creative writing competition singapore 2021

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SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2021

The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition. Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers!

F ind out how to take part and submit your entries online at https://www.sota.edu.sg/p6cwcom2021 Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

Event Details

• School Of The Arts (SOTA)
• 18 Nov 2020 - 22 Jan 2021
• Free Admission

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GOLDEN POINT AWARD 2021

Organised by Arts House Limited, the 15th edition of the Golden Point Award received exceptional entries across a wide range of topics from aspiring authors

SINGAPORE, 11 December 2021 – Arts House Limited (AHL) honoured 38 budding writers for their literary excellence at the Golden Point Award 2021 award ceremony held today at The Arts House. The 15th edition of the biennial creative writing competition lauded these literary talents for their winning short stories and poems, selected from a strong pool of close to 2,000 entries across the nation’s four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Over the years, the Golden Point Award (GPA) has continually attracted participants from all walks of life. This year’s competition received submissions from contestants between nine to 89 years old. There was also significant participation from youths, with almost 50 percent of submissions from writers aged 30 and below.

This edition of GPA saw an increase in the number of overall submissions. The entries also received praise from the adjudicators, who commended the high standards across all languages and categories. Critically acclaimed author Balli Kaur Jaswal, who was part of the panel for English Short Story, said, "For this year’s fiction entries, writers took risks in language choices and narrative structure, which was an exciting development. The winning entries stood out for their authors' abilities to capture the quotidian within and outside of the major circumstances of present-day life."

"We are deeply encouraged by the creativity and quality of short stories and poetry received across all languages. The overwhelming response by participants also signals a strong interest among the general public to express themselves through the written word. We believe this will continue with the writing competition’s intention of uncovering fresh writing talent and encouraging interest in local writing by publishers. GPA also complements AHL’s mission of developing and strengthening the literary arts community in Singapore," said Mr Tan Boon Hui, Executive Director of Arts House Limited.

From humour and inventiveness to crises and deaths, this year’s entries covered a wide range of topics. "The range of voices and subject matters in the submitted stories reveal Singapore’s vibrancy and diversity. One common thread in most of the stories is that they all underscored the need human beings have to express themselves and be heard," remarked Indian-American author Professor Akhil Sharma who was part of the English Short Story panel. On the winning entry, writer Clara Chow from the English Short Story panel, said, " Handwriting had a graceful economy that accomplished more than some longer pieces. It dealt with themes of inheritance – physical, genetic, material; tangible and intangible - as well as that of the unknowable darkness we carry within ourselves."

In response to the current pandemic, poet, former Festival Director of the Singapore Writers Festival , and adjudicator for the English Poetry panel, Yeow Kai Chai, shared, "In a time of relative physical immobility, where most people are home-bound or shepherded into sanctioned zones due to the ongoing pandemic, the best entries breathe and move in mysterious ways. Overall, the judges are impressed by a burgeoning wave of daring, nascent voices which augers well for the polyphonous poetry scene."

Wong Koi Tet, writer and adjudicator for the Chinese Short Story category said, "The manuscripts that came in covered a large range of themes and content this year… It is encouraging to see a huge volume of submissions. This is a reflection of the participants’ passion for writing." Apart from their writing interests, Chinese poet Zhou Sese also observed the strong contemporary elements in the poetry submissions, which were expressive and poignant. He said, "Themes that came up from the poetry were on destiny, solitude and pain."

On the winning Malay Short Story entry, Farihan Barhon, author and adjudicator for the Malay Short Story category said, " Dayung Sudah di Tangan, Perahu Sudah di Air weaves a story cloaked with the sombreness of life in light of the current pandemic against a historical background. There is an unexpected twist in the plot and this story kept me hooked till the end. The writing was both compelling and easy to understand. This story also explored human relationships, especially those in the marginalised community." Cultural Medallion winner (2007) and critically acclaimed writer Isa Kamari, another adjudicator for the Malay Short Story category commented that one of the winning entries had an evergreen appeal and resonated with everyone. He shared, "I see this in 1942 , where the writer was able to weave contemporary issues like mental health into a historical piece, in a positive manner." On the Malay poetries, Dr Kartini Anwar, Asian Languages & Cultures lecturer and adjudicator for the Malay Poetry panel, was impressed by the winning works added, "There is maturity in their writing. Their stories touched on poignant themes like moral courage and social issues, and were presented in an eloquent manner."

“The entries for the Tamil poetry prize this year showed promising versatility and range. The poems engage with diverse themes with great sensitivity and imagination. The better poems among the entries were those that made credible efforts to cover contemporary issues with refreshing and innovative use of language and form,” said poet Sithuraj Ponraj, adjudicator for the Tamil Poetry category. “The winning entries deviated slightly from the contemporary tracks, resulting in the exploration of original themes and creative forms of expression. It was refreshing to read all the poems and I could see considerable effort made by the participants in producing quality work,” said Nepolian, another poet and adjudicator from the Tamil Poetry category.

