# data[].attributes.body
(a) Would you enjoy open-air performances like busking? Why or why not? (2013)
(b) Do you think many young people would want to be a singer or a musical star? Why or why not? (2013)
(c) How far do you agree that musical stars these days are good role-models for young people? (2013)
(a) Would you enjoy listening to music in a busking situation? (2014)
(b) What do you think might be good or bad about musicians playing in city streets and malls? (2014)
(c) "We listen to too many CDs or other recorded music nowadays, and not enough live music." What is your opinion? (2014)
(a) Would you rehearse for a performance at a public space (e.g. void deck)? (2015)
(b) Do you enjoy dancing or watching dance performances? Why, or why not? (2015)
(c) "Dancing is the best way of getting and staying fit." How far do you agree with this statement? (2015)
(a) Have you taken part in a dance class or dance event? (2018)
(b) What are the benefits of dancing and other physical exercise? (2018)
(c) Some people think that anyone can be a successful performer. What is your opinion? (2018)
(a) Do you think it is normal to feel nervous when performing in front of an audience? Why or why not? (2014)
(b) How do you think people can best overcome their nervousness? (2014)
(a) Do you enjoy art? Why, or why not? (2019)
(b) Do you agree with the view that art galleries and museums should be free for all visitors? Why, or why not? (2019)
(a) What do you think of street musicians? (2019)
(b) Tell me about any indoor or outdoor performance you have seen. (2019)
(c) What personal qualities and skills are necessary to become a successful performer? (2019)
(a) Would you like to take part in a dance activity? Why, or why not? (2021)
(b) It's always easier to make friends if you're part of a small group, rather than a large group. What do you think? (2021)
(a) What are some ways in which school promotes the arts to students?
(b) Schools should increase students' awareness of the arts. What are your views?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Tell me about something you bought recently and why you wanted it? (2015)
(b) Some people think that modern life is too concerned with fashion and luxury. What is your opinion? (2015)
(a) What is your favourite music, and how loudly do you play it? (2016)
(a) How do you feel about growing your own food? (2017)
(b) Do you think you would enjoy growing plants? Why, or why not? (2017)
(c) Working with others to achieve a common goal is more satisfying than trying to achieve personal goals. What is your opinion? (2017)
(a) Would you like to learn pottery as shown in the video? Why, or why not? (2019)
(b) Describe something you have made by hand at school or at home. (2019)
(c) Why do you think many people enjoy doing arts and crafts in their free time or as a job? (2019)
(a) Have you ever been fishing at a jetty? (2021)
(b) What do you and your friends do to relax afterschool? (2021)
(c) Some people say that they don't have time for hobbies. What do you think about this? (2021)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Do you enjoy learning using computers? Why or why not? (2013)
(b) In what ways are computers useful in our daily lives? (2013)
(c) Do you think we now rely to much on computers and the internet? Why or why not? (2013)
(a) What do you usually do on your mobile phones? (2018)
(b) How do you and your friends use social media? (2018)
(c) Do you think that most people rely too much on technology? Why, or why not? (2018)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How would you feel about travelling on a crowded train? (2015)
(b) Tell me about a memorable journey you have experienced. (2015)
(c) Do you agree that a young person should always give up their seat on a bus or train to an older person? Why, or why not? (2015)
(a) How would you feel when you see a crowd waiting to board a train? (2021)
(b) What kind of public transport do you prefer to travel on, and why? (2021)
(c) Some people say we should walk everywhere instead of using public transport. What do you think? (2021)
(c) Private transportation should be abolished. Do you agree?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Some people say we are given too many health warnings about the way we live. What is your opinion? (2016)
(a) Do you think you can judge a country by how its people behave? Why, or why not? (2016)
(a) Do you mind queuing and waiting for things? Why, or why not? (2021)
(b) People say 'patience is a virtue'. Do you think there are times when being patient is not a good thing? (2021)
(a) Are you interested to find out about the history of your family or neighbourhood? Why, or why not? (2017)
(b) Do you think it is important for us to find out about people's lives in the past? Why, or why not? (2017)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How would you feel volunteering to take part in an emergency drill exercise? (2013)
(b) How do you think young people can be better prepared to handle emergencies? (2013)
(c) Why do you think Civil Defence exercises are important in your country? (2013)
(a) Would you enjoy shopping at a wet market? Why, or why not? (2015)
(b) What kind of new shops would you like to see in your own neighbourhood? Why? (2015)
(c) Is it always better to have bigger and newer developments? Why, or why not? (2015)
(a) How do you think people feel about having to wait in line? (2016)
(b) Tell me about times when you have had to queue for something. (2016)
(c) Do you think you can judge a country by how its people behave? Why, or why not? (2016)
(a) Tell me about charity work you have done or would like to do? (2016)
(b) In what ways do you think charities can encourage people to support them? (2016)
(a) Some people say we are given too many health warnings about the way we live. What is your opinion? (2016)
(a) Tell me about a community event you have helped at or attended. (2019)
(b) Describe some of the ways in which people can be good neighbours to each other. (2019)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) What are some of the benefits of working together with people from other countries? (2014)
(b) Tell me about a memorable journey you have experienced. (2015)
(a) Would you like to participate in the activity shown in the video? (Video shows a student exchange program where a local Singaporean student stays with an international family)
(b) What are some places of interest you would recommend to someone visiting Singapore?
(c) What is a country you would like to visit and why?
(c) We should endeavour to expand our network and friends beyond national boundaries. What are your views with regard to this statement?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How do you feel about adjusting to a new environment? (2017)
(b) Tell me about your first day at school. (2017)
(c) Why do you think some people say that school days are the best days of their lives? (2017)
(d) Why is it important for us to be self aware?
(e) What are the social forces that influence the self?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Do you enjoy playing at the seaside/beach? Why or why not? (2013)
(b) Would you rather live close to the sea or not? Why? (2013)
(c) Some people say that natural environments, like our seas, are more threatened than ever before. What is your opinion? (2013)
(a) How would you feel living in a polluted city? (2018)
(b) Do you think people should read the labels on products before they buy them? Why, or why not? (2018)
(c) What other actions could people living in cities take to improve the environment? (2018)
(a) Have you taken part in a beach cleanup before? (2021)
(b) Tell me about a time when you have helped in your community. (2021)
(c) Sometimes people work more effectively on their own than in a team. How far do you agree with this view? (2021)
(c) Developed countries should do more for climate change relative to developing countries. Do you agree?
(a) Would you enjoy spending time trekking in nature? Why or why not?
(b) Would you like to see more green spaces in your neighbourhood? Why or why not?
(b) Tell me about a nature reserve or a national park you have visited or know about. (2017)
(a) Would you like to take part in the activity shown in the video? (video shows students picking up litter at the beach)
(b) Climate change is the responsibility of everyone. Do you agree?
(c) What are some ways in which governments can encourage their citizens to care more for their environment?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) What might be the advantages and disadvantages of working in a city centre? (2013)
(b) Do you think our cities are too crowded? What can be done to deal with over-crowding? (2013)
(a) What are some events that make people cheer? (2015)
(b) Do you enjoy being part of a large crowd? Why, or why not? (2015)
(c) How far would you agree that individuals behave differently when they become part of a crowd? (2015)
(b) Would you prefer to stay in a city area or a more rural area? Why?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How far would you agree that individuals behave differently when they become part of a crowd? (2015)
(a) Working with others to achieve a common goal is more satisfying than trying to achieve personal goals. What is your opinion? (2017)
(a) "No man is an island." What is your view on this statement?
(a) What sort of activities do you and your family members enjoy doing together?
(b) "Blood is thicker than water." What are your views on this statement?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Would you like to have a job that involves working with animals? Why, or why not? (2016)
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet? (2016)
(a) Would you like to visit an outdoor zoo as shown in the video? Why, or why not? (2017)
(c) What do you think individuals and governments can do to protect endangered species? (2017)
(a) Do you enjoy being around animals? Why, or why not? (2018)
(b) What animals would you like to see in a safari park or zoo, and why? (2018)
(c) Animals should be kept in zoos. Do you agree?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) What do you think are the best kinds of physical exercise? (2013)
(b) It's often said that modern life-styles mean we pay too little attention to our fitness and diet. Do you think that's true? Why, or why not? (2013)
(a) What is your opinion about eating only fruits and vegetables? (2014)
(b) Do you agree that schools have an important role in encouraging students to eat healthily? Why, or why not? (2014)
*Other questions*
(a) What are some ways in which we can care for our own mental/emotional wellbeing?
(b) Technology has caused us to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. Do you agree?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Do you enjoy learning using computers? Why or why not? (2013)
(a) What activities/ lessons did you enjoy most in school? (2018)
(b) Would you consider training to be a teacher? Why, or why not? (2018)
(c) What do you think is the best way to teach children about good manners and being polite? (2018)
(a) Would you like to take part in a VIA program like the one in the video (video shows some student giving tuition to younger kids)?
(b) Schools should encourage students to positively contribute to their community. What are your views?
(c) To what extent has your school given you a holistic education?
(b) What are some ways your school have prepared your for the future?
(c) How can schools prepare students for their future?
(a) Would you like to take part in the activity shown in the video? (video shows students roughing it out at OBS; doing outdoor cooking, jetty dive, trekking)
(b) What are some activities organized by your school that help to build character?
(c) Character development should be the focus of schools and not academic grades. What are your views?
(c) Do you think that volunteering is the best way for young people to learn practical and social skills? Why, or why not? (2018)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Do you think many young people would want to be a singer or a musical star? Why or why not? (2013)
(b) How far do you agree that musical stars these days are good role-models for young people? (2013)
(a) Would you like to have a job that involves working with animals? Why, or why not? (2016)
(b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet? (2016)
(a) Would you like to do part time work or take part in a work attachment programme while studying?
(b) What is your personal aspiration and how are your working towards your goals?
(c) What are some ways schools can help students prepare for their furture?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) Do you think that basketball is a suitable sport for the elderly to be playing? Why, or why not? (2013)
(b) What other physical activities do you think older people might enjoy? Why? (2013)
(c) Do you think there are benefits to society if older people improve their fitness? Why, or why not? (2013)
(a) What do you think of the elderly participating in events like a marathons? (2015)
(b) Tell me about an old person you know well. (2015)
(c) How do you think old people who live alone can best be helped or cared for? (2015)
(a) How do you think the elderly feel when they are introduced to new activities like playing darts/ video games? (2016)
(b) Tell me about how an old person you know spends his or her time. (2016)
(c) Do you think it's important that older people should be encouraged to stay as active as possible? Why, or why not? (2016)
(a) How do you think the elderly in the video feel when students visit them during VIA sessions? (2017)
(b) Are you interested to find out about the history of your family or neighbourhood? Why, or why not? (2017)
(c) Do you think it is important for us to find out about people's lives in the past? Why, or why not? (2017)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How would you feel volunteering to take part in an emergency drill exercise? (2013)
(b) How do you think young people can be better prepared to handle emergencies? (2013)
(c) Why do you think Civil Defence exercises are important in your country? (2013)
(a) Tell me about a co-curricular activity that you do at school, or that you would like to do. (2019)
(b) What benefits do students gain from doing co-curricular activities? (2019)

# data[].attributes.body
(a) What kind of food do you enjoy having at a hawker center? (2017)
(b) Tell me about a time when you particularly enjoyed eating a meal with family or friends. (2017)
(c) Do you agree that fast food is an essential part of modern life? Why, or why not? (2017)
(d) How would you feel taking your lunch at a staff cafeteria? (2013)
(a) Does hawker food appeal to you? Why or why not?
(a) Tell me about a local festival celebrated in Singapore.
(a) Would you enjoy taking part in the celebration shown in the video? (Video shows different scenes from a school RHD celebration: students wearing ethnic clothes, performances, lessons etc.,)
(b) Tell me about a school celebration that you found meaningful.
(c) What is a national celebration that you would like to partake in and why?

# data[].attributes.body
(a) How would you enjoy taking part in high elements activities? (2013)
(b) Tell me about risky or dangerous sports that young people in your school or community take part in (2013)
(c) Some people say that we are too safety-conscious these days. What is your opinion? (2013)
(a) Would you like to take part in a canoeing activity? (2014)
(b) What do you think can be learned from outdoor activities like trekking and camping? (2014)
(a) Would you enjoy taking part in a relay race? (2014)
(b) Do you think sports competitions between schools are important? Why, or why not? (2014)
(c) Some people say our world has become too competitive, and we are too keen on wining. What is your opinion? (2014)
(a) Would you take part in extreme sports? Why, or why not? (2017)
(b) Tell me about an outdoor event you have been to or know about. (2017)
(c) Do you agree that playing sport is always dangerous? (2017)
(a) Do you enjoy sports that involve running? Why, or why not? (2018)
(b) Tell me about any sports that are popular with young people. (2018)
(c) What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of taking part in sports competition? (2018)
(a) How do you think the synchronized swimming team in the video are feeling? (2021)
(b) Do you enjoy swimming yourself? Why, or why not? (2021)
(c) Some people say synchronized swimming should not be classed as a sport. What do you think? (2021)

# data[].attributes.body
1. strike a chord with most Singaporeans
2. Industrious hawkers plying their trade
3. honed by years of practice
4. stifling hot
5. stewing, grilling, frying
6. adds a nostalgic touch
7. reminisce about the good times spent there
8. seek healthier alternatives
9. cannot resist the temptation
10. greasy yet delectable
11. savoury
12. feel/build/share a sense of belonging
13. local culinary delights
14. myriad of food choices
15. never fail to make my lips pucker in delight
16. made a beeline for our favourite stall
17. a reminder of our rich multicultural heritage
18. cater to differ taste buds
19. hearty banter at the hawker centre
20. one of my favourite haunts

# data[].attributes.headline
Qns: Does hawker food appeal to you? Why or why not?

# data[].attributes.subject
Qns: Does hawker food appeal to you? Why or why not?

# data[].attributes.body
•Point: Firstly, hawker food appeals to me as it strikes a chord with most Singaporeans and I am no exception as the food reminds me of home.

•Explanation of point: This is because I grew up eating hawker food with family and friends. Hence, the taste always makes me feel nostalgic as I relive these memories spent with my loved ones.

