Master of Education (Malay Language)

Full-time

Minimum

1 year

Maximum

2 years

Part-time

Minimum

2 years

Maximum

4 years

Course Descriptors

MED900 Educational Inquiry (4 AUs)
This course introduces participants to the fundamental processes involved in conducting research such as formulating research questions, writing a review of the literature by synthesizing empirical studies, understanding various methodological approaches, collecting and interpreting research data. Participants in this course will have opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and strategies needed to read, interpret, and evaluate the quality of research reports. In addition, participants will gain a critical understanding of quantitative, qualitative, and combined research approaches.

MED901 Academic Writing for Postgraduate Students (4 AUs)
This course will guide postgraduate students in studying the discourse and linguistic conventions of academic writing in their own discipline so that they can better manage the writing of their thesis/research paper. In addition to studying the discourse practices of academic writing, students will also examine the thinking processes underlying the production of those practices.

MED902 Integrative Project (2 AUs)
This capstone course requires participants to identify an education issue which forms the focus of inquiry, locate and read the most relevant literature to generate suggested potential solution to address the problem. The solution should show evidence that they are able to take the available information and restructure it in an appropriate way to deal with the issue.

MML901 Research in Language Education (4 AUs)
Language education has developed rapidly in various areas that teachers need to be kept up-to-date on major trends in language teaching and learning. Consequently, todays teachers need access to a wide range of information on latest data and findings for best language teaching and learning practices in general, and effective methodology in teaching and learning of language, be it first, second or third language learning. They need a thorough understanding of how language figures in education, and for that reason they must be kept informed of current research findings on language-related issues.

This course discusses how research in language education can elucidate language learning and induce effective language pedagogy.

MML902 Critical and Creative Thinking to Enhance Learning (4 AUs)
Critical and creative thinking skills are important components of education. Singapore education places these skills as prerequisites which must be acquired by learners in order to prepare them to face the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. This course invites teachers/the participants to revisit and update themselves with the latest development in critical and creative thinking theories, to plan and apply creative teaching pedagogies that will enhance pupils learning.

MML903 Literature Education (4 AUs)
This course covers the aims, objectives and functions of literature education with special focus on the teaching of literature in Singapore. It will include a wide range of topics such as the principles, approaches, methods, techniques, assessment and evaluation of literature; the innovative and creative pedagogy of teaching traditional and modern Malay texts to new generation of learners and readers, and learners with special needs; the challenges and issues related to reading of controversial literature texts or forbidden books, suitability and classification of books, censorship and notions of freedom of expressions and choices.

This course will further enhance the participants and/or educators knowledge and skills in teaching literature in schools.

MML904 Features of the Malay Language in Singapore (4 AUs)
Geographically, Singapore is in the midst of the Malay archipelago, comprising Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, whose lingua franca is Malay language. However, over the years, Malay language in each country has gone through various development and changes due to its unique locality and socio-cultural experiences, and thus, developed new forms of language varieties. This course primarily highlights that these distinct features should not be perceived as imperfect uses of Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Indonesia.

MML905 School-Based Curriculum Design for Malay Language Teaching (4 AUs)
In the Malay Language Curriculum  Pedagogy Review Committee Report (MLCPRC) 2005, among its recommendations were the need to have ML teachers identifying and nurturing their students to become the best that they can be in the learning of the language. The concept of Differentiated Instructions was also introduced to enhance and engage student learning. In 2010, the Mother Tongue Languages Review Committee submitted their recommendation indicating the need to make the teaching and learning of Mother Tongue Language more purposeful and dynamic to the needs of students and the changing demographic background of learners. Bearing these two policy reports in mind, and the Curriculum 2015 (C2015) in detailing broad-based and holistic curriculum as well as calling for finer customization of learning, there is a need for a course on school-based curriculum design (SBCD) for the teaching of ML. Also, the relevance of SBCD in Malay Language by taking into account the latest educational theories, approaches and challenges will also be examined. This course will help participants understand the concept of SBCD and how it can be implemented in the context of ML teaching and learning in Singapore schools. Participants will also be required to plan and analyze the effectiveness of an SBCD programme.

MML906 Education in Malay and Islamic Traditions (4 AUs)
This course introduces the participants to various theories and concepts of knowledge and education in the Malay and Islamic traditions. These concepts as well as socio-historical knowledge as a background will help the participants to understand the development of education of the Malays from the early years and the continuation of particular educational models until the present.