For more information on the Golden Point Award and the 2021 winners and adjudicators, please refer to the annexes below.

Annex A: About the Golden Point Award Annex B: 2021 Golden Point Award – Poetry Winners Annex C: 2021 Golden Point Award – Short Story Winners Annex D: 2021 Golden Point Award – List of Adjudicators

For media enquiries, please contact:

About Arts House Limited (AHL)

Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL is the cultural place manager of Singapore’s Civic District. It manages two key national monuments – The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs performing arts space Drama Centre as well as the Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses. AHL organises the Singapore International Festival of Arts – an annual pinnacle performing arts festival, as well as the Singapore Writers Festival – a multi-lingual festival presenting the world’s top literary talents. In addition, AHL manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House. AHL was set up in 11 December 2002 as a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council and was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 March 2014. For more information, visit artshouselimited.sg .

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• School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA) /
• 2022 SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition /
• 3rd Prize Winner: Annaleigh Eve Ng

That night, the banyan tree walked away, and nothing was the same ever again.

“Child, you're grown up now, you've to be on your own,” she said in a resolute voice while releasing its grip on its seed, Ficus. “Mama…where…do you want me…to go? Don't leave me…” Ficus protested vehemently against her decision. Smiling reassuringly, she whispered in Ficus' ears, “There is a beautiful world outside of this forest. You have to see and experience it to find your destiny. One day, we'll be reunited. If you miss me, look upon the stars and I'll be smiling at you.” In that instant, Ficus felt herself pirouetting in the cold air.

Lying supine on the soil and oblivious to her fate, Ficus snivelled uncontrollably. Cicadas chanted a pensive requiem, while curious fireflies circled her like mischievous pixies gloating at her. She had the company of millions of constellations yet she never felt lonelier. Ensconced in the comfortable arms of the good earth, she soon fell asleep.

The first hues of sunrise illuminated each crevice of the land. As Ficus opened her eyes, she was momentarily blinded by the piercing rays. Her spirits, however, lifted at the sight of clear blue skies. The warmth of sunlight gave her the hope and courage she much needed. She felt optimism coursing through her veins. She was ready to embark on her journey.

She waltzed to the orchestra of the winds while relishing every scenery along the way. Meandering rivers stretching their long yearning arms and imposing mountains nudging their heads against expansive skies. Fickle clouds changing shapes each time she blinked. She witnessed farmers toiling laboriously in paddy fields and wrinkled fishermen snoozing in their boats. She heard the aggressive hollers of peddlers in bustling markets, alongside the hapless whimpers of mangled beggars. She smiled at children frolicking in the murky rivers, but teared at the sight of emaciated old folks limping in excruciating pain. She was fascinated by this kaleidoscope called life, interspersed with exuberance and melancholy. She finally understood her mother's intentions. Even though it must have broken her heart, the banyan tree loved Ficus too much to keep her by her side. She only wished for her to experience the joys and sorrows of the real world.

As she descended on a verdant woodland, the winds bade their farewell reluctantly. She knew her journey had come to an end. She had travelled a hundred miles, away from her mother, but she had not the slightest regret. As she looked up at the night sky, she finally saw the banyan tree smiling at her. She shuttered her eyes peacefully, preparing to germinate the next generation for their intrepid journey - just like herself.

• Discover SOTA Literary Arts with Sophie Ang
• Discover SOTA Literary Arts with Terrell James Ng
• Discover SOTA Literary Arts with Zara Estrella Parveen
• 1st Prize Winner: RaeAnne Tse
• 2nd Prize Winner: Lucas Wang Hao Bo

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• SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2021
• The School of the Arts (SOTA)

The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition.

Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers!

Find out how to take part and submit your entries online here.

Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

Image Credit: The School of the Arts (SOTA)

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The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition. Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers! Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

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Golden Point Award

Established by the National Arts Council in 1993, the Golden Point Award is Singapore's premier creative writing competition for short story and poetry. It accepts entries in the nation's four major languages – English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil – and aims to develop the literary penmanship of writers in Singapore.

Short Story (English) – 2nd Prize

Joseph Tan Soon Teck MA Creative Writing, Class of 2024

Short Story (English) – Honourable Mention

Sarah Soh MA Creative Writing, Class of 2022

Chen Cuifen MA Creative Writing, Class of 2021

Entry: The Funnies

Other Awards

Breadcrumbs

(+65) 6403 3970

[email protected]

1 Wallich Street #14-01 (Guoco Tower), Singapore 078881

Copyright School Challenge 2023/2024: Creative Writing Competition

The Copyright School Challenge: Creative Writing Competition is back this year with a brand-new theme! CLASS is launching its second edition of the Creative Writing Competition for primary school students with the aim to encourage creativity and promote copyright awareness among students.