•Evidence (Personal anecdote/stories, video, news, stats): There was once when I did an overseas VIA in Australia. As it was the first time away from my family, I was suffering from homesickness. When we had a meal in a restaurant opened by a Singaporean there, the taste of the laksa brought me to tears, partly because of the spices and also because it made me realised how much I missed Singapore.

•Preview: Hence, even though the hawker centre food does not exactly strike one as beautifully plated dishes, it adds a nostalgic touch because it allows me to reminisce about all the good times I have spent with my loved ones.

Resource: 1. English Language: How to Structure a Planned Response | O Level Paper 4 (Syllabus 1184) - YouTube (Watch this video to see tips on how to structure a planned response regarding hawker culture)

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English Language: How to Structure a Planned Response | O Level Oral Paper 4 (Syllabus 1184)

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How do you think the elderly feel when they are introduced to new activities like playing darts/ video games? (2016)

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How do you think the elderly feel when they are introduced to new activities like playing darts/ video games? (2016)

# data[].attributes.body
§Point: Firstly, I believe that the elderly might feel invigorated when given the opportunity to take part in new activities not commonly associated with the elderly.

§Explanation of point: This is because it is something novel to the elderly. Also, it sends them the message that others believe that they are capable and not limited by their age.

§Evidence (Personal anecdote/stories, video, news, stats): One striking example would be the Korean series Navillera on Netflix. The series tells the story of an old man who managed to learn the basics of ballet, such that he was able to give a public performances. His resilience to persevere despite the challenges he faced really inspired me. In fact, nearing the performance, he unfortunately started showing early signs of Alzheimer. Nonetheless, due to his diligent practice, his body was still able to remember the moves of the performance. That scene almost moved me to tears.

§Link: Hence, even though some believe that the elderly are physically and mentally incapable and thus should avoid new and strenuous activities, I belong to the opposing camp. I believe that giving them such opportunities might inject new vitality into them.

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl_RGQQAn74 (Watch this trailer of Navillera to get a sense of the story)

# data[].attributes.body
vocab words
1. nonacademic
2. competitive environment
3. expand their interests
4. explore new heights
5. important in students' holistic development
6. brings students from diverse backgrounds together
7. improves important life skills
8. prepares students for their future
9. enhance learning process
10. expands cultures and values
11.  sharpen communication skills
12. team leadership skills
13. improves physical and mental health
14. personal development
15. stimulating creative thoughts

# data[].attributes.body
1. Mischievous
2. Mellow
3. Affectionate
4. Frisky
5. Heartening
6. Sultry
7. Tabby
8. Vigilant
9. Loyal
10. Domesticated
11. Companion
12. Caring
13. Gregarious
14. Adorable
15. Entertaining

[Can we have phrases as well that describe the relationship/ benefits/ disadvantages of having pets?]

# data[].attributes.body
1. Are Zoos a good thing?
https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/b2-reading/are-zoos-good-thing

2. Importance of animals to nature and humans
https://www.earthreminder.com/importance-of-animals-to-humans-and-environment/

3. Benefits of having pets
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm

4. Singapore- saving endangered animals
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/saving-singapores-endangered-species-animal-bridge-2494596

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09 NE Forte 3 May 2017 Multiculturalism - the Singapore way

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Reading resource 1 (Caring for the community)

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Reading resource 1 (Caring for the community)

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16 NE Forte 20 September 2017 Caring for our society

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What constitutes/ defines success?

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01 Redefining Failure - NE Forte 10 Jan 2018

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07 Fake News, Real Consequences - NE Forte 4 April 2018

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09 Culture Shiok! - NE Forte 23 May 2018

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NE Forte 2019 Issue 01 - Food For Thought

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NE Forte 2019 Issue 02 - Digitally Insecure

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https://youtu.be/p5okIRbeY-g

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How Self-Awareness Can Help You to Live the Life You Want | Marina Barayeva | TEDxYouth@CISB

# data[].attributes.body
1. How to increase self awareness: https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-self-awareness

2. How to cope with changes in one's life:
https://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-get-better-at-dealing-with-change

3. Stepping out of your comfort zone: https://www.beresilientproject.com/stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone/

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What is self-awareness, and why is it important?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you want to become a happier person, more effective leader, and better decision-maker, self-awareness is the most important skill to have.

# data[].attributes.body
Vocab words
1. Threat Towards Wildlife
2. Melting Ice glaciers
3. Environmental Sustainability
4. Smart Eco-cities
5.Carbon footprint
6.Increasing amount of Greenhouse Gases
7. Sea Level Rising
8. Rising of Global Average Temperature
9. Usage of Renewable Energy
10. Deforestation
11. Mitigation
12. Intended Nationally Determined Contribution
13. Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change
14. Biodiversity
15. Parts Per Million

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The Top Ten Benefits of Spending Time with Family | Highland Springs

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The benefits of spending time with family are such a critical component of a full, meaningful life. Learn more about why spending time with family is important!

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https://www.tutorcity.sg/blog/why-is-cca-co-curricular-activities-important-in-singapore-schools

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In Singapore, co-curricular activities are offered at every stage of every student's schooling life, from primary school up to university. These activities vary widely although there are some that are generally more ubiquitous. The emphasis of having a healthy, diverse, non-academic pursuit has always been present in our curriculum.

Singaporean schools usually break down the CCAs into four broad categories: clubs and societies, physical sports, uniformed groups, and visual and performing arts.

Overall, the options are extremely varied, catering to the verbally gifted and athletically abled alike.

This mantra holds true- whether it may be the voice of the ministry or that of the concerned parent. This article explores some reasons why.

Holistic learning means learning and honing new skills outside of what the classroom has to offer.

Joining a CCA would mean that one does not merely focus on their academic studies. Instead, students are able to choose to expand on their interests and broaden their horizons by allowing themselves to contribute meaningfully to their chosen group.

Here are some benefits of why joining a CCA aids in holistic learning:

Nurture talent and enriches the mind of an individual

Students will learn how to work as a team by collaborating and working towards a common goal

Develop healthy social-emotional competencies

Effective communication

Problem-solving skills

Character development by being in an organised group with the same beliefs

Prepares students for future challenges beyond the textbooks

Instills discipline and commitment

An outlet to express oneself

Gives students an opportunity to contribute to society when trips are organised to old age homes or even through fundraising for certain causes

CCAs opens a window of opportunity for youth to expose themselves and experience new hobbies that they otherwise would not have been able to.

As a student in an environment that is conducive to developing non-academic skills, it really is a good chance for them to learn new things and acquire different talents amongst peers with similar interests.

As many eager parents have introduced various activities to their children from a very early stage, the CCAs provide an excellent opportunity for the continued pursuit of these interests.

The CCAs offered by schools these days are also way more interesting than what we had years ago.

There is always something for everyone.

If one prefers a quiet space, being a library may offer the perfect outlet for the bookworm. In sharp contrast, the percussion section of the military brass will suit the head-banging audiophile.

One of the best aspects of joining a CCA is getting to network and socialise with the rest of the interest group despite their age, classes, or background.
New friendships are more easily forged with the platform of common interest.
Everyone would also be on the equal playing field and have ample of opportunities to rise to leadership positions in the CCA depending largely on an individual's ability and commitment.

Hanging around like-minded individuals would also likely create a sense of belonging and identity in the group as well as in school.

Some CCAs in schools gives students opportunities to travel overseas to learn more about their interest. Students in some CCA groups are able to participate in global events such as International Mathematical Olympiad or ASEAN School Games.

Some opportunities could even be workshops organised by international bodies such as NASA and some could also have the chance to go with their CCA group to build a house in Indonesia for the less fortunate.

Who knows, one might find an interest in picking up a new language too!

Personally, I see CCAs as something that keeps students busy in school where they will be constantly monitored while providing them with a safe place to hang out throughout the day.
Without CCAs, I imagine there would be a lot of students gathering in malls or loitering at nearby places after school just to pass their free time.
By joining a CCA, one is accountable to show up and stay through the day at least a couple of times per week instead of roaming free after classes daily where they could be more susceptible to mingling with the wrong crowd or with people of questionable characters.

Working parents can also set their minds at ease knowing where exactly their child is.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises students' CCA contribution and awards bonus points for O Levels which is always helpful for you in your admission to a Junior College (JC), Polytechnic, or Institutes of Technical Education (ITE).

Depending on your contribution and participation levels during your stint, students may be entitled to score up to 2 bonus points if they have a stellar record. Free points while doing something you enjoy, why not?

If you are aiming to go to a prestigious or highly-sought-after course or school, focusing on your CCA alongside scoring good grades may help you clinch a spot.

Most applications would have hit the minimum score so what would help you stand out from the rest eventually would be your achievements in your CCA.

The more awards you have representing your school for and won or the higher your position is in your CCA, the more credible you would seem compared to someone who did mediocrely in theirs.

Schools want to know that you are a goal-oriented individual who is able to work smart and balance personal development as well as academia.

As a continuation from the previous point, for those who may not be so academically inclined, one of the most important points of a CCA that is not emphasised enough is that excelling in certain CCA groups and winning prizes at competitions for your school may give you a huge leg up in getting into an elite school - especially to a school that places a lot of emphasis on bagging home awards consistently.

Before this, I always had the assumption that everyone who came from elite schools was the cream of the crop with regards to their studies.

I had only found out about this much later in my life and if I had known earlier, I would have perhaps paid more attention to what I picked in school and worked towards excelling in it.

That being said, one should not choose a CCA based on this point alone especially if you have no interest in it. Otherwise, it is going to be an arduous journey trying to bring yourself to remain committed to it for so many years.

Hopefully, all the points above highlight the importance of having a CCA in Singapore schools.

As a CCA requires a long term commitment, it is imperative that we weigh all the options available and choose our CCA wisely. With all the long hours invested in your CCA, make the effort for that few years

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Why is CCA (co-curricular activities) important in Singapore schools?

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In Singapore, co-curricular activities are offered at every stage of every student's schooling life, from primary school up to university. These activities vary widely although there are some that are generally more ubiquitous. The emphasis of having a healthy, diverse, non-academic pursuit has always been present in our curriculum.

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1] it was sweet but savoury
2] filled with flavours
3] make me feel like I was on cloud nine
4]unique yet delicious
5] flavourful yet not overpowering
6]gulp down the slightly mild soup
7] filled with love
8] once in a blue moon
9]eat like a horse
10] ice cold drink
11]juicy
12] not my cup of tea
13] mouth watering
14] balanced healthy diet
15] satisfied my sweet tooth

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Is fast food an essential part of modern life?

Yes, I agree that fast food is an essential past of modern life as the appeal of fast food to the modern day man is convenience. At fast food chains, people are able to get their food within five minutes after ordering it. This is especially pertinent given that most of us lead hectic lives nowadays and we just want a quick bite to satisfy our hunger and boost our energy so that we can go on with the numerous tasks of the day. In fact, with the advent of COVID-19, the purchase of fast food has been even made more convenient as consumers can just order a meal via GRAB, or Hello Panda and many other food delivery services. During exam periods, my friends and I would frequently order fast food while studying together to save the time of cooking and washing up. While it might not be the healthtiest meal, fast food is undeniably convenient and can be gotten with just a few clicks on our iphone nowadays.

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1. Pleasure of snuggling up to a furry friend

2. Those who work with them have a special rapport :)

3. Cannot resist the temptation

4. being surrounded by furry critters all the time can be absolute bliss

5. Strike a chord with animal lovers

6. Animals can serve as a source of comfort and support.

7. Aspirations can keep one's shoulder to the wheel

8. People can be blinded by greed from their aspirations

9. A job that captures my imagination and holds my passion

10. Capacity for personal growth

11. Aspiration causes unnecessary competition between students

12. Your career determines your social status

13. Choosing a career marks a turning point in your life

14. Consciously strives for excellence

15. Avid interest

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1. Picturesque
2. Sprawling
3. panoramic
4. picture-postcard
5. take a break from the monotony to rejuvenate
6. adverse weather conditions ( for flight journey )
7. hectic
8.  contemporary
9.  diverse
10. metropolitan
11. t he sun beamed beatifically
12.  an expanse of sapphire blue ( sky )
13. radiant rays
14. boisterous

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A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of data i.e., if we give same set of input any number of times, we will get the same result.

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_concepts/computer_concepts_characteristics_of_computer_system.htm#:~:text=A%20computer%20is%20reliable%20as,will%20get%20the%20same%20result.&text=Computer%20performs%20all%20the%20tasks,performs%20tasks%20without%20manual%20intervention.

Automation

Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks without manual intervention.

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The characteristics of the computer system are as follows −

Speed

A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to humans while performing mathematical calculations. Computers can process millions (1,000,000) of instructions per second. The time taken by computers for their operations is microseconds and nanoseconds.

Accuracy

Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy. Errors may occur due to data inconsistency or inaccuracy.

Diligence

A computer can perform millions of tasks or calculations with the same consistency and accuracy. It doesn't feel any fatigue or lack of concentration. Its memory also makes it superior to that of human beings.

Versatility

Versatility refers to the capability of a computer to perform different kinds of works with same accuracy and efficiency.

Reliability

A computer is reliable as it gives consistent result for similar set of data i.e., if we give same set of input any number of times, we will get the same result.

Automation

Computer performs all the tasks automatically i.e. it performs tasks without manual intervention.

Memory

A computer has built-in memory called primary memory where it stores data. Secondary storage are removable devices such as CDs, pen drives, etc., which are also used to store data.

computer_concepts_introduction_to_computer.htm

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The characteristics of the computer system are as follows − A computer works with much higher speed and accuracy compared to humans while performing mathematical calculations. Computers can process millions (1,000,000) of instructions per second. The time taken by computers for their operations is microseconds and nanoseconds. Computers perform calculations with 100% accuracy.

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15 VOCAB/ PHRASES WORDS FOR TRAVEL
1. Voyage
2. Exotic
3. Rejuvenate
4. Sprawling
5. Metropolitan
6. Picturesque
7. Monotony
8. Panoramic
9. Jet Lag
10. Bucket List
11.  Hitchhiking
12. Oasis
13. Expedition
14. Novelty
15. Diverse

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ESSAY TITLE : WHAT IS ONE COUNTRY YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT? WHY?

