-4, while 90% of our secondary school students have improved by at least three grades.
We understand that tutoring your child at home can be challenging. Many English techniques are complex and require time, patience, and expertise to teach effectively. That’s why we focus on more than just exam preparation—we equip students with the writing skills, confidence, and critical thinking abilities that will serve them well in school and beyond.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe that strong English skills open doors for a lifetime of opportunities. Give your child the guidance they need to succeed—explore Our classes or Whatsapp us at 8404 9281!
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Commonly Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why Do Students Have Weak Oral Communication Skills?
Students often have poor oral communication skills as they do not have the knowledge of good exam habits to practise. For example, many students often do not plan their response, which leads to a poor writing habit of rambling, going off on irrelevant tangents, and forgetting to list all good arguments.
2. What Are Some Important Skills in English?
Mastering English involves understanding basic rules like grammar and sentence structure, as well as developing more advanced skills such as inference and synthesis, which are needed for tackling more complex exercises as the student progresses.
3. Why Do People Study Creative Writing?
Writing is an essential skill which is useful even when a child grows up to become a working adult. Communication is the basic foundation of any society, and people study how to write to better communicate their ideas to people. At school, academic performance is measured by how well students can communicate what they know in the context of an examination.
4. Why Do Students Have Poor Writing Skills?
Students often have poor writing skills as they do not have the knowledge of good exam habits to practise. For example, many students often do not plan their essays, which lead to a poor writing habit of rambling, going off on irrelevant tangents, and forgetting to list all good arguments.
