KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

This week, my Gal came back with a Surprising Query :
Her Classmate, Who is Very-Very Strong in EL - was marked down for EL P1 Compo, instead of FULL mark 40/40, Got 39/40 ....
Reason : She use American Spelling, Not British .....
According to my Gal : Got meeting bet 5 to 6 teachers, ALL except ONE is very Adamant on this spelling isssue ....
So Deduct ONE mark ......

Any Opinion on this?
Should we caution our kids against American Spelling in PSLE?

so far, my kids English teachers advised that as long as there is consistency, it is okay whether Brit or American English spelling is used. That means, don't use both types in a composition. I advise my kids to use Brit spelling consistenly.

Faun wrote:so far, my kids English teachers advised that as long as there is consistency, it is okay whether Brit or American English spelling is used. That means, don't use both types in a composition. I advise my kids to use Brit spelling consistenly.

Yes, I agree. As far as possible, use Brit eng if you know the variations. However, there are many grey areas where teachers would allow both, so it really depends on the context.

I think most of the teacher would use British standard CMIIW

I would use British spelling.

...ditto .....

Faun wrote:so far, my kids English teachers advised that as long as there is consistency, it is okay whether Brit or American English spelling is used. That means, don't use both types in a composition. I advise my kids to use Brit spelling consistenly.

i understand that is how the PSLE markers mark too...for composition but there was one year in paper two, the American spelling of pajamas is not accepted under SPG .Only British spelling for pyjamas is accepted.

Our education system is tilted towards British, still .

Singapore used British English and throughout the generations it has been since. Therefore much safer to use British English as some teachers may not even know American English cos the exposure is very low. Moreover, students are given British version for their spelling.

tutormum wrote:Therefore much safer to use British English as some teachers may not even know American English cos the exposure is very low.

Unfortunately, Er.... Or Fortunately???? All my Kids R exposed to ALL the Kiddies / Disney / Animax shows which use a Lot of American English ....
They can even speak with an "American Slang" and sounds exactly like the Kids on the Show ....

Not Much British Influence, where children Shows are concerned ....

Microsoft Word also forced us to use America English when it autocorrects spelling. How many people bother to change the default to Brit. English.

American spelling can look very awkward sometime, eg axe is spelt ax. I heard they wanted to spell daughter as dauter but didn't happen.