One country i would like to visit is Iceland. The reason why i would want to visit Iceland is because I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights, a natural phenomenon unparalleled  in its beauty. However, firstly, i would want to visit the capital of Iceland which is Reykjavik because of what it offers. It has a large number of museums, sporting ,music venues, spas and a good spots for dining. I would also want  to get closer and learn about their local art and culture. Adding on, I would also want to visit Iceland’s National Museum which displays artifacts from the first settlements to modern times. Moreover, as Reykjavik is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, there are many waterfront  paths for joggers and cyclists and also the not to miss striking solfar [could you check what word this is] structure for every tourists visiting Iceland. Furthermore, I would also want to visit the fantastic Vatnajokull National Park. It has the largest glacier in Europe and it has many active volcanoes. I would want to experience dipping myself into a lake in the volcanic crater. In the parks there are also many powerful rivers with waterfalls i would want to go on a hike and trail there. Hence this is why one country i would like to visit is Iceland. [Would be better if you could have slightly more details about the places of interest you mentioned, like certain surprising facts etc]

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part 1 : vocab words (15)
- cosmopolitan

- contemporary

- boisterous

- polluted

- touristy

- lively

- industrious

- bustling

- accessible

- hectic

- vibrant

- compact

- efficient

- thriving

- affluent

part 2 : PEEL paragraph + video

One disadvantage of living in a city centre is the high costs of living. As more people tend to live in the cities, the demand for necessities such as food, water and electricity rises, which leads to higher costs.  The more technologically advanced infrastructure also contributes to the costly normal living expenses. Cities including San Fransico and New York have steep costs of living due to the advanced infrastructure and higher population, leading to more demand for basic necessities. Such cities also charge exorbitant prices for utilities and houses and because of this, there is almost no disposable income for people living in these cities. This especially impacts low-income households, since they have to spend a larger part of their budget on non-discretionary items like food or petrol. Hence, high costs of living is a disadvantage of living in a city centre.

https://youtu.be/pm1x9SaxPcM

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Living in NEW YORK CITY - What is it REALLY like?!

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1)Authentic
2)savour
3)delicacy
4)Aromatic
5)potluck
6)Delectable
7)minefield of flavors exploding on my tongue
8)feasting
9)traditional
10)cultural exchange through food
11)the streets were alive with music and dancing
12)the atmosphere was electric with exite and joy
13)ubiquitous
14)jubilant
15)revelry

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One country that I would like to visit is South Korea. I would like to visit the country because of the food. One of my favorite food is Ginseng Chicken Soup. In Seoul, it has this famous restaurant called ‘ Tosokchon Samgyetang ’ and it is well known for its best Ginseng Chicken Soup. The restaurant is located near Gyeongbokgung Palace, which has been serving the delicious signature dish for over 30 years. Hence, I would like to travel to South Korea to have a taste of it. Another food that I would like to try is the raw marinated crab as it is quite famous recently on the internet which made me want to try it too. It is my desire to drop by Seoul best restaurant for marinated raw crab. It is called ‘ Gebangsikdang ’ and its a Michelin restaurant inherited by a son and together with his parents.

Another common reason why people would like to usually travel is because of the shopping in Korea. Korea is the best place to shop as it has places like Myeongdong and plus its exchange rate is actually cheaper than Singapore. Myeongdong is a place where it has many international brands and trendy clothes which attracts many youngsters. It is also a comfortable place to shop as it has aesthetic cafe for people to relax and be able to take Instagram photos over there. Hence, the one country that I would like to visit is South Korea.

https://youtu.be/QvyzEyleLdc

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seoul series: ep 1 | Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gwangjang Market & MORE ! | KOREA VLOG

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15 Vocabulary words / phrases

1. Scenic

2. Numerous

3. Venture

4. Emblazoned in the hearts

5. Expenditure

6. Mountainous

7. Geographical splendours

8. Accommodations

9. Constructive

10. Enlightening

11. Traditional

12. Picturesque

13. Sight seeing

14. Highlight

15. Magnificent

16. Heritage

17. Breathtaking

18. Waterfront

19. En route

20. Beauty Spot

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VOCAB WORDS
1) non academic
2) challenges
3) Team Bonding
4) Discover your strength
5) Encourage students from different background to work together
6) Competitive environment
7) prepares students for the future
8) Leadership skills
9) Overcome challengers
10) Promote healthy lifestyle
11) Develop skills for the future
12) Promote healthy eating
13) Managing time between studies and sport
14) Active lifestyle
15) Controlling emotions

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Hanan, Rusyaidi, Amrullah                                         Do you enjoy being around animals? Why, or why not? (2018)

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Hanan, Rusyaidi, Amrullah                                         Do you enjoy being around animals? Why, or why not? (2018)

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Point: We enjoy being around animals due to the companionship they offer.

Explanation: Animals that people usually keep as pets such as dogs and cats can be very affectionate and we enjoy them being by our side as companions. Furthermore, companionship helps people to escape from loneliness, depression, isolation and it also reduces anxiety. A person with a pet is less likely to feel lonely, or have terrible anxiety because pets give unconditional love.

Evidence: For instance, observing my cat such that I am aware of its little idiosyncrasies makes me feel pride as an owner. I have cats as pets that are curious about everything that is happening around the house. There are times when my cat would look outside the window as there were loud noises coming from construction nearby. My cat would stay vigilant as it worries of the danger outside. This makes me feel comforted as it makes me think that my cat is trying its best to protect us.

Link: Hence, the companionship that animals can offer is invaluable as it brings much joy to our lives.

https://petcube.com/blog/14-reasons-to-love-your-pets-even-more/

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Petfeed - Pet Care Tips, How-to Guides, Funny Stories, Comics, and Videos

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Pets are forever friends with infinite benefits. You may not realize it, but your pet is always there for you. It's time to recognize your pet's dedication. Time to reward him or her for the hard work and cuddles. As we celebrate National Pet Day, we bring you 14 reasons to love your pet.

1. Pets make you happy.

Living with pets will make you a happier human being. The more time you spend with your pet, the happier you become. They bring more meaning to your life. Who doesn't love that?

2. They keep you active.

Many pets love to run, walk and wander. That's why having pets around will keep you active. Dog owners, for example, walk 79% more every day.

3. And keep you healthy, too.

Because having pets encourages you to be constantly active, you'll enjoy the health benefits. Your constant companions can help lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels.

4. They make you smarter.

Raising pets isn't a walk in the park. You'll learn a lot along the way. You'll become wiser because of your experiences.

5. Pets bring out the best in you.

You feel good when someone needs you. You feel more responsible, mature, and loving. Simply put, pets bring out the best in you.

6. And help you develop emotional intelligence.

Studies show that people who raise pets have a deeper sense of empathy. Taking care of your fur babies will deepen your emotional intelligence. Ever wonder why you can easily tell when something is wrong with your pet? That's EQ.

7. Pets boost your confidence.

Want to feel more confident? Then raise a pet. According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, pet parents have higher levels of self-esteem and sense of belonging.

8. So you gain more friends.

Self-confidence and a more meaningful existence result in more social connections. No wonder strangers love to connect with you when you're out with your pet. Yup, pets help you attract more friends.

9. Pets help you get through tough times.

Animals can sympathize and empathize. They offer emotional support. That's why people recover faster from stressful, often traumatic experiences when pets are around.

10. They make you calmer.

Another benefit is reduced anxiety. The simple act of stroking your pet sends signals to your brain to produce more oxytocin and serotonin - hormones that cause you to feel more relaxed.

11. And help relieve stress.

And because you're more relaxed and peaceful, your body produces lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Showing affection towards your pet also boosts dopamine, also known as the happy hormone.

12. They bring order to your life.

Nurturing pets can be tough work. You need to be disciplined and determined. Establishing habits - daily walks, eating routines, and vet appointments can be taxing. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be more organized and productive.

13. And help you build better, healthier relationships.

Rough seas make skillful sailors. Similarly, when you raise a pet, you learn how to nurture healthier relationships with family and friends.

14. Pets will never leave you. So, Happy National Pet Day!

Nobody wants to be alone. Pets offer companionship-they'll stay with you until the end. That's why pet owners are less likely to suffer depression and mental problems linked to loneliness.

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Reasons to Love Your 14 Pets Reasons to Love Your Pets Even More

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Pets are forever friends with infinite benefits. You may not realize it, but your pet is always there for you. It's time to recognize your pet's dedication. Time to reward him or her for the hard work and cuddles. As we celebrate National Pet Day, we bring you 14 reasons to love your pet.

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vocab words:
- character development/ cultivating one's character
- Give an avenue to multiple voices
- stage-fright
- unique performance
- expressive
- role-playing
-evoke emotions
-art is a medium for expression
-art gives us the voice to express ourselves
-art inspires

Some people think that anyone can be a successful performer. What is your opinion?(2018)

Personally, I feel that not everyone can be a successful performer. This is because there are many attributes that a successful performer requires, like self-confidence, the ability to learn quickly and be disciplined.

First, a performer needs to have confidence to perform in front of others. In my opinion, this is a attitude which is hard to cultivate given that most of us are worried about how others perceive us. Nonetheless, having confidence is essential so that a performer will not feel so nervous on stage. It is only by being confident can a performer truly perform to the best of his abilities. There is a saying that success breeds success. Confident performers are more likely to achieve success and this will empower them to keep practicing as they continually want to see the fruits of their success. Sadly though, such an attribute is difficult to cultivate, which explains why there are so many modules, courses and motivational talks that claim that they can help one overcome stage fright. Given this hurdle, it is thus not the case that everyone can be a performer.

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15 vocab

1. Genial - someone who is kind and friendly

2. Invigorate - someone who give strength or energy to someone

3. Chaperone - a person who accompanies / look after someone

4. Prominence - state of being important

5. Docent - teacher / instructor

6. Mentor

7. Guru - influential teacher

8. Indoctrinate - teach / educate someone

9. Didactic - intend to teach ( teacher is a very didactic person )

10. Put on their thinking cap ( teacher put on their thinking cap to make the lessons interesting - challenge )

11. To racked / racking one’s brain - think long and hard about something

12. Inquisitive

13. Heterogeneous

14. Tangible difference

15. Student-centered

[What is the question?]

Would you consider training to be a teacher? Why, or why not?

Point : I would consider training to be a teacher in the future

Explanation : This is because teachers are able to positively influence students from a young age and cultivate important values within the future generation. These moral values will then help students in most of their future endeavours. Unlike other jobs, being a teacher allows us to learn new things along the way too. Sometimes students can be inquisitive, often asking questions that teachers have never thought of. Through all these questions, teachers will also get to process and learn throughout their career. Teachers are also very inspiring and noble individuals who really put in the effort to help every student they meet.

Example : All teachers in my school are teachers who are genial, who care and are kind towards me. Teachers are also the people that I am most grateful for as they teach us their knowledge and our future is brighter because of them. Like the video below, I feel like I have also gone through this before. When I just came to Singapore when I was in primary school, I did not know how to speak in English. My teacher used her break time to help me out and teach me patiently. Even after many years passed by, thinking back about this I am still so thankful that my teacher did not give up on me but instead helped me out. Due to her effort, I was able to improve my English and make more friends, enlarging my social circle. Now that I am in secondary school, I am still amazed by how teachers racked their brains and think of how to bring a heterogeneous class into a class that is full of laughter and everyone helping each other.

Link : Therefore, I would consider training to be a teacher as teachers make a tangible difference in shaping the lives of young people, inspiring and mentoring them to become the best they can be. Unlike other jobs, teachers get the most job satisfaction after seeing the impacts that they have made on the students themselves. In the modern world, many jobs are slowly being replaced by AI while teachers are less likely to be replaced as high-quality teachers create a classroom culture that motivates students and leads them on the path of success.

Resource :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UtCgZZeUeI [ Because of a Teacher ( A Tribute to All of Those Making a Difference ) ]

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Would you like to do part time work or take part in a work attachment programme while studying?

Point: I would not like to do any part time work or take part in a work attachment programme while studying because it would distract me from my studies.

Explanation: Taking part in such a programme might prevent me from being able to focus as it would dimmish the time that I could use for revision or completion of homework.

Evidence:  I remember a friend that used to be a straight A student who took up a part time job. He got so consumed in fulfilling the responsibilities of the job that he neglected his studies. This caused him to do badly for the end-of-year examinations and he was not able to take the subject combination that he wanted.

Link: Thus, I would not like to do any part time job or take part in any work attachment programme while studying as I am afraid that I will follow in his footsteps.

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Tell me about a co-curricular activity that you do at school, or that would like to do. (2019)

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Tell me about a co-curricular activity that you do at school, or that would like to do. (2019)

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Introduction Para: My current Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) is the Outdoor Adventure Club also known as ODAC.  I enjoy the CCA because of the multifaceted activities we do in ODAC ranging from outdoor cooking to ropework to camping. [Point 1] We switch and vary the activities every week so that we will get to learn different values and life skills. [Point 2] Being able to do these activities with a tightly-knitted bunch of friends is also what makes ODAC so special.

[Point] The ODAC activities enable us to learn important values important to our lives.
[Evidence] For instance, in our recent camp, it was the first time we slept overnight away from home. We went to Pulau Ubin for orienteering and it really tested our patience and resilience as not only did we get lost a few times, we also had to walk through tons of puddles of muddy water.
[Explanation] It is through activities such as the one I mentioned which causes us to take on unexpected and unfamiliar challenges. This causes us to have to step out of our comfort zone.
[Link] Thus, ODAC is a CCA that really enables me to learn and demonstrate values that will guide me through life.

Conclusion: Overall I really like my CCA as not only do I get to experience a range of activities, I also get to do these activities with the friends I made in ODAC.

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What are the disadvantages of climate change?

Point: Firstly, I believe that climate change has had a devastating impact on the world. One consequence of climate change would be that innocent animal's lives are taken every day even when they are not at fault.

Explanation of Point: This is because greenhouse gas emissions are rising increasingly causing the animals to lose their habitats left and right. This should not be surprising given that habitats such as forests are burning, and ice glaciers are melting.

Example: A striking example is the Amazon forest, according to statistics,  more than 200,000 acres of trees are burnt down every day and around 78 million acres lost every year. Furthermore, the rainforest is now emitting more carbon dioxide that is removing in the atmosphere causing the air and rivers to be polluted. This causes numerous species of animals to lose their habitats, and thus their means of living.