About the competition

The Creative Writing Competition is aimed at inspiring primary school students to write as well as empowering them to express their creative thoughts and opinions through poetry or as an essay. Similar to the last edition, the competition has two separate categories: Essay Writing and Poetry Writing.

– The Essay Writing category is open to Primary 3 & Primary 4 students. – The Poetry Writing category is open to Primary 5 & Primary 6 students.

The closing date for submissions is Sunday, 31 March 2024 . The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024.

The theme for this year’s competition is CURIOSITY .

Please refer to the format requirements for the submissions:

– Essay writing: Maximum of 300 words for Primary 3 students and 400 words for Primary 4 students. Title is not included in the word count. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced. – Poetry writing: Written in English. Maximum of 20 lines, excluding the title. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced.

The author’s name should be included in the document or file name. No illustrations should be included as part of the entry. Submit as either a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF file.

The top 3 winners in each category are as follows:

– 1 st Prize : $500 + Trophy – 2 nd Prize: $300 + Trophy – 3 rd Prize: $200 + Trophy

Registration & Submission

You may register your interest and submit your entries by clicking on the button below.

There will also be a poetry and an essay writing workshop held in conjunction with the competition. These workshops will be reserved for participants who register their interest by 29 February 2024 , are limited to a first-come, first-serve basis and will be held at the NLB. Further information regarding these workshops will be provided by January 2024.

To register for the workshops, please visit the following links in January 2024:

Poetry writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now  CLOSED Essay writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now CLOSED

*Submissions can be made at a later date after registering of interest.

Check out the Top 2 entries from each category from last year’s competition below!

Poetry Writing

Maanav Praseed – Chess, A Work of Art

Me and my chess board, black and white Time for some strategy, fun and fight!

In ebony and ivory, the pieces stand, Each with a purpose and a plan.

The clock ticks down, the tension mounts, A clash of minds, and a battle of thoughts.

Oh! A move I haven’t seen before, But don’t give up! Give him more!

I stare at the board rubbing my chin, Ah! The perfect sequence to secure my win.

The pawns, the bishops, the rooks and knights, With will and valour they all fight.

I realise I blunder a beautiful fork, I sit there thinking I’m a dork.

My queen comes out to avenge my rook, And my plan worked… I made him look!

Time passes by and the attack brews, His hand stretches out to say I lose!

I love my chessboard, a work of art, A game well-played, fills my heart.

Runner-Up Hailey Chua Yixin – Play

My fingers poise on the scintillating keys, The obsidian and ivory beckoning to me. With my right hand, I press down the first note of the song, Launching the charming canon. My body bobs along.

The tune starts off gleeful, airy and sweet. It billows in the air, in light, cheerful beats. Mezzo piano, whispered. Diminuendos, gentle. Digits trickle o’er the piano, a skipping instrumental.

Then my left hand comes in, and the phrase becomes a story, Told by two alluring sirens, crooning in harmony. It deepens like marionettes waltzing to my nails, Which cascade in a glissando. I sway, ridden of travail.

The crescendos build in suspense; my tension unravels… My enthusiasm builds with the keys pounding like gavels. Eventually, the tempo slows, and the melody softens. My eyes close, the piano shuts. Click. An elegy to a coffin.

Music is the wax that binds us to our souls, And unleashes our pressure with the ring of a doh. Till death, this wonderful piano I shall forever play. This is my lighthearted, lyrical way of… play

Essay Writing Writing

I sit on a bed, my mottled legs dangling lifelessly. My glazed eyes stare blankly at the far wall. They fall on a picture of a young boy, his hand tightly grasping the sleeve of a smiling, grey-haired woman. He has a penetrating stare, his jet-black hair jutting out at odd angles. I frown. Who are they? I cannot seem to remember. A tear trickles down my face.

A young boy runs in, with a grin on his face. He flings his arms around me. Who is he? Why is he hugging me? My eyes tilt involuntarily towards the picture on the wall. I look back in front of me. He is just like that boy, but older. He takes out an oddly familiar object. What is that?

“Do you remember we played four-in-a-row last week? You won all seven times!”

But I don’t remember. Is my mind playing tricks on me? Is he playing with me? At the back of my mind, I know that he is not.

A flicker of connection sparks in my mind as I pick up the rounded disc, hesitantly slotting it into a hole. I remember how to play. Not just to play the game, but play itself.

He puts another piece in, blocking my path. I frown. Then I remember how to smile as I continue playing.

A familiar smell wafts into the room. Chicken rice. That is my favourite food. I keep silent for a moment.

“Come on, let’s go on playing!” He urged as a slightly worried look crossed his face. A moment later, it was gone.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me?

“The doctor said play is good for you,” He says as he blocks me once again.