MML907 Language, Literacy and Culture (4 AUs)
Teachers of language and literacy must not only have a good understanding of the content they teach but also of the social and cultural issues that impact teaching and learning. This course introduces participants to the ways in which language, literacy, ethnicity, gender and other social and cultural constructs affect communication and interaction in the home and school settings. Through a variety of readings drawn from a range of sources, participants are introduced to various themes, including the ways in which social structuring, cultural practices, and language use bear upon identity formation, participation and achievement in education, and functioning in other contexts.

MML908 Literary Criticism and Theories (4 AUs)
This course will introduce teachers to the field of literary theory and criticism. Teachers will gain a certain competencies in the study of texts by major authors. The course included a discussion of the major theories of literature and literary criticism and its influences on creative writings and literary development including the development of Malay literary criticism and local theories.

MML909 Theories of Grammar (4 AUs)
The course will provide an overview of theories of formal syntax, considered from the perspective of logic, linguistics, and philosophy of language. Through the course, participants will progressively build up a consistent grammar for a fragment of Malay language, beginning from Pelita Bahasa Melayu as conceptualized by Zaba, a traditional grammarian to the modern grammar of Malay language. Through the fundamental concepts in syntactic analysis such as part of speech types, constituent structure and the syntax-semantics interface, participants will understand the formulation of grammar as a formal system of rules and constraints and how contemporary theories can be applied in areas such as language teaching and learning.

MML910 Bilingualism and Multilingualism (4 AUs)
This course is aptly introduced due to the importance of bilingualism and multilingualism in Singapore and the world today. This course focuses on the study of bilingualism and multilingualism from the perspectives of the individual and society.

MML911 Malay Culture and Values (4 AUs)
To understand the various aspects of Malay belief systems, customs and practices, important festivals and their values including the resurgence of Islam today in a multi-lingual and multi-religious society.

MML912 The Socio-cultural History of the Malays (4 AUs)
This course focuses on the historical and social developments of the Malays in Singapore and the region. Major factors such as political, colonization, economic development, urbanization, resettlement from kampung to housing estates etc. have influenced the culture or way of life of the Malays. The challenges and progress of the Singapore Malay community and its counterparts in the region since independence in 1965 (Malaysia in 1957, Indonesia in 1945), as the countries underwent modernization and nation building; the values and efforts made by the Malays to adapt to new developments and to contribute to each nations multi-cultures, national harmony and identity will be covered. This course will further enhance the participants and/or educators knowledge and understanding of the history and cultural development of Malays in Singapore and the region.

MML913 Critical Approaches to Language (4 AUs)
This course provides a discussion of what critical has come to mean in applied linguistics and educational research, and what it might mean for language teaching and learning. It explores the interconnection between critical language awareness, critical literacy and critical discourse analysis for use as frameworks for the study of how power and ideology permeate social and discursive practices in schools and in other domains such as politics and media. Participants will have the opportunity to apply concepts and analytic tools to uncover evaluative assumptions about languages, speakers and communities, as well as instruments of differentiation in oral and written texts.

MML914 Using Children and Young Adult Literature to Promote Social Emotional Learning (4 AUs)
This course emphasizes on the role and function of literature to children's and young adults social and emotional development. It focuses on the selection of appropriate books in terms of content that features multidimensional characters that are ethnically and culturally diverse. Teachers will also explore the social-emotional themes addressed in these books. This course is ideal for teachers with an interest in children and young adults social and emotional development. Teachers will deepen their familiarity with a range and diversity of genres for children and develop knowledge and critical understanding of issues and debates in the field.

MML915 Assessment for Learning in Malay Language Classroom (4 AUs)
This course aims to explore the theoretical understanding, issues and complexities of authentic and alternative assessments within the classroom context and alongside the traditional examinations practices. The course highlights the three principles of Assessment for Learning. Firstly, the principle of Making Learning Explicit focuses on the role of the teacher to make learning and assessment meaningful for the learner. The second principle, Promoting Learner Autonomy focuses on the role of the teacher in developing independent learners. Finally, the third principle, Focusing on Learning {Not Performance} aims to get participants to focus on their roles as teachers to challenge traditional assessment attitudes in favor of assessment that is more formative and focused on the learning process.