Link: Henceforth, climate change has lots of disadvantages like deforestation and the rising emission of greenhouse gasses. This invariably hurts the animal populations living on our planet.

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vocabulary words [edited]:
1. the elderly needs to live with dignity
2. improve social integration

3. improve interpersonal relations
4. community initiatives
5.community perceive and treat elderly with care
6. increase social gathering
7. improve neigbourhood culture
8. diverse society
9. strengthening the bond
10. people being collaborative
11. being appreciative to each other
12. be empathetic to each other
13. elderly being frail and helpless
14. help each other social and economically
15. friendly relationships

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AFIQ (Tell me about a memorable journey you have experienced?)

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AFIQ (Tell me about a memorable journey you have experienced?)

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(a)
1 Scenery
2 taking a break from urban life
3 panorama
4 exhilarated
5 diverse
6 elegant
7 Breathtaking
8 masterpiece
9 venomous
10 flora
11 fauna
12 humongous
13 fatigue
14 depart
15 fell into a deep slumber

One memorable journey I experienced was when I visited the Komodo National Park in Indonesia. This is because I wanted to take a break from urban life and discover various species of flora and fauna on the island. My wish came true almost immediately when I embarked on my journey. On my way to the island, I encountered a humongous lizard casually swimming elegantly to the Island's white sandy beach. It was the native Komodo Dragon and I was astounded by its size and beauty. Later, when I arrived at the jetty, the tour guide told us to stay close to him for safety reasons as these native creatures were wild and carnivorous and would not fail to attack if they felt their safety was jeopardized. On the island, we went on a hike to the top of the Regata Hill and took photos of the panoramic surroundings. After what felt like hours, we arrived feeling fatigued, nonetheless the scenery was breathtaking and it was really nature's masterpiece. After a long journey there, I went back to my accommodation feeling so fatigue that I fell into a deep slumber.

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Describe some of the ways in which people can be good neighbours to each other. (2019) [edited version]

Point: Firstly, we can be a good neighbour to others by listening to them. By lending a listening ear to your neighbours, we can promote social integration.

Explanation: This is because we all come from different social backgrounds and hence, it is likely that we have different perspectives on certain issues that can be contentious. Thus, being able to listen actively and empathise will definitely promote understanding.

Evidence: For instance, two weeks ago, one of my neighbours had a fight with my parents. After that, they did not even communicate with each other for a week. Unable to stand the cold war, I told my parents that their attitude will only cause everyone to be unhappy and suggested that we should listen to the neighbours' opinion and try to be empathetic about their point of view. After that, my parents bought a gift for my neighbours, listened to their point of view, apologized to them and after practicing active listening, they were also able to suggest to them constructive solutions to resolve the conflict.  In the end, my neighbours forgave my parents and since then we were able to live harmoniously. [Do note that being more precise about what happened: what happened that caused the conflict? etc would make this response more interesting]

Link: Hence, misunderstanding between neighbours and not solving the conflict is not the way forward. Instead, we should lend a listening ear to each other and solve any difficulties together.

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How do you think the elderly in the video feel when students visit them during VIA sessions?

Point: Firstly, some might feel disquiet as they might not be interested in socialising with people they do not know.

Evidence: An example would be the time in Primary Six when I went to visit a hospice for a VIA session. I visited the hospice to entertain and socialise with the elderly. During my visit, I learnt a lot about the elderly and how most of them were forced into the hospice due to their illness. The elderly felt a sense of disquiet as we performed to modern pop songs that were unfamiliar to them and encouraged them to dance along despite the fact that some of them were frail.

Explanation: Hence, especially in the scenario when students are unable to empathise with their beneficiaries and identify their needs, (link) this often leads to the situation when beneficiaries feel a sense of disquiet.

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1. Alzheimer
2. Pensioned
3. Decrepit
4. Geriatric
5. Senior
6. Octogenarian
7. Dotage
8. Aged
9. Senescent
10. Retired
11. Anile
12. Depression
13. Aging
14. Advanced in years
15. Old timers

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c) Do you agree that a young person should always give up their seat on a bus or train to an older person? Why, or why not? (2015)

I agree young people should always give up their seats on buses or trains to the elderly when needed. This is because the elderly are typically not able to stand for long hours. Moreover, when buses and trains travel at fast speeds, there is also the likelihood that the elderly might take a stumble and hurt themselves. I personally would give up my seat because something similar happened to my grandfather which I hope will not happen to others. My grandfather recounted this incident to us that he was on a bus and he could not find a seat. As he was tired, he tried approaching some commuters. Nonetheless, they ignored him. Some even pretended to doze of. Embarrassed and afraid of being rejected once more, my grandfather tried to endure the journey; however, when the bus came to an abrupt stop, he fell and hurt his ankle. When I heard the story, I was upset that there were such inconsiderate Singaporeans. Hence, I fervently believe that young person should really give up their seats for the old people in buses and trains.

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1)connecting new towns
2)linking commuters
3)implementing measures
4)transport infrastructure
5)unexpected growth
6)disruptions
7)reflective vest
8)used to the optimum
9)congested street
10)decreased productivity
11)implements firm measures
12)innocent pedestrians
13)human errors
14)separate lanes
15)northern perimeter

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1)Provide educational opportunities
2)Good habits start at home
3)play a crucial role in your child’s social

development
4)during early adolescence
5)foster stronger bonds
6)parenting workshops
7)devote their attention
8)constant rapport and interaction
9)memorable times
10) enhance quality time
11) Treasured moments/ memories
12) strong/ deep connection/ties
13) mere acquaintances
14) a reliable/trustworthy friend
15) A friend in need is a friend indeed
16) Birds of a feather flock together

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What sort of activities do you and your family members enjoy doing together?

Point: My family and I enjoy playing board games together on a Sunday night. It is a tradition for us to get to know one another better as we hardly have the time to interact with one another because of our hectic lives.

Explanation: In today's hectic world, playing board games with our family is a simple but powerful way for us to get to know each other better. Increasing familial solidarity is paramount to ensure that a family stays together, and hence playing boardgames is one of the ways in which we endeavour to achieve this.  While playing board games seem to be something insignificant, nonetheless the time spent playing provides us with the valuable opportunity to talk and get to know one another better. Furthermore, games such as "Uno" triggers the competitive streak in some of my family members and this always creates a lot of laughter and teasing.

Link: In conclusion,  I would consider board games as it an invaluable activity that enables us to foster stronger bonds.

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What colour do you think of when you think of this emotion?
When I feel anger, I think of the colour red, a piercing red that requires me to pay attention to it, a ferocious red that will not take no for an answer.
What do you do when this emotion overcomes you? What happens when this emotion overcomes you?
When this emotion overcomes me, it is as though everything else shuts down, logic, rational thought. The world just turns red. That is all that I can see and that is all that I can feel. It reminds me of movies where an evacuation exercise takes place and the whole room is red, and there is panic , and my body just wants to move and do something to get rid of the anger within me.
If you had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, what would it be and why?
If I had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, I would compare it to a ticking bomb. The ticking of the bomb goes tick tock tick tock, constantly warning me that something is going to happen, and when I explode the people around me will get hurt because when it happens, I just want to hurt others.  I want to push buttons because I know that it will hurt them, especially the person or thing who caused me to fell this way.
What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?
I feel anger when I feel that things are unfair because in life, I always strive to be fair to others, to think of others’ perspective, so why can’t they think of mine?
When you feel this emotion, how do the people around you respond?
When I feel this way, the people around me avoid me, because like a dynamite, the force in which I explode is immense and people don’t expect it.

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Nico, Yusrina, Juliana, Kai Yuan, Li Hong

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Nico, Yusrina, Juliana, Kai Yuan, Li Hong

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What colour do you think of when you think of this emotion?

When I think of sadness, I think of the colour black. Black is the colour of darkness and also symbolizes emptiness. When I am sad or feeling miserable, I would just want to go to a pitch dark place where I can disappear and no longer exist. I just want to be left alone where I can cry my heart out and mourn for my loss.

What do you do when this emotion overcomes you?  What happens when this emotion overcomes you?

When this emotion overcomes me, I try my best to let it all out. For example, I would cry myself to sleep, however after awhile, I will start to feel that I am being indulgent with my feelings, as I am only caring only myself and neglecting how my sadness is affecting others.

I also write out whatever triggered the explosion of this emotion in a journal as it helps me calm myself down.

If you had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, what would it be and why?

Instead of comparing it to an object or animal, I would compare it to a place. A cemetery. A cemetery is a place where people would shed tears of sadness when visiting a loved one who has passed away or when burying a loved one. A cemetery is where funerals are often held and is the saddest place on earth to me.

I would compare sadness to a slaughter house where you know that doom is impending but there is no way to prevent this voice of sadness from overwhelming you.

What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?

If someone dear to me had passed away I am sure I would feel sad. I would think to myself, why was this person taken away from me? What did I do to deserve this torture? The feeling of having someone who I was attached to taken away hurts so much that it will feel like a thousand knives piercing my heart.

When you feel this emotion, how would people around you respond?

Whenever I breakdown, people around me tend to worry a lot or avoid me. This is because they are worried that I may do something I should not or, they avoid me because they do not know how to calm me down and they are worried that the things they say might make things worse.

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"What colour do you think when u think of this emotion?"

When disappointment engulfs me, my mind will associate disappointment to the colour blue. It it a blue wave of emotions that eats me up slowly from the inside. It is a dark shade of blue that scares you and swallows u whole.

"What do you do when this emotion overcomes you? what happens when this emotion overcomes you"

When this emotion overcomes me, my mind shuts down and turns all thoughts into negativity. Times like this, I would often blame myself and beat myself over it, I would want to lie in bed and cry it all out. It feels like an expectation in you is being unmet, like someone bringing your hopes high and smashing it right down onto concrete. Despite you knowing that not everything in the world can go our way, u cannot help but feel disappointed. Upon receiving that piece of news, suddenly everything in your presence freezes, time seem to slow down. You can clearly hear your heart beat slow down from the excitement turned to disappointment of the news.

"If you had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, what would it be and why?"

If I had to compare this emotion to a object or animal, I would compare it to a child who discovers that Santa isn't real. The awful feeling knowing that what u believed in is not true, your heart drops, realising its another fairy tale.

"What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?"

When I feel this way, people around me comforts me for trying my best despite not heing enough and not meeting others or my own expectations of something. People hug me and try to cheer me up.

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1) What colour do you think of when you think of this emotion?

When I feel overjoyed, the first colour that comes into my mind is yellow. Yellow is the colour of a sun that shines warm and bright. It makes me feel joyful because the sun is a symbol of nourishment. It gives warmth and nourishes life on earth.

2) What do you feel like doing when this emotion overcomes you?

When happiness overcomes me, I am over the moon and i would also like to spread the happiness to the people around me. I would like to infect others with positivity. Moreover, I like to indulge in the moment by vibing to my favourite music playlist, dancing to the beat, and just not doing anything else.

3) If you would to compare this emotion with an object or an animal, what would it be and why?

I would compare it with a flower instead. A sunflower. It is a flower that symbolic of happiness. The sunflower is the perfect gift to brighten up someone’s day. It will bloom beautifully when there is enough sunlight and water given. It reminds me of how people can bloom like flowers when their self-esteem is given enough nourishment.

4) What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?

Getting a good result in my Math exam that I have worked on for the past 9 months is one of the scenarios that makes feel jubilant. This feeling gives me a sense of accomplishment after cultivating/nurturing a growth mindset and working hard for the result that I wanted to achieve.

5) When you feel this emotion, how do the people around you respond?

When I feel happy, some people generally may react positively and be infected by my excitement. They will smile, laugh, and congratulate me. Some may also ask me to share the reason for my happiness. However, the exact response will depend on the individuals and the context.

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1. What colour do you think when you think of this emotion?

When I feel excited, I would have a lot of energy and it reminds me of the colour yellow. The colour represents happiness and it gives me a feeling of adrenaline rush with its bright and cheerful colour. Furthermore, the colour yellow draws attention. It is similar to how someone who is overly excited might draw unwanted attention incidentally due to her behaviour.

2. What do you do when this emotion overcomes you? What happens when this emotion overcomes you?

I would overreact to things that happen around me whether it is good or bad. On top of that, I would also talk about something endlessly when in a conversation and interrupt someone else who was talking. This is because excitement is bubbling within me and I just cannot control it. I believe it is like champagne in a bottle that is eager to pop.

3. If you had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, what would it be and why?

If I were to compare this emotion to an object or animal, it would be a monkey. They are fascinating to watch when they are around us and they usually move very quick. Moreover, while there are some monkeys that would be quiet and mind their own business, there are also some that are noisy and would engage us that would make me think they are excited.

4. What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?

When I can finally go overseas again after a long period of time due to pandemic. After all, I have missed a good and long vacation. Undoubtedly, being in another country means that there are all sorts of things to explore and experience for the first time and that would get me excited.

5. When you feel this emotion, how do the people around you respond?

The people around me would feel positive, negative or neutral about it depending on my reason for being excited as it would affect them directly or indirectly. For example, I managed to get my dream job and close ones like my family and friends would congratulate me. However, other people that were fighting for the same job would have a sense of jealousy.

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1. When I think of determination, I think of an orange-red colour. It is like the spark to a bright flame that would fuel a surge of motivation to achieve a goal. In life, there is no difficulty which we cannot overcome when we are really determined. Yet many of us suffer small setbacks or fail terribly because our determination was not strong enough to enable us to reach our goals. Determination is very important because it enables us to persist in the face of difficulties. When you are determined, everything around you would seem smaller than they were before and you are imbued with the confidence that you can achieve what you want. Hence, this is the reason why many have said that determination is the key to success. Although people might think that resilience and determination are the same things, they are in fact different. Resilience is what keeps us from giving up from the obstacles while determination is what keeps us on track.

2. When this emotion overcomes me, I would feel motivated to try to achieve and focus on whatever I have on hand. I would repeatedly tell myself that if I try hard enough, I would be able to finish what I am doing and this would lead to me feeling proud and relieved that I was actually able to accomplish it.

