Get to know DR DU LIJUAN and JANE MARTUNEAC, the specialised principal and vice principal respectively of the Chinese-English bilingual programme at Canadian International School. This was one of the first programmes for bilingual education in Singapore offered by an international school here. Each class has one native English language speaking teacher and one native Chinese language speaking teacher. The two teachers help students to learn the two different languages and their associated cultures, which in turn helps to create real world value in learning Chinese and English.
You can meet both Lijuan and Jane in person at CIS’s monthly Open House. Register at cis.edu.sg/admissions/open-house.
Tell us about your role in this programme for bilingual education in Singapore
Lijuan: I lead the division’s full operation including academic success, curriculum development and implementation, student life, teacher quality, teacher recruitment and parent communication. I also work closely with my colleagues on strategic planning and implementation.
Jane: I oversee the smooth functioning of the bilingual immersion curriculum for Grades 1 to 6, ensuring all our students are in a respectful and safe learning environment. I work closely with teachers and our coordinators to ensure that both Chinese and English language instruction are effectively integrated across all subjects.
Describe a typical working day at CIS
Lijuan: Every morning, I greet our students. During the day, I head to different classrooms to learn how they engage in their learning Chinese and English. I observe the teaching and learning taking place. Then I meet with our teachers and leadership team to plan the best bilingual education programme for our students’ holistic development. I connect with parents and help them understand our educational philosophies and best practices.
Jane: I work closely with coordinators and grade level leaders to develop best practices in learning and teaching within the programme.
I engage directly with students and teachers to provide support in all aspects of our students’ learning journey within our bilingual education programme in Singapore. This may include assisting with English and Chinese language acquisition, addressing academic challenges and fostering a supportive learning environment conducive to their overall growth and development.
How has your presence supported the bilingual education programme?
Lijuan: I’ve built strong relationships with our students, parents and teachers, so we can work together to help our students grow and thrive. I also use every opportunity to inspire our community members to become positive advocates of bilingual education in Singapore, so we can work towards the same goals of bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement and sociocultural competence during each child’s bilingual education journey.
Jane: I’ve ensured that the language development needs and nuanced aspects of our programme are specifically considered, reviewed and developed over time.
What do you do when you’re not at CIS?
Lijuan: I love reading, especially paper books. When the weather is beautiful, I like hiking amidst nature. I also like to taste food from different countries and cultures.
Jane: I love spending time at home with my children. We love activities like cooking together, playing games such as Scrabble and movie nights. Since relocating to Singapore, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring and sampling the city’s diverse culinary scene.
About Lijuan and Jane
Lijuan has been in education for 27 years. She holds a Doctor of Education from The University of Hong Kong and a Masters in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Jane has 18 years of experience in education and has a Masters of Education in Education Policy, Organisation and Leadership, with an emphasis in New Learning and New Literacies from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She was Head of Primary at Yew Chung International School of Beijing before joining CIS.
Canadian International School
7 Jurong West Street 41
6467 1732 | cis.edu.sg
For more, read the reflections of CIS students who took part the first Yale Model United nations conference in Singapore and how the CIS swim team are a force to be reckoned with.
This article first appeared in the May 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