I remember how to laugh as I put in another piece.

As I look around me, I know I am at home, on my bed. My home. My bed. I sit there and cry. Tears after tears bucketing down. I remember I played with him last week, and the week before. Through the tears, I smile once again.

“Are you alright?” The boy asks, the creases of worries plain on his face.

“I remember,” I say, as I slot my next disc in.

“Grandma, do you know who I am?”

I reply, “I don’t know who you are, but I know I love you.”

Aidan Weckx

“Where is Aidan? Is he off to play with his mates again?” muttered my mom in exasperation, as she picks up our sweaty ski gear in the restaurant. “Yes mom,” sighed Dylan, my 6-year old brother. “You know where he always is whenever we are here.”

Every year, my family heads off to our “happy place” – Club Med Valmorel in the French Alps, several hours from Paris. We spend our week skiing in the breathtaking snow-capped mountains, enjoying the fresh air of the Alps. Ski class starts at 9:00 am, we break for lunch, and then we are back on the slopes for the afternoon class. But my real “play time” starts way before ski class, and continues during our breaks, and “apres-ski.”

I love to play ping-pong and whenever I have time to spare between ski classes, I can be found in the basement kids club with about 15 boys, from ages 6 to 20. At first, with all the French chatter, I did not feel I belonged to the eclectic group. But after I played ping-pong with the boys, some of whom were serious experts, I felt a real sense of belonging, like I was in special club with like-minded friends bonded by a common passion.

Whenever I pick up my paddle, I feel my adrenaline rush through my veins. A good player has to have the speed of a cheetah, the grace of a gazelle, the precision of an eagle and the power of a lion. I was inspired by the older teenager boys, who played so skillfully and artfully, with such finesse and grace. And every single day, I would be at the basement, playing my heart out.

All good things come to an end and it was time to return home. I had found my passion, and that was ping-pong. My dad even bought me a mini ping-pong table so I can play in the living room anytime, and my mom signed me up for a professional ping-pong holiday camp. Play time was no longer in front of my computer or TV – it was always at the ping-pong table, where I felt the most at ease.

Just eight more months and I will be back in Club Med Valmorel again, playing with speed, grace, precision and power – where I am back in the game, and back in the happiest playground on earth.

Terms and Conditions

All registration and entries must be filled and submitted by the parents, teachers, or guardians of the participants (student or child). Each participant can submit only one entry, and manuscripts must be in Microsoft Word or pdf.

Participants (students) must submit their entries by Sunday, 31 March 2024 . All submissions must be made via the online form through the student’s teacher or parent/guardian.

Only entries that are duly received by us by the aforementioned closing date will be eligible for the competition. We will not accept responsibility for any entries that are lost, delayed, or damaged and we do not consider proof of submitting an online entry as proof that we have received it.

All entries must be an original piece and developed by the student or child. The entries must not have been published on any other forms of media (including the internet, social media, newspapers, and school publications). Entries must not have been submitted for any other contests before.

The poetry writing and essay writing workshops are free of charge for registered participants of the competition.

Any entries containing excerpts, translations, or plagiarism, infringing on others’ copyrights, will be disqualified, and rendered invalid. Revocation of any award and return of prizes will be required.

All personal information including contact details must be provided and accurate. The registrants will be contactable via email and/ or phone for the purpose of the competition only.

Prize-winning entries are subject to publication, distribution, and promotion by the Organiser without prior notification.

The decision of the judges is final, and no discussion will be entertained in relation to their decision.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024, with the date to be confirmed. Parents/guardians and teachers including the entrant must be present for the ceremony to receive the prize.

For any enquiries, do send us an email at [email protected]

• RULES AND REGULATIONS
• AWARDS AND PRIZES
• IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE
• TOP 50 FINALISTS
• Top 10 Finalists
• EXHIBITION INFORMATION

SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2024

Awards and prizes.

50 finalists will be invited to a short story writing workshop on 23 March 2024 and will receive the following prizes:

• Top 10 finalists: $100 book voucher
• Next 40 finalists: $20 book voucher

© 2023 Singapore Arts School Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Singapore Young Writers Press

Since 2015, we have been dedicated to inspiring children to produce quality works and promote the exchange of stories, ideas and cultures, by gathering and distributing quality works by children, for children., we organize national and district competitions, workshops and events to showcase the best of what our young writers have to offer and help them further hone their skills., we also publish their works to encourage the budding writers and help other young readers benefit from reading quality works by their peers so they are inspired to attempt like-wise..