3. if I had to compare this object or animal, determination would be like a tiger. Also known as “the king of beasts,” the tiger is well-known for its ferocity and anger. The Chinese labels the tiger as a symbol of strength, courage and determination.

4. I definitely feel determined during the exam period. The feeling of needing to do better than everyone else is what fuels a lot of people to strive and do better; this also makes them work harder to achieve it.

5. when i feel this way, the people around me would support me and encourage me to continue that determination. Some would also feel determined to achieve what they want.

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1. What color do you think when you think of this emotion?

When I am bored, the color white appears in my mind as I picture myself lying down staring at my white ceiling without lifting a finger. Also, my mind is a blank, just a white canvas that has no end.

2. What do you do when this emotion overcomes you?

When boredom overcomes me, everything shuts down and it makes me feel sleepy as there are no activities to do but sleep. Rather than just sleeping, something else I could do is idly stare at the sky or ceiling for a long time.

3.  If you had to compare this emotion to an object or animal, what would it be and why?

If I had to compare boredom to an object I would compare it to a blank piece of white paper as it represents the state of mind when I feel bored. My brain wiped off all ideas as if it were a clean slate.

4."What are some scenarios that cause you to feel this way and why?"

When we are given work in class it makes me feel immensely bored as doing work is not my ideal choice of entertainment but I have no choice but to push myself and do it.

5) When you feel this emotion, how do the people around you respond?

When boredom engulfs me, my close friends would invite me to play video or board games so that I would feel rejuvenated again.

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When i feel anxiety, i think of the colour purple/black because it reminds me of a character in the movie Inside Out. the character is a skinny lanky man who is scared and anxious.

When anxiety overcomes me, i would want to cry and be left alone.

If i had to compare anxiety to an object or animal, i would compare it to a sloth as a sloth is very careful with its movement and moves slowly so as to not make mistakes.

I feel anxiety when i am backstage, having to talk to a huge audience, if there is a slip up it would be very embarrassing.

When i feel anxiety, people around me could respond positively and negatively, they may laugh and point at me, they may console me and tell me everything would be alright.

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1) When I think of fear, I think of darker colours like purple, dark blue or black. The darker colours which make me feel a chill go down my spine. It makes me feel a sense of uncertainty, horror and terror. The emotion of fear can sometimes make me feel insane and scared.
2) Whenever I succumb to fear, I feel like digging a hole. When I am shrouded in fear and darkness, I feel helpless as I don't think that I can do anything about. I feel like running away from whatever caused that fear and to escape so as to not face it again. If fear ever overcomes me, I will cower in fear and shut down and start to think irrationally.
3) If fear was an animal, I would compare it to a deer. They tend to be wary of anything and everything. They are constantly worried that they will be preyed upon and have to staying vigilant of unprecedented danger. They also always tend to be hyper vigilant which causes them to run away from everything.
4) Anything that worries or scares me causes me fear. Moreover, fear assaults me when I am unable to live up to the expectations of others. It makes me question what I did wrong and what I could have done to not make myself feel this way.
5) When I feel this way, the people around would think I am helpless or weak. I don't really want them to think this way, but I can't bring myself to get out of that state. Constantly being shrouded in fear can really cause mishaps or problems which may escalate my fears.

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When you talk to seniors and the elderly, you'll discover that many of them share a similar perspective. 87% of them want to stay in their own home for the rest of their life. Being able to age in place is one of the fastest-growing trends for the senior living industry. There are multiple benefits to consider: comfort, security, proximity to family, and independence all rate high in importance for those who are aging.

Yet that is only one element to the aging process. It is something that we all go through as we take on the journey that is life. We face bodies that don't work the same way, aches and pains that are new, and the advancing threats of disease that seek to ruin our good health.

These are some of the biggest pros and cons of aging - though to be fair, every person has a unique perspective on this subject, so think of this information as more of a guideline.

List of the Pros of Aging

1. Seniors are one of the happiest demographics of people in the world today.
Multiple studies and surveys show that seniors are one of the happiest groups of people in the world today. Compared to the middle-aged demographics, they are significantly happier with their circumstances. Part of the reason for this perspective is that they've had more time to develop their coping mechanisms. Finances can play a role in this perspective as well. As we age, there is also more time to become comfortable with who we are.

2. There's nothing like the joy of having grandchildren.
Gore Vidal once offered this observation about aging: "Never have children - only grandchildren." When the little ones are around, you get to enjoy all the benefits of children without the sleepless nights, the diaper changes, and the extra homework. The love of a grandchild is pure, which creates a closeness that is indescribable. Children benefit from this relationship as well, as kids develop socially and emotionally at their best when 4 to 6 adult family figures are available to them.

3. You have more time to spend with loved ones.
Aging begins to slowly push you out of the working world if that's what you want. A retirement by itself isn't a relaxing experience. It is what you choose to do when you stop working for an employer that helps you make life "start at 60." One of the best components of a retirement is that you have additional time to spend with the people you love. Leisurely lunches with friends, overnights with the grandkids, or that trip overseas you've always wanted to take can make aging joyous.

4. Seniors still have an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
As we age, many of us put off our own dreams to care for our families. We focus on making sure that the power stays on, food gets put on the table, and having our children find success in their endeavors. It's never too late to become the person you've always wanted to be. You can still learn a new language, write a book, take a trip, or take up a new hobby, like painting. Some seniors even turn their passions from this discovery process into a second lucrative career later in life.

5. There are more opportunities to start volunteering.
As people age, they tend to see life with a broader perspective. Instead of focusing their energy on drama and conflict, they look toward the creation of a better society. Seniors often want to create a better world for their grandchildren to enjoy. People above the age of 65 vote more than any other age demographic. They volunteer at one of the highest rates, especially in the United States. These are all options that can help you be active and form new relationships.

6. Wisdom comes from the aging process.
If you ask people in their 20s or 30s about how they perceive losing, you'll find that a majority of people hate it. As we age, the wisdom of experience creates new perspectives. Older people look at the entire experience of life instead of focusing on a specific event which inspires regret. We gain more control over our emotions as we age as well, which typically deepens the relationships formed with a significant other. Aging offers better social skills, a higher emotional intelligence, and thinking of multiple resolutions to problems to create a compromise.

7. There is the potential of a guaranteed income as a senior.
In the United States, there are several safety-net programs in place to help seniors at all socioeconomic levels. Social Security checks, Medicare, and Medicaid all offer seniors guarantees of health insurance and income. There is no longer a need to have children support aging parents. Even seniors who didn't save anything for their retirement can still be comfortable in their homes because of programs like these. Similar arrangements are often found in the other developed countries of the world too.

8. Let's not forget about the senior discounts which are available.
It always feels good to get something you need at a lower price than what others receive. Discounts which are offered to seniors are designed to help you save money when you might have a limited, fixed income. They're also a way for seniors to stay active and engaged with services that meet their exact needs. From medication to transportation and everything in-between, there are numerous providers offering discounts in every community right now.

9. You feel a sense of accomplishment.
As the aging process continues, you can look back upon your life and feel the pride which comes when you accomplish great things. Our greatest feats in life come from the ordinary. Calming a child when they cry, preserving your marriage, serving in the military, telling a joke that made someone smile - these are the moments we treasure.

List of the Cons of Aging

1. Senior care comes at a higher cost.
As we get older, the cost for our healthcare needs steadily rises. If you find yourself needing a nursing home or an assisted living facility, the costs involved could be as much as the average person in the United States makes in a year. Private facilities are even more expense. Without insurance or Medicare, a private room at a nursing home could cost almost $100,000 per year. Even an assisted living facility charges an average of $43,000 annually. Even with long-term care insurance, some families can't afford that price.

2. There is always a safety concern for seniors.
Even seniors who are in fantastic shape have a higher risk of experience specific health conditions. You're more likely to break bones as you get older as calcium becomes harder to absorb. Eyesight quality decreases, which can make it difficult to drive places or maintain your independence. It may become difficult to walk. At some point, almost everyone needs some extra in-home care to maintain their lifestyle as they grow older.

3. It becomes difficult to maintain your property.
As you get older, you'll find that your daily living activities take longer to complete. Items that are on your to-do list that were once simple fixes become elaborate chores. Trying to find a contractor to help you take care of the lawn, clean your home, or even change your light bulbs can become a major headache quickly. There are the costs of hiring helpers to consider as well. That's why many seniors rely on the help of their family to ensure that they can stay in their homes as long as possible.

4. Aging brings about an increase in loneliness.
Seniors must make a proactive effort to maintain their social connections. Even when Facebook and other online conversations, texting and video calls are not the same as a face-to-face conversation. There are many health problems associated with loneliness too, which makes the sadness of being alone more profound. If you only have a few trusted friends now, then you're at a greater risk of experiencing this issue as you get older.

5. It is more difficult to get around as you get older.
If your health declines to the point that you are no longer authorized to drive, then you're forced to rely on public transportation, family, or friends to help you get around. Trouble with your legs could make portions of your home inaccessible to you without costly mobility upgrades. Even simple tasks, like getting into the bathtub, become dangerous chores as you get older. You could hurt yourself reaching for a plate in an upper cabinet. That's why aging requires you to take a different look at life's perspectives.

With the biggest pros and cons of aging under consideration, one must balance the wisdom and experience that time provides us with an increased risk of suffering from various health issues. There are challenges to mobility that must be considered, especially when looking at a person's social needs. When balanced appropriately, aging can be a wonderful experience. That balance is achieved when efforts are made in our youth to plan for such a future.

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

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When you talk to seniors and the elderly, you'll discover that many of them share a similar perspective. 87% of them want to stay in their own home for the rest of their life. Being able to age in place is one of the fastest-growing trends for the senior living industry.

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SINGAPORE - Do you spend enough time with your family?

A recent survey by the Families for Life Council found out that one in 10 people here spent six hours or less each week with his or her immediate family. That works out to less than an hour each day.

The survey was conducted from January to March this year, and had more than 700 respondents. Survey methodology includes door-to-door, online and focus group discussions, the council said.

About half of the respondents spent more than 36 hours per week with their immediate family.

When it comes to their extended families, respondents said they spent even less time together. Half of the respondents spent two hours or less each week with their extended families, and only 3 per cent spent more than 36 hours a week with extended families.

The biggest barrier to families spending time together is - you guessed it - work.

Even though family, health, and financial stability - in that order - are the key priorities in life for Singaporeans, work is getting in the way of quality family time, respondents said.

Half of the respondents who felt that they were not spending enough time with their families said that their long working hours keep them away from their family; 34 per cent said other members in the family worked long hours.

So what is the most popular thing that families do when they get together? To eat, of course.

Having family meals together is at the top of the list of most popular activities. Celebrating family occasions and having heart-to-heart talks are in second and third spots respectively, followed by family vacations.

Respondents were generally happy with the state of their relationships with their family members. Nearly all of them felt that they have a good relationship with their children, that their family support each other readily, and think they have a strong emotional connection to their family.

About nine in 10 people felt that they spend enough quality time with their family.
See also: Working more than 3 days a week is hurting your brain: Research
sinsh@sph.com.sg

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1 in 10 spends 6 hours or less a week with family

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SINGAPORE - Do you spend enough time with your family? A recent survey by the Families for Life Council found out that one in 10 people here spent six hours or less each week with his or her immediate family. That works out to less than an hour each day.

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Parents in S’pore too busy to bond with kids because of Covid-19: Survey

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Seventy per cent of parents with children aged five to eight say they are too busy to enjoy quality time with the kids. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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The physical and mental benefits of exercise are immense, but did you know that you can leverage these benefits more by exercising outside rather than indoors?

Well, experts unanimously agree that outdoor activities exponentially boost your mental health, which makes your physical exercise even more fruitful. And because outdoor or green exercise is in most cases offered to you free by Mother Nature, you are able to save a lot compared to working out in the gym. Saving money is among the life accomplishments that enhance your mood and alleviates stress.

With that in mind, let's focus on 9 of the most notable health benefits of taking outdoor activities.

9 Health Benefits of Outdoor Activities

As we mentioned, your mental wellbeing greatly improves when you exercise outdoors. One of the reasons for this is the awareness that your mind has throughout the exercise, particularly in regard to the changing terrain and weather.

Unlike in the gym where the floors are flat and benches evenly positioned, the terrain outdoor includes winding paths, hills, woods, and valleys. You are forced to be focused and alert at all times and that alone benefits your mental health.

Your bones and blood cells need a lot of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D for them to be healthy. Working out under the sunlight helps your body to absorb these minerals seamlessly. Also, getting 5-15 minutes of sun at least once in every two days gives your body all the Vitamin D it needs.

Your self-esteem increases exponentially when you spend time with friends doing different outdoor activities. This effect is particularly strong when you spend time near water, green areas, and within sounds of nature such as waterfalls.

Walking along nature trails, fishing, and gardening, among other moderate-intensity physical activities, are important for your esteem as well. Playing with paintball guns or laser guns is another worthy activity as it gives you a renewed sense of accomplishment, which is a major confidence boost.

Nature walks have shown a significant relevance in memory retention among humans. Walking around trees, for example, promotes your memory by more than 20%.

Cortisol - The hormone that indicates the level of stress in humans- reduces greatly when you spend time in the forest, say, watching birds and taking part in low-intensity outdoor activities. in the woods, for example, is a far much better activity than spending time in the city, especially for people who suffer from anxiety.

It has also been scientifically proven that people who spend more time in the wild have a better heart rate than those who spend hours sitting in front of screens or in city traffic.

As we have mentioned above, something about outside calming down an anxious mind. You will attest to this fact even if you aren't fond of going out- you definitely have experienced the calming nature of Mother Nature even if it is through a house plant or pictures of nature.

Many offices nowadays have nature wall arts hanging on office walls as a way of calming down angry, stressed, and anxious employees. If that works, then you can imagine the significance of being in the presence of that waterfall or mountain you see in office wall art.

Nevertheless, if you continue having anxieties and the episodes don't stop, you can hire the services of a life coach training who can provide assistance and help you find calmness.

Your sleep cycle is dependent on the accurateness of your internal clock. If the clock isn't working right, then you will have a hard time regulating your night sleep. The clock works right when the cells in your eyes get enough sunlight during the day, particularly before mid-day.

