FROM THE MASTER TEACHER
Mrs. Shirley Tham-Yeo Geok Lian
Master Teacher English Language
Cluster West 6
Greenridge Secondary School
Greenridge Secondary School has a school based innovation known as the Camera, Lights and Action Programme (CLAP). In the spirit of Teach Less Learn More, the English department has chosen to use media as a teaching tool to enhance the students' learning of the English language. We believe that media is a powerfool tool in developing student engagement in the classroom and improving their language skills. Through CLAP, the students are given a chance to improve their speaking, reading and writing skills with the use of broadcast technology and video production. The process includes brainstorming, scripting, storyboarding, acting, filming, directing and editing.
In groups, students take on various roles, such as producers, directors, scriptwriters and newscasters. The group then researches on articles related to a theme or brainstorm ideas for related newsworthy events in and around the schoool. Once the ideas are agreed upon, the students proceed to script and design the storyboard. They then actout the script and film it. English Language teachers guide their classes closeley on the angle of coverage for the topic and help with the discussions on the development of the ideas, storyboarding and scripting processes. Subsequently, the students who are cast as newscasters or actors and actresses will be coached on how to read their script with clear diction and pronunciation. Other sudents may work with the editing softwareto produce the video clip
Through the process, the students would be guided to acquire the 4 skill sets of English Language, namely reading, writing, listening and speaking. The articles provided at the beginning of each unit of work, as well as other reading materials the students would source for, promotes reading. The on-going discussions held would develop students' skills in listening and speaking. In addition, students would continually be provided with opportunities to develop their ceeative and artistic talents through the hands-on, fun-filled activities of the CLAP process.
This publication focuses on the storyboarding aspect of CLAP. It is our hope that the creative talents of students can be recognized, surfaced and nurtured. We are proud to introduce original drawings by our very own aspiring producers. They present their passion for creation, imagination and expression. May these sketches inspire like minded students to present their thoughts pictorially and enjoy learning the English language.
