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Visit Singapore
Everything you want to know about Singapore. This site is primarily for tourists. Sometimes were all tourists,
even in our own hometowns. Theres a terrific calendar of events for each month.
Lonely Planet
The Lonely Planet guidebooks are the best. Their websites are just as informative. The Lonely Planet website has
a "Bluelist" of recommended favorite sites the Singapore Zoo is one of them.
Wildlife
National Parks
The one half of Singapore that is natural reserve is quite fascinating. Wild orchids grow everywhere. Monkeys
scattered all about, swinging from trees, or just lounging around the roads. Log on to the National Parks site,
and you can find tours, festivals and other educational programs centered around the beautiful gardens of Singapore.
Wild Singapore
This is the official website of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. There are over 800 species of plant life here,
with over 500 species of animals.
Working as a Teacher
Ministry of Education
There are several schools, both private and public systems; all are registered with the Singapore
Ministry of Education.
Remember that you may be teaching on regular vacation and holiday times, especially when working for private
language schools.
Visa Requirements
Passport and Visa Service
The government site for visas
Asia Travel Guide
Singapore hotels have doctors on call. Singapore has excellent, up-to date medical facilities, and also offers
a "Tourist Clinic." Travel insurance is available throughout the U.S. as well. Most employers offer
you medical insurance one you complete the required probationary period.
Real Estate - Buy or Rent
Asia XPat.com
Citiprop Pacific
Move and Stay
Sublet.com
There are several sources to help you locate an apartment or other residences. Housing costs and situations vary. You can share a flat, or apartment, for roughly anywhere between $500-$1000 per month. A private one bedroom or studio apartment is around $750 -$1,000 per month or more (depending on the area and quality). Prices go up from there. Singapore is a safe environment, so a cheaper apartment does not necessarily mean you end up in a bad neighborhood.
JTC Corporation, Email:
hdg@jtc.gov.sg
Prices for rooms range from S$350 - S$550 monthly. For those seeking to rent an entire flat, the government created
the Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent (SHiFT), which is administered by the JTC Corporation. Rental rates range between S$700 - S$1300 per month. Leases are generally for two years and require at least a one-month deposit. For further details and eligibility requirements, contact the Housing Development Group, JTC Corporation at (65) 68855315.
Enter Singapore
For those who prefer private housing, there is a selection of apartments, condominium units and houses available.
Listings can be obtained in classified advertisements or by enlisting the services of a housing agent. Prices range
from S$2,000 - S$6,000 in prime areas and S$1,000 - S$3,000 in other areas. Most private apartments offer between
800 - 2,000 sq ft. Terms differ from unit to unit, with most requiring a lease of at least one year and a security deposit.
Events and Statistics
www.sg
This site lists local events and celebrations happening around town. This is a portal to many activities as well
as work and recreation locations. The biggest holiday would be the Chinese New Year, the other cultures and religions
have several other holidays posted on sites like this as well.
Visit Singapore
*One U.S. Dollar is $1.53999 Singapore dollars, or "SG"s
*Public transportation is from 50 cents to $1SG, Buses, Trains, and Taxis
*Movies are about $4SG
*Meals are about $10 per head in a Western restaurant. It is much cheaper to eat local food.
Getting Around
Singapore Cars Online
Owning a car? Its really not necessary, but if you must - A car can cost from SG$15,000 for something like a
1991 Toyota Corolla on up! There is also a road tax based on the engine capacity (approx. $400 per 600cc) and
a surcharge based on the age of your vehicle (10% for 10years, 20% for 11 years, etc.).
Singapore Expats
Singapore is made up of four major culture groups: Chinese, Malay, Indian and other European groups. These groups
make up all of the major and some smaller religions. Most of the Muslim population is Malay. There is harmony
between each culture (like nothing Ive seen before). Although there are separate neighborhoods, they are
intermingled. Singapore expats provides internet researchers with everything they need to know about Singapore.
Kwintessential
Everything you want to know-at a glance about Singaporean etiquette, and some brief statements about their language
and culture.
Wikipedia
The modern history of Singapore began in 1819 when Englishman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles established a British port
on the island. This is a 17-page history. This history is quite thorough. Several links help you with further
research (if needed).
Berlitz
This language school website gives loads of information
on the cultures of Singapore along with a brief history. They also tell you about some of the customs.
Post Colonial Web
You can see evidence of English colonialism in the architecture throughout the downtown areas. There is also great
architecture left over form all the different cultures
Food
Asian Food Pix.com
Each culture in Singapore has its own cuisine. Eating at a "Hawker Stand" is a great experience. They are
groups of food vendors who gather here and there throughout the city in groups. Some are better than others, but you
can choose! Its all made right there in front of the customers and its much cheaper than eating in restaurants.
Asia Recipe.com
You can click through loads of interesting details about Singaporean culture on the site. More important though, is
the list of recipes youll find.
Singapore's Best Food Online Directory
A food guide for Singapore that lists restaurants and other food-centered events. Restaurants are listed by category.
There are also advertisements.
Regit.com
The main Languages are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. English is the most common language that unites the
different ethnic groups. Most members of society are bilingual, meaning that they speak their mother tongue and
English as the other language. Younger members of Singaporean society have adapted a funny new language called
"Singlish." It is a mixture of all the languages and English-and sounds nothing like English!
Singapore Colloquial English (Singlish)
Here is where you will find a more comprehensive description of "Singlish." This site tells the history of
Singlish, and also explores the sounds and the grammar structures that have been created to speak it. There are
classroom tips that may come in handy if you cant figure out what youre students are trying to tell you.
Websites that are search engines offer "blogs," forums and share pages that provide a portal for travelers to share stories with friends and comrades in backpacks.
Escapeartist.com
Escapeartist.com offers an anecdote of the authors first experience in Hong Kong, and offers advice for career
searching in both Singapore and Hong Kong. He suggests that the three places to look for work are: an international school, your second a government school and your third would be a commercial language school.
National University
The National University allows you to view papers and presentations on English teaching by professors. If youd rather a
less academic approach to learning about the world, be sure to hit on a "bulletin board," photo gallery, or
other anecdotal page somewhere not listed as a university!
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Information shown on this website is the result of a collaborative effort by Dr. Rod E. Case and the EDS491/691 Special Topics in Teaching English
as a Second Language Class, Wintermester, 2007. |
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