That is why you need to be out as many minutes as possible in the morning hours. This requirement becomes more important as you get older.

We mentioned that morning sunlight boosts your Vitamin D levels. The more the Vitamin D your body gets, the stronger its immune system becomes. On top of that, being within outdoor plants helps you leverage the health benefits of the phytoncides and other organic compounds that plants produce. These compounds boost immune function in humans.

When you play outside - say, while out doing water activities, you burn tons of calories and unwanted fats. And because being outdoor during the day helps you to sleep better, coupled with the fact that better sleep facilitates faster weight loss, the role of outdoor time in your physical fitness can never be overemphasized.
Conclusion
If you are a working citizen, you probably spend hours indoors in front of a computer and under artificial lights. And because you are overwhelmed by work in the office, you don't have enough time to catch up on news and social trends, so you spend your evening basking in the glory of social media and TV. It is in your best interest if you could end this harmful behavior. Get off the couch and take a walk of nature for a healthier lifestyle.

Check out our list of the Best Outdoor Activities in Ireland.

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The Health Benefits of taking Outdoor Activities

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Looking to improve your physical and mental health? Take a look at all the health benefits of taking outdoor activities from physical to mental, here!

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Reading: The Importance of Arts Education in School 

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Reading: The Importance of Arts Education in School 

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Art education means different things to different people, but the crux of it, is that it imparts knowledge and education in various fields of the arts like music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Society functions in such a way now, that a majority of the manual and technical jobs that were done by people before, can be done by machines. The main demand lies in innovation and creativity, thinking outside the box and having good interpersonal skills.
Just like mathematics or science, art requires regular practice and is not something that can be achieved through sporadic learning. Regular engagement and education in the arts has to be imbibed in the school curriculum for it to have an effect on the students.

Some of the most obvious benefits of art education is that it encourages creativity and engagement in a different way from what is usually taught in the school. Instead of being fed facts they can explore their interests and indulge in what excites them the most. Apart from this, art has a wide range of uses and influences on its students. It improves motor skills, simple things like mastering a paint brush or using crayons and pencils help develop finer motor skills, especially in younger children. Studying the arts also helps improve academic performance, not just through creativity, but it improves learning in areas like math and science as well as the literary field.

Art education also fosters collaboration and group learning. Often times, it brings people and children together, helping them learn from, and aid each other as they persevere towards creating something. It improves emotional balance and helps kids become team players. It also improves accountability, as kids claim responsibility for their mistakes and accept their faults when working together.

When creating something, the decision of what colors and what medium to use is left entirely to our own choices and preferences. Art education helps improve decision making, boosts the self confidence and makes children more self-assured, as they learn about what appeals to them, and they directly influence how their final product will look. They can become self-learners, constantly challenging themselves, and become more focused on achieving their goals.

Todays world is steeped in the Information Age. With all kinds of knowledge so readily available at our fingertips, it doesn't matter what you know, but rather how you use what you know. Every academic and professional institution is looking for what you bring to the table in terms of ideas, innovation and team-playing. An education in the arts is integral in developing these fundamental, yet abstract components of human knowledge and skill. Learning about art in all its forms makes students challenge the world they see around them, looking for multiple ways to solve problems and create something new. The true talent of man now lies in his ability to draw from many wells", and art is the medium through which we can access those wells.

Also read: Full STEAM ahead: Siddharth Mathur; National Academy of Science and Creative Arts

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The Importance of Art Education in Schools

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Art education means different things to different people, but the crux of it, is that it imparts knowledge and education in various fields of the arts like music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Society functions in such a way now, that a majority of the manual and technical jobs that were done by people before, [...]

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What is The Future for Singapore’s Art Scene?

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CTES Consulting: Consulting, Training & Executive Search | Recruitment Agency, HR Services | We provide consulting and training services globally.

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Elevating The Arts and Culture Scenes in Singapore from the Ground Up

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Local art has been gaining some recognition internationally, To shed more light on transformation of the local arts and cultural scene, we spoke to Iola Liu, director and owner of the Visual Arts Centre. Find out what she has to say.

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This year, around 6,000 youth volunteers took part in local and overseas volunteering opportunities provided by Youth Corps Singapore.

The statistic was revealed as part of Youth Corps' Year in Review on Saturday (Dec 17). Volunteers managed to clock in over 50,000 service hours caring for close to 5,000 clients, with volunteer work done mainly for seniors, children, persons with special needs, youth mental well-being and the environment.

It also added that the total number of youths volunteering locally increased by 20 per cent from pre-pandemic times, from 4,100 in 2019 to 4,950 in 2022.

According to Youth Corps, the increase in more youths volunteering locally was largely due to a new approach taken in curating volunteering opportunities. Volunteering opportunities that are of a shorter duration and closer to the community were offered through partnerships with social service agencies.

More than 2,000 volunteering opportunities offered could be completed under one week while 1,100 volunteering opportunities were within the community.

These shifts were made to address common barriers to volunteering identified from the Individual Giving Study (2021), which was carried out by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC).

Some of these barriers include lack of time due to school or work, family commitments and other priorities.

To encourage more students to volunteer with their friends and family members after their examinations, many of these volunteering opportunities were also rolled out during the June and December school holidays through

According to the Youth Corps, around 4,800 volunteering opportunities provided by the organisation were present during these festivals.

Around 150 Youth volunteers were given the opportunity to interact with seniors through the Back in my Time @ GoodLife! Makan initiative. Volunteers engaged seniors at GoodLife! Makan, a community kitchen at Marine Terrace through activities such as arts and craft and games.

Apart from also assisting in simple housekeeping duties at the centre such as cleaning of the community kitchen and café, volunteers chatted with seniors over coffee and snacks as well.

SpecialHearts @ Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Sembawang and Play for All @ Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) were some other initiatives by the Youth Corps that provided a total of 90 volunteering opportunities for youth volunteers.

To promote fun in learning specifically for five to six year olds who live in rental housing, Youth Corps also launched the KidsLearn Programme in partnership with

The KidsLearn programme, a literacy programme for kids from low-income family launched in partnership with ComLink, provided 100 volunteering opportunities for youths.

Youth Corps is also looking to roll out KidsLearn in Telok Blangah, Leng Kee, Woodlands, Clementi and Jurong East to name a few.

To ensure that youths gain new learning experiences to support their personal growth and development, the Youth Corps has also been intentional in curating meaningful volunteering programmes with partners.

This enabled 2022 to see a 40 per cent increase in the range of volunteering programmes from 2021.

More leadership programmes were also made available and close to 1,300 youth volunteers have enrolled in leadership programmes.

Some of Youth Corps' new programmes include Youth Alive!, which is a new two-year leadership programme in partnership with that aims to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency among youth between 13 to 18 years, by encouraging them to become Youth Crime-prevention leaders in schools and the community.

Currently, 30 youth leaders are receiving individual coaching sessions, participating in quarterly alumni huddles and bonding sessions with other youth leaders, and leading their own community projects.

Another such programme is the Community Peer Supporter Programme, which is a youth-for-youth peer supporting programme in partnership with the Health Promotion Board (HPB).

Since March 2021, more than 80 youths have been trained and volunteered in different community settings whilst having regular check-ins with other peer supporters to learn from each other.

Youth Corps is also working with HPB to engage more trained supporters for schools and workplaces.

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More youths volunteering locally, clocking in over 50,000 service hours in 2022: Youth Corps Singapore

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This year, around 6,000 youth volunteers took part in local and overseas volunteering opportunities provided by Youth Corps Singapore. The statistic was revealed as part of Youth Corps' Year in Review on Saturday (Dec 17).

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SINGAPORE: More people are volunteering for various causes in Singapore, as the country pursues a goal of raising its volunteerism rate to 70 per cent by next year.

It is a target that those in the community are confident can be achieved, with new programmes to attract and retain volunteers and a rising bloc of youth volunteers getting a headstart in school.

Volunteers form a significant core of manpower in the humanitarian and charity services sector, without which many activities cannot be carried out, members of the community here told CNA938 on Monday (Dec 5), which is International Volunteer Day.

The day has been marked by the United Nations since 1985, to recognise and promote the tireless work of volunteers around the world.

IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS

Ms Charis Chan, director of global engagement for the Singapore Red Cross, said that at least 80 per cent of the organisation's programmes are run by volunteers.

These include humanitarian services such as blood donation drives, overseas disaster response, as well as assistance for local vulnerable families, children and the elderly.

"We will never be able to do so much without volunteers. Especially after COVID, we've been expanding our work so much to reach out to more people," she said.

"A lot of them believe in the true cause and the mission, and the people that they serve."

Ms Michelle Chew, a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Youth Commission representing the Asia Pacific, said that for volunteers like herself, the day is more than just celebrating volunteerism, but to attract more people to step up.

The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, supporting local bodies in more than 192 countries.

"The significance of the day is also to promote the importance of volunteerism. We really want more and more people to take up volunteering because it gives so much impact back to the community and to those around us," said Ms Chew.

She noted that volunteers are people who know their communities the best and are well-equipped with the knowledge to intervene and help.

"We really believe that the volunteers who are from the community themselves will often know best what the community needs and wants, when they face emergencies or certain vulnerabilities that they might have. That is why we put full trust in our volunteers to really, in most cases, run the show," she explained.

DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Volunteers come from all age groups and all walks of life, said Ms Chan, noting that they can be categorised into three groups.

The first group is the youth, some of whom were exposed to the movement through their co-curricular activities in school.

"They are taught humanitarian values and knowledge, and even after graduating from school and when they eventually start working, they will often volunteer for us," said Ms Chan.

"They do first aid response, they do our overseas missions. This group of people are very impactful and inspiring. They do things out of the box, and they always teach us something new."

Ms Chew herself started out as a young volunteer in secondary school when she was 13 years old, a journey which has continued for the past 10 years.

What draws her to volunteering is that she can help those who are less privileged, and in the process gain many valuable lessons.

"I've learned that there are a lot of people from a variety of backgrounds that are different from myself, and that might be on different pathways of life. But at the end of the day, we are all humans and that is why we're all here for one another," she said.

The second group, said Ms Chan, are people in their mid-40s, who are "quite comfortable in life and want to seek opportunities to help others".

She added that they have relevant skill sets to contribute to the organisation, and form the core manpower of the Singapore Red Cross' programmes.

The last group is people in their mid-50s and older people who have retired early, who want to stay active and healthy and have time on their hands, said Ms Chan.

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

Ms Chew said everyone has different motivations for volunteering, and the same goes for the youth segment.

In her role, she advises the IFRC governing board on matters concerning youth and youth-related activities.

She explained that more than half of the volunteer base in her organisation is actually made up of young people, so having a dedicated body like hers to represent them is "very important".

"Often, as much as young people are the ones who are on the ground serving their societies or their communities, we don't really get much of a voice at the decision-making table," said Ms Chew.

She said that the landscape has changed over the years, with more people becoming more open-minded in terms of allowing young people to speak up.

"But then comes into the picture whether certain acts are an act of tokenising, or whether it's an act of what I would like to call 'youthwashing'," she noted.

Ms Chew said youth volunteers may be passionate about different areas based on the environment they grew up in.

There are some who are more concerned about local issues within their communities, such as floods and disasters, but there are also others who are very passionate about social movements like mental health, she said.

70 PER CENT TARGET

Singapore is currently pursuing a target of raising its volunteerism rate to 70 per cent by next year, in an effort to address a fast-ageing population.

It was a target announced by then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu in 2018, to double the rate from 35 per cent in 2016.

Ms Chan said it is a noble and achievable goal.

She noted that the Singapore Red Cross recently launched a new programme to help bring more people on board the movement. The programme equips people with standard first aid and psychological first aid within two weekends.

"The challenge that we see among volunteers is that they want to give, but we need to train them. We want to make them go on the ground (only) when they are equipped with the relevant skills," she said.

Ms Chan added that the organisation has developed a system to attract, empower and retain its volunteers.

"We don't only train them with the skill sets, we also train them on leadership. We groom them to make important decisions for us on the ground," she said.

Ms Chew said that the 70 per cent target is reachable, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic when a lot more people have been inspired to step up to volunteer.

"What I would really like to emphasise is that volunteerism can come in a lot of forms, and the way forward might really be digital volunteering because we are living in a world which is increasingly without borders," she said, adding that organisations also need to transform to keep up with the times.

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Rising volunteerism in Singapore boosted by youth action, new outreach initiatives

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International Volunteer Day falls on Dec 5 annually, a day marked by the United Nations since 1985, to recognise and promote the tireless work of volunteers globally.

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How ChatGPT robs students of motivation to write and think for themselves

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Cheating is not the only concern for teachers. There is also the worry whether AI, more generally, threatens writing skills and the importance of seeing writing as a vehicle for thinking. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Negative example of competition in sports

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Negative example of competition in sports

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Figure skating-I hate this sport, says distraught Trusova after silver medal

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The pressure weighing on teenage figure skaters was all too evident on Thursday when silver medallist Alexandra Trusova broke down in tears before the podium ceremony after the women’s single event at the Beijing Olympics.

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Kids’ competition: The good, the bad and the ugly

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Are you unsure whether competitions are good or bad for your child? Well, in a fiercely competitive world, we certainly can’t do away with competitions. However, what we need is healthy competition.

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5 reasons to go for an exchange programme

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5 reasons to go for an exchange programme

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Ah, the exchange programme: if you're an undergraduate, you'll definitely have heard of it. 6 to 12 months of living abroad, coupled with opportunities to travel the world? It sounds like a dream come true to me but if you need any more reasons to convince you to sign up for the programme, well, here are 5.

Become a Polyglot

Polyglot: someone who is able to speak or write several languages (multilingual). As a typical Singaporean undergraduate, chances would be that you are bilingual - proficient in both English and a Mother Tongue language.

When you find yourself on an exchange programme, however, you'll sometimes find out that speaking only two languages can sometimes be rather limiting - you might not be able to get the authentic, local experience of a particular country. An essential step to take in order to fully understand a foreign country would be to learn its language.

While picking up an entirely new language might seem intimidating and impossible at first, you'll realise that simply being immersed in an environment where the language is spoken everyday will aid in your language acquisition. Who knows, you might return back to Singapore with a few more languages than you knew on the outbound flight!