Immerse yourself in TEC’s learning circle, Get LIT!, and experience learning the English language outdoors. Get LIT! is a members only platform within The English Council for our ESL & EFL learners to get enlightened, get creative, get connected and get an edge through discovering the English language via both work and play. We bring you to places of interest and eateries or may even sign you up for a mini workshop such as a Cooking or Wine Tasting Class, mini Tours, Art & Drama workshops as well as Retreats so that you learn as you participate and engage with others. You will do this with other like-minded EFL and ESL learners, enabling you to make new friends as you do so and learn a particular skill or two while you are at it. You will be having so much fun, you won’t even realise that you are actually picking up a language skill! As we run each Get LIT! programme on a quarterly basis, do stay tuned to find out when and where our next Get LIT! experience will take us to. Or you could register your interest HERE so that we may keep you posted instead.

We believe in giving back.

10% of all The English Council’s proceeds will go back to the community and beyond in some way, shape or form, especially concessionary or fully sponsored course fees for disadvantaged or underprivileged learners*, working with meaningful platforms and organisations, or the like.

Feel free to join us in our efforts in giving back to our community and beyond in any way you can think of by writing to us. Whether it is in the form of bringing to our attention a situation with a special need, offering to give us your time and expertise or simply sharing an idea, no suggestion is too small or inconsequential. We would love hearing from you.

At The English Council,  Teaching is a work of heart ; we say what we mean and we mean what we say.

*Eligible learners will be selected at the sole discretion of The English Council Pte. Ltd.

English remains the lingua franca of most countries. Studying and working globally as well as the rise of tourism make learning the English language crucial in this day and age.

Register a Course Today

At The English Council, we subscribe to the philosophy that learning goes beyond the classroom. It needs to be functional, immersive and engaging with the primary purpose of enhancing the learning process for school-going children learning English as part of our National curriculum or as youths and adults learning English as a Second or Foreign language for their personal development. We offer lessons that are highly robust, dynamic and innovative, developing our learners’ receptive and productive skills, through contemporary learning programmes for effective retention of concepts. Similarly, we have incorporated a substantial amount of self-directed learning in our English Language programmes for active learners with time constraints.

Creative Writing Competition

"start writing, no matter what. the water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." - louis l'amour, "don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." - anton chekhov, the english council  pte. ltd. (tec)  is proud to present its inaugural nationwide creative writing competition extended to all singaporean & pr students in singapore between the ages of 10 and 19 years old in 2020..

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Pick ONE of the following five essay topics and write an original story between 500 and 800 words in length:

• The Red Box
• Start and end  your original story with the following sentence: ‘I never liked the colour purple.’
• Write an original story based on: You are in the middle of a secluded desert. You see a mirror in the distance and as you gravitate towards it, you reach out and touch it.
• Schadenfreude

Submit your original story to [email protected] by 5th December 2020  Saturday, 19th December 2020, 6.00pm . 

1st Prize (Overall Winner): Apple iPad

2nd Place Winner (Age Group – 10 to 14 Years Old): $400 TEC Gift Card

2nd Place Winner (Age Group – 15 to 19 Years Old): $400 TEC Gift Card

Plus 27 Consolation Prizes

Submission Date:

5th December 19th December 2020, 6.00pm

Notification of Shortlisted Candidates by:

12th December 2020 9th – 12th January 2021

Workshop Date & Time:

Saturday, 19th December  

Saturday, 16th January 2021 

2.00pm to 6.00pm

Broadcast of Top 3 Winners:

December 2020 January 2021

*Dates and terms have been amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Submissions for this event are closed. A big ‘thank you’ to all contestants for their participation and support.

We look forward to reading each and every creative masterpiece. Stay tuned by liking or following us on our Facebook Page .

Write on & let the magic happen!

COMPETITION CRITERIA

This competition is strictly open to all Singaporean and PR students only, who are aged between 10 and 19 years old in 2020. Each contestant may submit only ONE entry. ALL entries MUST be original and written by the contestant in English. The entries must not have been published anywhere else at the time of submission.

All participants MUST Like and Share any one of The English Council’s (TEC) Nationwide Creative Writing Competition 2020 posts on TEC’s Facebook Page (See link: https://www.facebook.com/theenglishcouncil/ ) on their Facebook Wall, Instagram or any social media platform in the form of a post. The audience setting of the latter post on the contestant’s social media profile MUST be set to public (where applicable) and remain actively published until the closing date of this competition. All submissions MUST include a screen grab(s) of the latter, along with TEC’s Entry Form (See below).

Entries that do not meet the minimum word count of 500 words or those that exceed the word count of 800 words will be immediately disqualified. Personal details of the contestant written on the first page will not contribute to the final word count.  

The submission deadline is 19th December 2020 at 6.00pm . Late submissions will not be entertained.

This is a FREE event and there is no participation fee of any kind required.

Entries must be submitted via email to [email protected] and must use TEC’s Word Document template (CLICK HERE) . The first page of this Word Document MUST be completed and endorsed with the contestant’s signature before submission. The contestant’s essay should start only from page two of the Word Document and should be typed in Arial font-size 12, double-spaced and in black only. Before submission, the Word Document needs to be renamed by changing ‘FULL NAME’ to the contestant’s full name.

