Playing their part

For English: Dr Chan (fourth from left) and Dr Khew (fifth from left) with teachers who have signed up for HELP University's Master of Education in Teaching English As a Second Language programme.

Well-trained English teachers are one of the keys to addressing the declining standards of the language among students, especially in Chinese independent schools.

ENGLISH teacher Annei Maria Anthony picked up a smattering of Mandarin throughout the 22 years she spent teaching at various Chinese independent schools across the country.