TLDR; Living in foreign country will push your language learning limits - try picking up the native tongue of whichever country you'll be going. We highly recommend Duolingo as a starting point. And then you can say "I'm a polyglot!"

Learn to Fend For Yourself

Behind all that glamour and glitz of getting to travel around in a foreign country, going on an exchange programme will instil a deep sense of independence within your character. Your parents can no longer serve as your morning alarm clock, nor provide for your meals physically.

Psst: you'll also have to wash all those dirty dishes accumulated in the sink yourself - unless you have an angelic room mate who wouldn't mind doing the dishes for you, but the chances of that happening would be slim. While the initial period of living without your parents may be unsettling and scary, you'll slowly realise that this experience is only beneficial to you.

You will not be spending all your life living with and depending on your parents, right?

TLDR; Going on exchange might be the first time you're leaving your parents' nest. You'll have to deal with all aspects of #adulting - eg. washing your own laundry, cooking and cleaning your apartment. Youtube's your friend when it comes to the above. ?

Experience a New Culture

Did you know that you are allowed to smoke in air-conditioned restaurants in China? Well, I had absolutely no knowledge of that when I first visited Beijing last year, so imagine my surprise and shock when a man fished for a lighter in his pockets to light his cigarettes in an upscale eatery. If that had happened in Singapore, well, that man would have left with a very hefty fine indeed. It's always interesting to find out about another country's culture - the way the locals think, speak and behave.

Other than aiding in your assimilation process as an exchange student, I believe that the knowledge will also help you in the future; for example, if you should have any international business dealings in the future for your career.

TLDR; Get out of your comfortable Singapore bubble and see how things are done differently in another country. And, you might want to read up on the cultural norms of the country you're staying in so that you wouldn't commit cultural faux pas. ?

Expand Your Social Circle

As an exchange student in a foreign country, you'll be exposed to many other students like yourself who helm from different parts of the world. When on exchange, many beautiful friendships will blossom and you'll find yourself returning back home to Singapore with plentiful, new friends whom you'll likely stay in contact with even after the program. And who knows? You might meet the person of your dreams while abroad!

TLDR; Yay to having friends all over the world!

Travel to More than 10 Cities in 1 Semester

The world is a book, and those who don't travel only read one page.

- Augustine of Hippo

No matter which country you head to for an exchange programme, you can rest assured that you'll be exposed to many travelling opportunities. If you don't believe me, just scroll through your Instagram feed: there'll definitelybe tons of your lucky friends' pictures who are currently on exchange and seem to be in many different places around the world at the same time - the Eiffel tower in one and the Colosseum the next.

Well, there's no need to be all consumed with jealousy and turn into a green-eyed monster because you can conquer the globe when you partake in an exchange programme of your own!

Trust me, there's no better time to travel than now; as an undergraduate. You're armed with youthfulness and energy - two of the most important ingredients in cooking up an adventure.

Well, you might be lacking a little in the third (money) but there are plenty of university financial schemes available to help. So, what could you possibly be waiting for? Start applying for your exchange program now!

TLDR; Many undergrads say exchange was the best time of their uni lives. At Glints, we've had a blast on exchange, and we highly encourage you to go on your adventure. Explore loads and go beyond the touristy places.

Resources
http://exchangestudentworld.com/student/top-5-reasons-to-become-an-exchange-student/https://wep.org.au/student-exchange/benefits-of-student-exchange/http://nse.utah.edu/exchange.php

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5 Reasons Why You Need To Go On An Exchange Programme - Glints

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Ah, the exchange programme: if you're an undergraduate, you'll definitely have heard of it. 6 to 12 months of living abroad, coupled with opportunities to travel the world? It sounds like a dream come true to me but if you need any more reasons to convince you to sign up for the programme, well, here are 5.

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Tourism is the department or an organization that facilitates people to allow them to visit or spend vacations at places they like.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in any country. It is a large contributor to the economy of a country as it can provide revenue throughout the year. Tourism helps in keeping the employment rate of countries stable as several job opportunities are created due to the tourism industry.

Sometimes, tourism can be a major source of foreign income for the country. This is like Maldives where 40% of the economy is generated from the Tourism industry.

This transaction doesn't only facilitate the vacation or relaxation of tourists visiting these regions, but also helps to provide a better livelihood to everyone involved in the tourism sector.

Developed countries like USA and UK have greatly benefitted from medical tourism. Medical tourism involves people travelling to developed countries to get treatments unavailable in their home country. These are usually people from developing countries with sub-standard health care. You can also call them a medical tourist!

However, even with the great number of benefits of tourism, there are several drawbacks to it. These disadvantages are sometimes ignored by the tourism sector of that country as their sole purpose becomes profit. We must consider all aspects of tourism which include environmental responsibilities, profit and sustainability.

Today, we will look at some of the Pros and Cons of Tourism;

Advantages of Tourism

1. Wealth Generation

One of the major advantages of Tourism is a constant flow of cash. It is very important not just for the economy of the country as a whole but for all those working in the tourism sectors.

Commercial and private airlines operating from these countries tend to make a ton of revenue as people from around the world fly to a tourist attraction. Hotels and guest homes in the hospitality industry make a constant income as travelers flood hotel lobbies looking for a place to stay. This makes sure hotels make money throughout the year.

These small sectors, that come under the umbrella of tourism help to generate money for the country throughout the year. This cash flow is even more essential for small, developing, and third world nations as for some of them the tourist sector might be the biggest contributor to their local economy.

2. The Progression of a Country

As wealth influx starts in the country, it helps the government to procure necessary funds for development and progression of the country. The tourism sector gives security and stability to the economy of the nation, preventing it from tanking in times of crisis.

The government also gets necessary funds to carry out large scale infrastructure projects like restaurants, hotels, casinos and theater which may further improve the tourism sector, providing more places for travelers to stay and more activities to indulge in. This will help to generate further cash influx.

Other than that, this wealth can also be used to improve the infrastructure of the country. This includes building roads, rail roads, better hospitals and education centers for natives as well as the tourists.

3. Creation of Jobs

Tourism has provided various jobs to people who were previously unemployed. The natives gifted with constant stable jobs have greatly improved their livelihood ( there is a possible catch to this, I've explained in the cons).

These jobs include working in areas such as hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, theatres, zoos, parks, entertainment facilities, and more. Some of those you might remember from your last trip, especially the travel agent who booked your tickets or the tour operator who ensured that your trip went smooth or the captain of your cruise ship in the Caribbean. They work relentlessly, away from their families, to make sure you enjoy your vacations.

This has also led to the overall reduction of unemployment in the country, thus reducing burden on the government.
Did you know? 1 in 10 jobs are supported by Tourism industry across the world!
4. Unity among different societies

The unique feature of tourism is that it helps to create unity among people from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, traditions, and ethnicities who are all visiting to have some fun.

It allows people to learn different histories, traditions, cultures, diets, and lifestyles of the nations they are visiting. This helps to create understanding and oneness among people which can have a long-lasting impact socially.

Cross-cultural connections are developed as the natives interact with the tourists and may lead to further large-scale collaborations as well!

5. Conservation

The main star of attraction for tourists visiting a country is its historical sites and landscapes, particularly the landmarks of the country. These landmarks may be in the form of churches, mosques, cathedrals, monuments, buildings, skyscrapers, beaches, amusement parks, and other attractions to say the least.

This means it becomes the government's utmost priority to conserve these sites, for the tourism industry to be sustainable.

The government carries out regular maintenance of such areas and rules are placed concerned with damaging or vandalism of the property in order to protect these spots. Once these areas become a part of the tourism sector, they are no less than a cash generator for the country.

6. Improves geographical identity worldwide

Tourists often go back home and praise about the vacation that they had. Every person that goes back home brags to at-least 10 more people about the wonderful vacation they had, usually through social media. This allows more people to know more about the country and helps it earn its name and make a place for itself on the map!

Increased recognition leads to further foreign investment and development, followed with increased tourism activity in the area.

Major Cons of Tourism

7. Damage to the Environment by Tourists

When it comes to tourism thousands of people may visit, even millions in some spots. This high influx of tourists can lead to immense environmental destruction, especially in destinations where tourists are more prone to visit.

This environmental burden is not solely due to the high influx of tourists, but it is associated with various other factors working together to bring environmental harm.

These factors include increased presence and use of cars, buses, trains, and other vehicles which may raise carbon emissions. A large number of flights at the airport could become a large contributor of air pollution as well.

Tourists can cause a lot of land pollution; as they throw a massive amount of garbage and waste, which is mostly non-biodegradable, leading to a massive number of landfills. All these activities may combine to greatly impact the environment of the region.

Soil erosion, Different kinds of Pollution, habitat loss and destruction as well as forest fires are just some of the environmental effects of tourism.

If these regions are not conserved and taken care of properly, they will lose their natural essence and subsequently be abandoned by tourists. This can lead to permanent damage of the natural tourist attractions!

Fortunately, we have been observing a rise in demand of sustainable tourism. We'll be discussing that very soon.

8. Exploitation of Local Culture

Some countries, seeing the vast amount of tourists coming in their country to observe their unorthodox lifestyle and traditions, begin to commercialize their culture. It can be in the form of souvenirs. Usually, the natives are not offended by this.

However, in some regions this can be considered an outright disgrace and mocking of their culture. This is especially true for the regions where locals consider their culture to be their identity. Commercializing may result in people just wearing costumes and exhibiting traditions just to entertain tourists. Observing that the governments are using their culture as a tool for profiteering can cause them to feel sad and ridiculed by their nation.

9. Non-Compliance of Tourists

Sometimes, tourists do not honor cultures and traditions of countries/regions they visit. They may break certain rules and unspoken codes of conduct to which the locals have very high regard. Tourists get drunk in public and do horrendous acts at times. This creates certain hatred among the locals for the incoming tourists.

Racist remarks by tourists and the socioeconomic gap between the tourists and the natives may further exacerbate the issue. The tourists may consider themselves in much higher regard than the natives. Such thoughts may provoke the tourists to act wildly and unlawfully, and sometimes even end up mocking the nation.

Look at it this way; if you go to a friend's house, you don't outright break stuff at his home or start shouting remarks to his/her family. You respectfully meet your friend and have a good time, in good spirits. That's the way you should treat natives when you're visiting another country, because you're visiting their home!

10. Lack of job security/Seasonal only

Although we did mention that tourism leads to an increase in the employment rate; sometimes these jobs can be seasonal depending on the region and hence, cannot be a dependable income throughout the year. This is more concerning in countries that have specific durations and seasons of high influx of tourists from around the world. These seasonal jobs, hence, offer minimal job security and employees can be left without a proper pension or insurance.

11. Confined to Service Jobs

Although tourism generates jobs for locals, most of these jobs are confined to service industry with minimal wages. These low-wage and minimum-skill workers have little ambition to promotion and getting higher up the chain.

12. Unequal Infrastructure growth

Massive income generated from tourism offers countries to build upon infrastructure of the tourist destination only. Sadly, the countries do not use the revenue generated from this infrastructure to build and develop other regions which require maintenance and development.

The wealth generated from tourism is put back into tourism-related things and regions that desperately need improvement are constantly neglected. The locals who don't live in tourist-economy regions are neglected which leads to imbalance of infrastructure development.

13. Foreign business owners

Sometimes most of the places which are heavily infiltrated by tourists are owned by foreign businesses. This means most of the profits and money coming into the country are being used by foreigners thereby causing significant loss of local businesses.

Local industries miss out on the primary source of income that is required for them to stay afloat and to grow. This can lead to businesses going bankrupt and losing, overall damaging the country's economy.

14. Neglecting of Other Sectors

Countries see that tourist is the major source of income for them, tend to ignore other various sectors upon which they are built. This leads to nations neglecting these sectors, thus causing a loss of income, jobs, and growth amongst these sectors. The country aims to put all of its resources in one basket which is the tourism industry, will leaving all others behind for them to crumble and diminish.

This over-reliance on a specific sector for the stability of the nations can sometimes cause a massive impact, especially during times of war, political instability, or natural disasters as it will be led to the long term closure of the tourism of those countries due to unrest. This can eventually drain the country down as its only resource which is tourism is no longer function, and it didn't have any other sector nor did they built any other sector in a way for them to become sustainable in times of economic crisis.

5+ Fun Facts on Tourism

1. Tourism is responsible for 5% of the Global GDP!

2. China stays as the world's top tourism spender, spending more than 260 Billion Dollars!

3. Global tourism industry being the largest industry contributes more than 7.5 trillion dollars in the world economy.

4. Almost 10% of world's jobs are sourced from Tourism Industry.

5. Tourists spend the most cash in Dubai. Around 28.5 Billion dollars yearly!

6. Osaka in Japan is emerging as the hottest tourist spot in the world.

Negative Environmental Impacts of Tourism

The government may choose to put the wealth generated from tourism into preservation of the environment. However, tourism still goes on to put sufficient burden on the natural resources of our planet and prompts over-consumption of natural resources in regions with already limited resources.

Once tourism becomes unsustainable, the surrounding environment starts to deteriorate. Tourism has a wide impact on the air quality, vegetation, water supply, wildlife, and the natural ecosystems of the region.

Environmental damage

Most of the tourist activities have a negative impact on ecosystems. These include fishing, hiking, and snorkeling; all of which tend to affect and deplete the local scenery.

To run a tropical golf course for tourists requires water that can feed up to 60,000 locals. There is a trail in the Himalayas known as "the toilet paper trail" which shows how much damage tourism has caused to the environment.

Pollution

Once there is an influx of tourists to a common destination, there is an overuse of transportation systems which heavily contributes to pollution (Mainly air pollution). Tourism accounts for 60% of air travel worldwide, and flying one mile in a plane can produce 53 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Ecotourism

Even travelers conscious of hurting the environment also cause a negative impact. Tourists that travel to natural sites located remotely, tend to cause damage to natural ecosystems they come to see.

Invasive organisms

The increased human presence on many geographical regions can alter the number of native plants in the region and introduce non native species in those areas.

Even species brought in as pets into the country are sometime released into the wild and could bring havoc upon the ecosystem if they turned out to be invasive species.

Negative Impact on Wildlife

Human intervention and presence can disrupt food webs, ecological communities, and harm keystone species in an area. Others take an active approach and hunt foreign animals as a tourist activity. They can also damage the natural habitat of native wildlife by engaging with it. All of these contribute to wildlife endangerment and extinction.