SELECTION OF WINNERS

30 shortlisted contestants will be selected by the faculty of The English Council Pte. Ltd. and they will be notified by January 2021. The 30 selected contestants will be invited to attend a compulsory and complimentary Creative Writing Clinic, where they will undergo a second level of selection process during which they will be further assessed. This will be conducted on Saturday, 16th January 2021 from 2.00pm to 6.00pm . (Shortlisted contestants will be notified of the venue via text message or email closer to the date). Of the 30 shortlisted contestants, 3 of them will be announced as the top winners based on their performance during the Creative Writing Clinic. The remaining 27 contestants will be awarded with a consolation prize. The results of the top 3 winners of The English Council’s Nationwide Creative Writing Competition 2020 will be published on The English Council’s website or social media page by January 2021. 

SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS

In view of the global spread of COVID-19, every effort will be taken during the Creative Writing Clinic to ensure the safety of all our participants through prior mandatory travel declarations of all parties directly involved in the event and temperature checks of all parties on the actual day before the commencement of the event.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

By submitting the essay to the competition, the contestant grants The English Council Pte. Ltd. and its affiliates the non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, royalty-free license (with the right to sub-license) to keep and reproduce, edit, display, transmit, modify, publish and otherwise make use of the submitted entries in any and all media for any purpose consistent with the corporate objectives of The English Council Pte. Ltd., including educational, archival and research purposes, and for publicising The English Council Pte. Ltd. or any of its programmes, including derivative works for such purposes. Where practical, the essay will be attributed to the student who submitted it.

In addition, by submitting the essay or any other content to the Creative Writing Competition, the contestant declares that the submitted materials do not infringe on any copyright or other rights of any third party, and that the contestant has the right to grant any and all rights and licenses to The English Council Pte. Ltd. 

The English Council Pte. Ltd. reserves the right to change any of the above terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

For further queries, please contact us at [email protected]

Proudly brought to you and fully sponsored by.

The English Council is steadfast in its intent to hone the English Language skills of its learners (including ESL and EFL learners or those pursuing TOEFL or IELTS) from all walks of life through conducting programmes that educate, engage and enlighten.

We offer real solutions to real needs. You  need  to learn the English Language and you  need  to learn it fast. You  need  to retain concepts through lessons, which are not a drag. You  need  programmes that excite, inspire and spur your interests.

All our programmes are holistically designed with those needs in mind. Each programme is developed to include robust, prolific and contemporary methods, so you learn in the speediest of manners, are able to apply your skills immediately in the real world and that true spirit for learning the English written and spoken word within you is awakened. We respect the process, but more importantly, we respect your needs.

There are four dynamic tracks to suit all the diverse needs of different learners.

ONLINE Teaching Track (LIVE Classroom)

We hear your concerns about safety and precautions in the face of the global spread of COVID-19. We hear your concerns that in the face of so much apprehension and uncertainty, one thing remains certain – the impending National Examinations. Modern problems require modern solutions, so we are moving some of our highly popular courses online.

The English Council’s LIVE Classroom is an online learning environment that allows for live interaction between our educators and learners as they participate in learning activities.

You will get the same experience without any real compromise. The only difference will be the absence of physical contact time. Our live online courses will be conducted so seamlessly and as prolifically, you will never feel the difference.

At The English Council, Teaching is a Work of Heart ; we say what we mean and we mean what we say.

• ONLINE LIVE Creative Writing Clinic (Primary 5 & 6)
• ONLINE LIVE PSLE English Language Preparation
• ONLINE LIVE GCE ‘O’ Level English Language Preparation
• ONLINE LIVE GCE ‘A’ Level General Paper Preparation

Self Development Track for ESL/EFL Learners

The Self Development Track caters to the vital needs of ESL or EFL learners studying the English Language as a second or foreign language and who are keen on developing their productive and receptive skills. In addition, these learners have an interest in learning the English language as part of their personal and/or academic goals.

All our programmes focus on advancing the essential skill sets of learners through comprehensive sessions on grammar, reading, vocabulary, speaking, listening and writing.

• Beginner English
• Elementary English
• Pre-Intermediate English
• Intermediate English
• Upper Intermediate English
• Advanced English

Singapore National Examinations English Track

Each programme in the Singapore National Examinations Track encompasses the holistic development and refinement of each learner’s critical-thinking skills and language mastery. The different programmes in this track are discerningly designed with the keen and precise intent at aiding learners to achieve their ultimate potential and creating a vital gateway for learners in their successive journey into the world of tertiary education. In addition, our curricula are concurrently aligned with MOE’s 21st Century Competencies framework, enabling our students to embody the Desired Outcomes of Education (DOE) .

