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Professional identity development patterns among beginning Tamil teachers: Generating propositions for supporting minority language teachers
No full textPurposeThis exploratory study aims to examine patterns of professional identity development among beginning Tamil language teachers in Singapore to generate propositions on how minority language status may qualitatively reshape early-career teaching experiences.Design/methodology/approachThis is an exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with three beginning Tamil language teachers in Singapore. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis to identify emerging patterns of identity development.FindingsThree interconnected dimensions emerged in teacher professional identity development: universal transitional experiences, culturally amplified challenges and unique cultural-linguistic identity dimensions. These patterns suggest what we termed a “compound effect”, where minority language status qualitatively transforms rather than merely intensifies early-career teaching challenges.Practical implicationsThe patterns identified suggest need for differentiated teacher preparation programmes, targeted mentoring systems and culturally responsive professional development, warranting further investigation across larger samples and contexts.Originality/valueThis study identifies emerging patterns that suggest minority language teachers may experience identity development differently from mainstream teachers. The “compound effect” concept provides a working hypothesis for understanding how cultural-linguistic minority status may transform rather than simply add to early-career challenges, offering a foundation for future research in multilingual education contexts.Accepted versio
What can postmodern therapies learn from dang-ki healing about the cultural ontology of the self?
No full textGiven the historical and sociocultural origin of (Western) psychotherapy, attempts have been made to adapt its theoretical models according to the worldviews of culturally diverse clients. One important aspect of worldviews is the cultural construct of the self. Since the ontology of the self varies across cultures and every model of psychotherapy is embedded in specific views of the self, this poses a challenge to the cross-cultural adaptation of psychotherapy, including postmodern therapies. This chapter proposes that the notion of “relational self” in postmodern therapies is ontologically different from the meaning of “relational self” in non-Western worldviews. One novel way to discuss their differences is to use dang-ki healing—a form of Chinese shamanism/spirit mediumship practiced in Singapore—as an example for comparison. The relational self structured in dang-ki healing is less differentiated, more hierarchical, and interconnected with both humans and nonhumans. Postmodern therapies can, therefore, be construed as “modernist” derived from Euro-American worldviews. Overall, this chapter aims to explore how well the processes of postmodern therapies fit with the ontology of the self in some Chinese communities based on the therapeutic experiences of people seeking help from dang-ki healing. Recommendations will be made to align postmodern therapies with the sense of self constructed in Chinese culture
Preschool educators' perception on risky play for young children in Singapore
No full textFroebel (cited in Bruce, 2020) asserts that freedom with guidance in play is the cornerstone of learning in the early years of development of self-concept and appraisal.There are various types of play, and risky play is one of them. Risky Play is an exhilarating and joyful experience where children are intrinsically motivated to pursue and evolve their understanding of these moments (Tannock, 2008). While Risky Play is favoured highly by children, boundaries are often set in consideration of the child’s safety and well-being. However, when do boundaries become limitations to children’s play? This study aims to address the diminishing provisions of Risky Play and risk-taking opportunities for children in Singapore, the barriers to Risky Play, and the support required for educators to facilitate Risky Play in preschools.Hence, this study addresses the following research questions:RQ1. What is the educator’s conceptualisation of Risky Play in Singapore?RQ2. What is the role of the educator when facilitating Risky Play in his/her preschool?RQ3. What are the efforts in providing and advocating for children’s Risky Play in the preschools?RQ4. What are the support/barriers educators encounter when facilitating Risky Play in Singapore?Data is collected through conducting an online interview with thirteen in-service preschool educators from various types of preschools (e.g. anchor operators, private operators and international schools). Semi-structured interview questions elicit the educator’s feedback and response to their conceptualisation of Risky Play in Singapore. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. The responses were collected and analysed through thematic analysis using NVivo software. Open-inductive coding was used to familiarise the codes, then synthesised and generated into four broad themes and eleven subthemes. The findings of this study revealed educators’ perceptions, the challenges they faced and how parents’ sociocultural understanding and expectations impacted their facilitation of Risky Play. The themes that emerged from this study illuminated the voices and representation of Singapore educators' stance on play and the reasons why they may be reticent to facilitate Risky Play. This study will serve as a gateway to understanding how to better support our educators and promote Risky Play for children in preschools
Marine microbial natural products research in the East Sea region
No full textThe East Sea region presents a prolific and underexplored source of marine microbial natural products with immense potential for drug discovery and biotechnological applications. The unique ecological conditions of the East Sea, from its diverse Vietnamese coastal ecosystems to remote archipelagos and deep-sea habitats, foster microbial communities capable of producing structurally unique and potent bioactive compounds. This chapter delves into the bioprospecting efforts within this region by focusing on marine microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, and revealing their capacity to produce diverse bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, peptides, polyketides, terpenoids and steroids. These secondary metabolites exhibit significant pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, addressing pressing medical challenges like antibiotic resistance and cancer therapy. Furthermore, the chapter underscores the role of advanced molecular biology and cultivation techniques in isolating and characterizing novel metabolites from marine microorganisms. It also highlights key discoveries, including compounds with promising therapeutic applications, emphasizing the East Sea's importance as a hotspot for natural product research. Moreover, it advocates sustainable and systematic exploration to unlock the full potential of this biodiverse region. By bridging marine ecology and pharmacology, this research enriches the global repository of therapeutic agents and contributes to addressing unmet medical needs in an environmentally conscious manner
Investigating the psychological benefits of authentic sport event: The case of dragon boat races
No full textThe open access publication is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2025.2561988Purpose/RationaleThis study examines how culturally rooted sport events contribute to residents’ well-being by exploring the mediating role of nostalgia in the relationship between perceived event authenticity and flourishing.Design/Methodology/ApproachA cross-sectional survey of 232 host city residents was conducted one month post-event, and structured equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed model.FindingsThe results showed that perceived authenticity was positively associated with nostalgia, which in turn was positively associated with flourishing, supporting the indirect role of nostalgia in the relationship between perceived authenticity and flourishing. Practical Contribution: The findings contribute to the refinement of event design and spectator experience by highlighting the importance of authenticity in event planning.Research ContributionThis study extends event impact research by highlighting perceived authenticity as a strong correlate of residents’ well-being, with nostalgia as a key psychological factor. Applying Broaden-and-Build theory, it offers a nuanced view of how cultural experiences relate to enduring emotional resources beyond the event.Originality/ValueThis study provides nuances on the understanding of local residents’ perceptions of authenticity and highlighting its role in well-being. Additionally, it shifts attention to small-scale cultural sport events, demonstrating its unique positive impacts for local communities
How data can help you beat your next opponent: Applications of artificial intelligence for performance analysis in badminton
No full textThis chapter presents recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) application for data collection and analytics in badminton match preparation. The latest developments in computer vision have enabled comprehensive data collection directly from broadcasted matches and single-view camera recordings. This capability allows researchers and analysts to automatically gather extensive, high-quality datasets, significantly increasing the volume and variety of available data. It also makes it possible to collect data from elite-level matches without requiring players to attend laboratory settings and from local competitions, provided these matches are video-recorded. In this chapter, we detail the complete AI-driven analytical pipeline used. This encompasses video preprocessing, court calibration, player detection, kinematic data extraction, and automatic tagging of strokes. These steps culminate in developing relevant key performance indicators (KPIs), offering a precise and objective quantification of player performance in badminton. Players and coaches gain valuable insights into individual strengths and weaknesses by identifying recurrent actions or patterns that correlate with positive and negative outcomes. This information can significantly inform targeted training strategies and enhance tactical preparation for upcoming matches, fostering improved competitive performance