Here are my Higher Primary (Pri.4 to Pri.6) English textbooks from 1972 to 1974. They were Primary Situational English Book 6 to 8;
If you have read my previous post on My Pri. 2 Chinese Textbooks, you will not be surprised that I still have my Primary School English Textbooks. There is something which I do not understand until now – why are the textbooks labelled Number 6 to 8 for Primary 4 to 6? Anyone, any idea?
Here is how my Pri.6 (1974) English Textbook looked inside;
It’s not as colorful as the current English textbooks and that is expected. But there were some very interesting stories even my son enjoy reading them.
Let’s compare it to my son’s last year Pri.6 English textbook (2006);
The front cover is very similar for Pri.1 to 6 and thus rather monotonous compared to mine. Now let’s check the inside;
Woh, it’s definitely far much more colorful.
No matter what changes they have done to the English textbooks or syllabus, I personally find it difficult to understand how English is taught in our school. So what’s the best way to teach our kids Grammar, Vocab, etc…?
LKK:
How come your textbooks so neat and so clean – never used b4 or what?
Still got the smell?
Haha, clean? Got smell of old books leh.
If they looke new and clean, it means you never studied, rite? Hehehe…
I would love a chance to see my old exercises book again…. haha.. Can’t remember if my handwriting is neat or untidy. But surely won’t be as bad as my son’s! Haha..
Books are serialised 6, 7 and 8 because of extended stream? Express stream students take 6 years to finish 8 books while extended stream students take 8 years? Just guessing only. (BTW, I think they have officially dropped the term “extended” already because no matter what you call it, it carries a stigma.)
Hi Victor, during the 60s and 70s, got express and extended stream??? During my time, it’s only 1 very normal stream leh. Not like now so complicated.
Hi Sim, maybe during my time – the school bag are more like luggage, so can protect the books better haha.
Well done !
U have a good collection of the good old days here…
HI Lao KokKok
Hmm my guess is tat during your time the system was stil using the old British naming convention.
Form 6 – Pri 4, Form 7 – Pri 5 etc till Form 12 is “O” Levels… Form 14 is “A” Levels?
Yes and No. Think my time is where I start to learn both the systems haha. Frankly not only in that even for the Chinese language, we learned both types of pinyin and writing. Compared to the students nowadays like my kids, they only know simplified Chinese and Hanyu Pinyin.
wow.. you actually still keep your old books.. mine’s gone since i duno when.. have been looking for places which still have those books in Singapore… haha… wanna collect cuz it’s like gone from the shelves
Hi natty,
Welcome here and you will be surprised what else my mother and I keep hehe.
Interesting blog u have here. I’m born in 1966. I remember my primary school longman english readers, beautiful books with stories like sleeping beauty and other fairy tales. D cover is black but the inside has beautiful n colourful pictures, much nicer than my son’s primary school books anytime! Also used preston english. Think they came in 3 colours – green, orange n blue?