• Creative Writing Clinic (Primary 5 & 6)
• Young Learners’ Literature Circle (Primary 5 & 6)
• PSLE English Language Preparation
• GCE ‘O’ Level English Language Preparation
• GCE ‘A’ Level General Paper  Preparation

Pre-University Track for TOEFL & IELTS Learners

The Pre-University Track is designed for the knowing learner, who recognises the vital need to sharpen their productive writing skills, an essential component in both TOEFL & IELTS for the successful entry into a tertiary institution of their choice. Our highly structured programmes include pivotal steps and know-how tips to writing vastly effective and prolific expository essays.

• TOEFL Ultimate Writing Clinic
• IELTS Essential Writing Clinic

Functional (Business) English Track

The function of the English Language is letting the English Language function. Our simple philosophy is the purposeful application of the English Language in the day to day life of our learners. This space is in its inception stage with numerous bite-sized programmes in the pipeline. We believe learning the English Language should not only excite and inspire learners, but also be functional and relevant to their needs. For a start, our Functional Programmes encompass business-related communication skills, essential to the success of learners aspiring to join the workforce or who aspire to climb up the corporate ladder.

• Resume Writing
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Professional Telephone Techniques
• Business Writing Skills
• Professional Service Language
• Mastering Interview Techniques
• Customised Corporate Programmes (please enquire within)

Current Promotions

PROMOTION 1

Modern problems require modern solutions. Here’s one from us. From now till the 7th of April 2020, we are gifting all first-time applicants of our ONLINE courses with a S$155 Voucher to help defray expenses.

Get your Coupon Code here: 

http://theenglishcouncil.com/get-155-off-online-english-courses/

PROMOTION 2

For a limited period, for every quarterly or long-term package that is registered, first-time applicants will enjoy not only lower monthly fees, but the first session will be absolutely FREE*! (*Terms & Conditions apply.)

Check out our English Language programmes here:

http://theenglishcouncil.com/shop/

Working Adults

Our Educators

Yvonne Anjelina

Principal english language specialist.

Chief Castle-builder & Founder

Yvonne, one of the two big cheeses behind The English Council (based in Singapore), is an MOE-registered Teacher who has a Master of Education (English) co-awarded by the National Institute of Education (NIE) & Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as well as a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) from the University of Cambridge, under her belt. In addition, she is an Associate Adult Educator with the Institute of Adult Learning (SUSS-IAL) as well as a Certified Industry Trainer/Curriculum Developer/Assessor (DACE & ACTA). During her métier as a Corporate Educator, Yvonne had taught Service Excellence and Workplace Literacy (WPL) Programmes to adults to help hone their communication skills at work and in life. In case these are not noteworthy enough, Yvonne is also a Certified Etiquette Consultant and has authored and published two etiquette guidebooks, currently available in our libraries. Her passion for the English language spurred her to set up The English Council in hopes of not only enabling her learners to master the language and develop the same admiration for it, but ensuring that it is done so in a fun and engaging way.

Irene Patricia

Chief Disruptor & Founder

Irene is an MOE-registered Teacher, who has been actively teaching the English Language for more than two decades to a heterogeneous league of learners from Singapore, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar and Malaysia. She intuitively understands the needs of diverse learners and encompasses an innate ability to simplify concepts, so almost anyone, young and not-so-young, can comprehend them. Irene’s passion and zest are undeniably infectious and instantly evident in her teaching style and pedagogy. Under her tutelage, most of her learners thrive in especially national examinations, attaining the highest possible grade. For four consecutive years, from 2018 to 2021, a hundred percent of her learners attained distinctions for General Paper in the GCE ‘A’ Level National Examinations. Between 91% to 93% of her learners who take on the English Language Examination for the GCE ‘O’ Level National Examinations score distinctions every year, and all her learners who sit for the English Language Examination for the Primary School Leaving Examination attain Achievement Level 3 and above. Irene strives to continually reinvent herself and stay relevant in today’s ever-evolving education space. In 2016, she attained a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), awarded by University of Cambridge, placing her in the top 25 percent of her cohort in Singapore. Her recent endeavours include taking on a couple of programmes under Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications System (WSQ). In 2019, Irene completed her Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA v5) and in the first quarter of 2020, she most recently completed a Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE v2). Her long-standing triumph is attaining ‘The Best in Absurd Laws in Singapore’ & ‘2 nd Best in Absurd Laws in the World’ in September 2019 and earning the title of ‘Singapore Gum Chewer’ on QuizUp. She aspires to be the best in the world.

Testimonials

Ms Irene and Ms Yvonne are very kind and patient teachers. I presume that they have tonnes of experience because of how professional they are. Their performance was excellent. Thank you very much.

Desti Amalia – Oiltech Services Pte Ltd

Yvonne is perfect! She is thoughtful and gives useful vocabulary to students.

