The Centre of English Language Communication (CELC) has undergone many changes in the last four years to play a new and more dynamic role within the National University of Singapore (NUS) and society at large.

When the Centre was formed as the English Language Proficiency Unit (ELPU) in 1979, its main goal was to offer proficiency courses for undergraduates who were weak in English. Today CELC continues to perform this important task. However, its role has expanded to include the development of students’ communication skills for academic and professional purposes; the offering of courses that meet an increasing variety of student needs, including those of an increasing number of foreign graduate students at the master’s and doctoral levels; and research on issues related to language teaching and learning in order to improve our curricula, materials and teaching.

Modern communication systems connect people with astounding speed and allow them to shape the world with an equally astounding efficiency. But, the efficient use of communication systems depends on the effective use of language. CELC’s goal is to ensure that NUS graduates have the language and communication skills which they need to be successful in today’s world. The increased demand for tertiary graduates with strong communication skills has prompted the Centre to conduct communication courses to prepare students for the workplace.

One of the greatest challenges for the Centre has been the increasing number of graduate students from ASEAN countries and beyond who are reading for their master’s and doctoral degrees. To better meet their needs, CELC offers courses that cater to their diverse proficiency levels and enable them to conduct research, write academic papers in English and communicate their research findings effectively. In addition, CELC continues to run, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, intensive English courses for pre-matriculation students from foreign countries.

The Centre continues to supervise students working on their master’s or doctoral degrees in the fields of applied linguistics and language education. Several candidates have successfully completed their studies under the supervision of CELC staff members.

In response to its expanding role, the CELC staff size has grown to 50 in 1998. Its course offerings now number 22 and these are taught in all the faculties of the University. Student enrolment in CELC courses currently stands at almost 8000. To facilitate the Centre’s work, committees have been set up. The Course, Testing and Workload Committees have ensured that the Centre’s goals are met by streamlining many of its course offerings and tests, as well as staff workload.

CELC has also taken several initiatives in line with the University’s strategic plans to keep tertiary level education relevant for the twenty-first century. These include instituting a system of peer review to maintain the quality of teaching in CELC. The Centre also continues to encourage staff development through its department seminar series and research that reflects critically on current English language teaching practices, especially their relevance to the Singapore context. More recently, collaborative research has been undertaken with other departments in the University.

Notwithstanding the expanded scope of its work, the Centre’s primary goal remains the same, that is, to help its students develop good English, successful communication skills and effective study skills, all of which are as relevant today as they will be tomorrow.

I am grateful to the Editorial Team — Ms Susan Lopez-Nerney, Ms Chan Fong Kin, Ms Grace Lingham and Ms Norhayati bte Mohd Ismail — for the time and work they have put into producing this handbook; the CELC course coordinators for providing the updated information in this handbook; and the CELC office staff for seeing to procedural matters and updating the administrative information.

Dr Wong Lian Aik

Director

Centre for English Language Communication