Loss of Natural Resources

Tourism can shrink the natural resources by causing over-consumption. This is particularly damaging in areas with food and water scarcity.

This may also lead to hatred among the locals for tourists who use up the limited water supply for luxuries. A natural resource like water could be used to fill up Jacuzzis at a 5-star hotel but could much better be used in feeding a child who suffers from dehydration.

Environmental Pros of Tourism

Environmental Cons of Tourism

Helps to generate revenue

Causes environmental degradation

Revenue promotes preservation
of natural environment

Pollution (Air Pollution mainly)

May promote environmental
awareness and activism

Depletion of natural resources

Cultural Benefits of Traveling

Challenging Stereotypes

When you get to visit another country and observe their culture, you get the opportunity to be exposed to unfamiliar perspectives and traditions and gain a more broad, much informed, and kinder view of the locals and places you encounter.

Perceptions and stereotypes might be replaced by first hand view of the people by the tourists themselves.

Gaining Cultural Sensitivity

People get to see traditions and learn manners of different cultures. Manners and etiquette tourists may not have practiced in their native countries.

Pointing with your index fingers at the indigenous people, showing excessive skin, wearing shoes indoors, and making noises may be considered rude in some places.

So it is important to do a little bit of research on the local customs and traditions before visiting so you can try to avoid being offensive or inappropriate.

Authentic Experience of Cultures

It can be a wonderful way to experience the insights of a different culture through the experience of traditions, rituals, festivals, celebrations, and rites. It gives the visitor a chance to understand the cultural heritage of a region much more deeply.

Conclusion

Tourism has its benefits to the economy but the environmental component of tourism shouldn't be ignored. Think about that the next time you book your tickets. We are also working on reducing your environmental footprint when you travel...Can't reveal more. Stay tuned!

For now I'd like to leave this picture for you to ponder about Eco-tourism.

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Tourism; 15 Pros and Cons, Facts, Impact | Environment Buddy

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Know 15 Pros and Cons of Tourism along with Facts! Negative Environmental Impact of Tourism and cultural benefits of Traveling. Advantages and Disadvantantages...

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Ask any Singaporean what the most important part of the local heritage is, and chances are, the answer would be Hawker Culture. From the world-famous chicken rice to the late night roti prata, the crowd-favourite laksa to the comforting flavours of nasi lemak, Singapore's hawkers have been feeding generations of people from all walks of life. Hawker food plays a much greater role than just filling our bellies - it is a legacy that unites all Singaporeans.
Read more...

From Boon Lay to Maxwell and to Bedok, hawker centres have become the nation's community dining rooms, where the office worker takes his usual morning breakfast perhaps in a hurry, while the retired senior digs into a bowl of noodles at his own leisure. Neighbours meet up regularly to catch up on news and gossip, parents dart from stall to stall to bring home their children's favourite dishes, and grandparents reminisce about the good old days over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It all happens right here.

So where did our Hawker Culture come from? What does it represent for Singaporeans? To really understand the Singaporeans' love story with hawker food, we will have to journey right to the beginning, when our ancestors brought the very first hawker dishes from their homeland.

History of Hawker Culture

1800s - The Origins

Singapore in the 1800s was a thriving port city which attracted migrants from China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other lands, seeking a better life. They were hard labourers, merchants, clerks, and cooks who brought with them the comfort food they grew up with. They adapted these dishes to ingredients that were easily available here, and cooked them using local techniques, eventually creating a recognisable Singapore flavour.

Many immigrants saw street hawking as a good way to earn a living, as it required little capital. These early pioneers started to ply the streets, serving the dishes that they were most familiar with. The streets were bustling with activity, colours, aromas, and flavours. Chinese hawkers would carry their mobile kitchens around, balanced on a bamboo pole along with their ingredients and utensils, so they could serve up piping hot meals on the go. Malay hawkers typically sold fruits and flame grilled meat sticks, a dish that we would come to know as satay. Indian hawkers added colourful sweets, cakes, and jellies to the street scene. One could even see a hawker walking his cow or goat on the street, ready to "dispense" fresh milk whenever a customer demanded.

With just three cents, anyone could afford a sumptuous meal of three to four dishes, served up at a moment's notice. On the same street, one could easily savour the flavours from different parts of Asia, catered to local tastes. This vibrant beginning marked the first chapters of Singapore's hawker story.

Up to 1960s - A need for regulation

After the Second World War, many who were unemployed turned to hawking as a profession, and that was when the street hawker scene became a thriving world of possibilities.

However, not everyone shared the optimistic view of Singapore's street hawker scene. In 1950, Governor F. Gimson set up the Hawkers Inquiry Commission and in the Hawkers Inquiry Report, it was stated that "There is undeniably a disposition among officials ... to regard the hawkers as primarily a public nuisance to be removed from the streets."

The hawkers in Singapore during that time usually did not have easy access to water. This made it difficult to keep their utensils clean and prevent contamination by flies and rats. Without a properly assigned disposal area, hawkers often left piles of refuse on the streets, posing a threat to public health and hygiene. Many who were selling cold drinks, cut fruits, and ice cream used water and ice that might be easily contaminated, potentially causing outbreaks of cholera and typhoid.

Another issue the government faced was the challenge in street cleaning as the entire physical space where the hawkers plied their trade was viewed as a disorderly obstruction to traffic and city planning. As such, the colonial government started looking for ways to regulate the hawkers and relocate them.

Late 1960s to 1980s - The first hawker centres

After Singapore's independence in 1965, along with the move to turn Singapore into the region's business hub, the work of licensing hawkers and relocating them into more organised spaces picked up momentum. In 1968 and 1969, the government conducted an islandwide registration of street hawkers, issuing temporary licenses and moving them into back lanes, car parks, and vacant plots of land.

Despite this move, illegal hawking remained rampant. In 1974, the Hawker's Department Special Squad was formed to handle the situation. Public Health Inspectors, who were responsible for keeping illegal hawkers off the streets, were given handsets similar to those used by the police and could use them to relay information and seek backup assistance while CISCO officers escorted them on the ground. These new measures proved especially effective against the illegal pasar malam (night markets) that sprung up across the city.

Enforcement was not all bad news. From 1971 to 1986, the government sought to relocate up to 18,000 hawkers to markets and hawker centres with proper amenities, so hawkers could have a safe and hygienic place to work without having to run from the inspectors.

The Housing Development Board (HDB) was responsible for the meticulous planning of every hawker centre to make sure that they were in well-populated areas. Each hawker centre was built within walking distance for most residents of the HDB estate, or a short bus ride away, while not being too close to one another. Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Block 51 Old Airport Road, and Tiong Bahru Market were among the first hawker centres to serve up mouth-watering Singaporean delicacies in this exciting new era of the hawker story.

1980s to present - Building a legacy

The five-year span between 1974 to 1979 saw 54 hawker centres built to serve residents and workers across the nation. Different architectural and design themes gave each hawker centre their unique touch. Newton Hawker Centre, for example, was built in 1971 with the idea of having "hawker stalls in a garden setting" with trees for shade, hedges and shrubs alongside a car park and a public toilet. The last food centre to be erected during this phase was Block 505 Market and Food Centre at Jurong West Street 52, in 1986.

Today, more than 110 hawker centres are located across Singapore, and there are plans to construct even more to better cater to our population (data extracted from the website of the National Environment Agency).

"Hawker centres represent the culinary soul of Singapore, where everyone regardless of race and social background gathers for their daily meals. I grew up having meals at hawker centres and hope that my daughter gets to enjoy the same culinary experience as I do." Hugo Bart, frequent patron at hawker centres

Even our hawkers have chosen to continue their family's legacy by carrying on the trade that their parents or grandparents had started. More than half of today's hawkers are second and third generation hawkers, most of them specialising in a particular dish, refining the recipes that have been passed down to them, and sometimes adding adventurous twists to their flavours.

"My customers are like my close friends; I can even say some are like extended family. As a hawker, I don't just sell the food, I share the culture and heritage to my fellow Singaporeans." Mdm Muthuletchmi, Hawker at Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre

Gearing up for the Future

The Hawker Centres Upgrading Program (HUP) was launched in February 2001 to improve the dining experience at hawker centres, both for the hardworking hawkers and the patrons. Upgraded hawker centres enjoy re-tiling, new tables and seats, replacement of utility services, rewiring, improvement to the ventilation, bin centres and toilets, re-roofing where necessary, and provision of exhaust flue systems. Some centres even go through a complete reconfiguration or rebuilding. In addition to central freezer areas, central wash areas are also set up for sorting out used crockery. While the space is not air-conditioned to keep operating costs down and to preserve the traditional atmosphere and charm of hawker centres, barrier-free access has been prioritised to facilitate the movement of patrons in wheelchairs.

In 2019, the government announced that 13 new hawker centres will be built by the year 2027. This new chapter would inject new energy into Singapore's Hawker Culture, combined with the latest technologies in automation and sustainability, while preserving the heritage and authenticity of our hawker centres. The new hawker centre in Bukit Panjang, for example, is built with a trellis at its roof garden to allow for the installation of solar panels. Other sustainable features include a pneumatic waste conveyance system that will transport waste automatically to a central station through a network of pipes, so that cleaning would be more efficient and effective.

Honouring our Hawker Culture

The story of our Hawker Culture would never have been written if not for the passion of hawkers, and the support of community groups, the government, and food-loving Singaporeans. The rich culinary offerings of our hawker centres represent the Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other communities that call this country home. In recent years, international cuisine has also made its way into the heartlanders' bellies. Patrons today can enjoy fish and chips, Japanese udon sets, Hong Kong dim sum, and even Korean kimchi at their favourite hawker centres.

"Our family is always looking into new ways to excite our customers without losing the touch of our traditional roots. It's not just food; we are serving a legacy." Afiq Rezza bin Norrezat, Hawker at Ang Mo Kio Market & Food Centre

Safeguarding Singapore's Hawker Culture

There are four pillars to the safeguarding of Singapore's Hawker Culture - Transmission, Research and Documentation, Support and Promotion. These are demonstrated through the collaborative efforts among government agencies, hawkers, training institutions, community organisations, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals.

Transmission

Hawkers are encouraged to pass down their culinary practices to apprentices or family members. This is demonstrated through initiatives such as the Hawkers' Development Programme, introduced by the National Environment Agency and Skills Future Singapore to teach aspiring hawkers about the culinary secrets of experienced hawkers, and to provide apprenticeships, to ensure that our hawker favourites will continue to be served for generations to come.

Research and documentation

Local food advocates and community organisations have been actively documenting the country's rich hawker heritage and recipes of local delights. This culture has even piqued the interests of academics and experts. This rich library of publications, editorials, and multimedia materials continue to grow, providing the public with a comprehensive resource pool to further enrich their love for local food.

Support

Organisations such as the Federation of Merchants' Associations, Singapore (FMAS), as well as other hawkers' associations and representatives, work closely with the government to provide support and additional resources for our hawkers. The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has also set up an Incubation Stall Programme to encourage aspiring hawkers to set up their stalls with a lower start-up cost and pre-fitted basic equipment. Together, these organisations have also organised the Hawkers' Seminar to encourage hawkers to come together to exchange ideas and strengthen the survivability of the culture.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, support schemes, grants and courses on digital solutions were offered to help hawkers tide through the difficult period.

Promotion

Heritage and food enthusiasts, as well as museums and other organisations have launched exhibitions and campaigns to help promote Singapore's Hawker Culture. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Slow Food Singapore, have also been organising different workshops and programmes to educate students and the wider community about our food heritage, while private entities like Eat.Shop.Play have tapped on digital and social media to promote hawker stalls in Singapore.

UNESCO Inscription of Hawker Culture in Singapore

Our Hawker Culture resonates strongly with locals across all ethnicities and social strata, and it is also something that Singaporeans are proud to showcase on the international stage.

On 16 December 2020, Hawker Culture in Singapore was successfully inscribed as Singapore's first element on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with the unanimous support of the Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. The inscription reflected our Hawker Culture's significance in Singaporeans' multicultural identity as a people, and as a nation, and affirms our commitment to safeguard it for future generations.

From hawker plates to global palates

So, what does it mean for Singaporeans for our hawker culture to be inscribed as the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity? For the nation, it confirms our international standing as a culinary destination on the world map. For our hawkers, this is a recognition that their years of hard work have shaped Singapore's culture for entire generations. For our food lovers, it is a testament of our passionate late-night visits to Chomp Chomp and our weekend trips across the island just to enjoy a bowl of laksa - a culinary love story that is forever written in history.

For generations to come, every Singaporean will continue to enjoy the traditional flavours from their heritage and various ethnic groups. Each bowl of soup, each plate of rice, and each cup of coffee - made with two centuries of passion and pride through the hard work and creativity of hawkers who adapted to the changing times and needs of communities.

References

Heng, Terence. "Hungry Ghosts in Urban Spaces: A Visual Study of Aesthetic Markers and Material Anchoring", Visual Communications 13 (2): 147-162, 2014.

Heng, Terence. "Walking Through Spiritual Neighbourhoods: A Photo Essay". In Sue Nichols and Stephen Dobson (eds), Learning Cities: Multimodal Explorations and Placed Pedagogies. Springer, 2018.

Kong, Lily. "Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food." National Environment Agency, 2007.

National Heritage Board. "Blk 51 Old Airport Road". Roots.Sg. https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/Hawker-Centres/Blk-51-Old-Airport-Road. 2020.

National Environment Agency. List of Hawker Centres. Singapore: National Environment Agency. https://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/hawker-centres-documents/list-of-114-hawker-centres17511a7e14fc4569848ad34da3aa13cf.pdf , 2020.

The Straits Times. "13 New Social Enterprise Hawker Centres by 2027." Singapore: The Straits Times, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/13-new-social-enterprise-hawker-centres-by-2027, 2019 hawker c

Yogada, Maria. "Singapore Hawker Stands with Michelin Stars." In foodandwine, Singapore: Food & Wine, https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/singapore-hawker-stands-michelin-stars-where, 2018.

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The History and Evolution of Singapore's Hawker Culture

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The History and Evolution of Singapore's Hawker Culture