Irene is amazing! She is very friendly and understands the students. I enjoyed learning English with her.

Nicky – Katong Satay Supplies Pte Ltd

Teacher Irene is very wonderful. In her class, we have many opportunities to communicate with the other students. She always prepares fun and interesting games so that we can easily understand. Thanks so much!

Huang Yan Feng (Candy) – Yi Feng Rubber Pte. Ltd.

Ms Irene and Ms Yvonne are kind and have patience when teaching.

Jin Yinglan – NTUC Fairprice

Both the teachers are very professional and friendly.

Ling Yi Qin – NTUC Fairprice

I learned good English pronunciation from Ms Irene.

Ms Yvonne is not difficult to understand. She is very kind and speaks clearly and I have learnt a lot of words from her.

Takashi – Yokogawa

Friendly & Professional

Ng Boey (May) – NTUC Fairprice

Ms Yvonne is kind to teach us and waits for our reply. Her smile is very good!

Ms Irene has a lot of ideas when teaching English.

Yama – Yokogawa

Get LIT! is a members only learning circle within The English Council for learners to get enlightened, get creative, get connected and get an edge as they discover the English Language through both work and play. 

The learning circle enables our EFL & ESL learners to naturally immerse themselves in the English Language through partaking in interesting activities and workshops such as Wine Tasting, Cooking, Art & Drama workshops, Retreats and the list goes on. Our world is your Classroom. You will do this with other like-minded EFL and ESL learners, enabling you to make new friends as you do so and learn a particular skill or two while you are at it. 

As we run each Get LIT! programme on a quarterly basis, do stay tuned to find out when and where our next Get LIT! experience will take us to. Or you could register your interest HERE so that we may keep you posted instead.

Referral Programme

Bring a friend and we’ll give you S$25 hard cash, when they sign up with us*. Bring a few more pals and we’ll keep lining your pockets. All that love needs a reward.

Check out our Referral Programme below.

1-3 referrals: S$25 hard cash for each referral

4-6 referrals: S$45 hard cash for each referral

7 referrals and above: S$65 hard cash for each referral

*Each referred learner must sign up and complete at least a month-long programme before we fatten your pockets.

Corporate Social Responsibility

10% of all The English Council’s proceeds will go back to the community and beyond in some way, shape or form, especially concessionary or fully sponsored course fees for disadvantaged or underserved learners*, working with meaningful platforms and organisations, or the like.

At The English Council, Teaching is a Work of Heart ; we teach to inspire.

SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS

In view of the global spread of COVID-19, every effort will be taken during the conduct of all our programmes to ensure the safety of all our learners through prior mandatory travel declarations and temperature checks of all parties before each and every traditional classroom session.

Did you know that close to 1000 new words are added to the dictionary every year? With the advent of digital technology and the abbreviations often used by the Generation Z population, words like “fintech” and “TL;DR” have become a natural addition to the English vocabulary.

TEC’s Word of the Day

Video Clips

Say what now?!

Let’s Get in Touch!

Please enable javascript in your browser to complete this form. name * first last learner's name (if different from above) first last contact no. * email * disclosure of personal data * by ticking this box, i agree that the english council pte. ltd. may collect and use my personal data as shared above for administrative purposes. programme(s) interested in: * online creative writing clinic creative writing clinic online psle english language preparation psle english language preparation online ‘o’ level english language preparation ‘o’ level english language preparation online ‘a’ level general paper preparation ‘a’ level general paper preparation young learners’ literature circle beginner english elementary english pre-intermediate english intermediate english upper intermediate english advanced english toefl ultimate writing clinic ielts essential writing clinic functional (business) english get lit membership others not specified if requesting on behalf of your child, what level is he/she in psle ‘o’ level ‘a’ level not applicable others (please specify in the space below) do let us know if you have any other queries. count me in i would like to receive news on the the english council’s latest promotions and updates. website submit.

Or if you prefer, you could also contact us via:

Email: [email protected]

Contact No.: +65 9633 6637

TEC’s Website Disclaimer

The writers of this site did all of its creative writing with the intention of creating awareness of The English Council’s (TEC’s) programmes. Some bits may have been expressed in a tongue-in-cheek manner for the purposes of informing learners of TEC’s line-up of programmes as well as engaging and entertaining TEC’s traffic.

Should any of this site’s content offend you in any way, shape or form, you may reach out to TEC and they will be open to reviewing your feedback. They might even throw in a free English Language session. We are just guessing; we could be way off.

No letters, fonts, words, characters or punctuation marks were harmed during the creative writing process of this site. 

Oh, and by the way, this website is best viewed on a desktop/laptop. 

For a limited period, for every quarterly or long-term package that is registered, first-time applicants will enjoy not only lower monthly fees, but the first session will be absolutely FREE*! (*Terms & Conditions apply.) Dismiss