Standards and variation in Singapore English

English is used in remarkably different ways around the world. Exploring that variation is an extremely effective tool towards understanding our own use of English. This lesson looks at some features of colloquial Singapore English.

Goals

Lesson Plan

The teacher explains that today, we will look at some examples of colloquial Singapore English. If you have anyone in class from Singapore, approach them before the lesson and ask if they'd like to contribute in any particular way as well. 

Some teachers and students are wary of studying English apart from Standard English. There is no need to be concerned: learning to analyse different varieties of English, including regional varieties within Great Britain as well as international varieties, is a great way to practise linguistic analysis and to see the features of Standard English in a new, clearer way. 

The Open University has produced a short video on Colloquial Singapore English, or 'Singlish', which you and your students can view here.

Have students consider the following questions:

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