Analysis of the Competency-based English Curriculum in Singapore

The revised 2015 national curriculum in Korea adopted a competency-based curriculum approach. Although the concept of ‘competency’ is not new in general education, the meaning of competency-based education is not clear. This is because the discussion of competency has focused mostly on identification of competencies in general education. When it comes to a specific subject, competency-based education has not been adequately addressed. The present study analyzes the competency-based curriculum of English in Singapore so as to gain insights into the competency-based curriculum of English in Korea. Two implications were drawn from the analysis. First, the English syllabus in Singapore uses its own framework in organizing contents. Four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are considered to be the four areas of language learning (listening and viewing, speaking and representing, reading and viewing, writing and representing). Second, key competencies are well incorporated into the English syllabus in Singapore. Learning outcomes in particular include components of SSAB(strategies, skills attitude, and behaviour). The study discusses the implications of developing a competency-based curriculum of English in Korea.