SS: Real time amendments to textbook! Changes to NHS...

The British Government is considering Changes to NHS. Check out this Q&A provided by BBC news online about the shake-up

For a comprehensive online archive that chronicles the birth of NHS, once again back to the BBC with this webpage filled with video and audio interviews and facts.

SS: Health Minister sums up Singapore's healthcare approach: extracts of a speech

This link to the Youtube video allows you to watch the same video above with captioning. Good if you want to take notes!

SS: Fundamentals of Singapore Healthcare system: an interview with the Health Minister

Pretty much sums up the Sec 3 textbook!

SS: Singapore's healthcare saves money and lives

Video post by World Focus on Singapore's health care system - largely positive but offers some criticism.

SS: How much nations spend on healthcare

As a comparison, Singapore's spending is just under 4% of GDP, about Intl $1300 (USD) per person.

How do we fare in terms of health and living standards? No. 1 or 2 in Infant Mortality, top ten in life expectancy, among the lowest Maternal Mortality rate in the world. 

Personal note:  I rather be sick here than in the US...

(image extracted from: http://www.visualeconomics.com/healthcare-costs-around-the-world_2010-03-01) 

SS: Building a Healthy Nation

Corporate Video by Ministry of Heallth.

I can't spell it...

Don't fret... the English language is filled with words that are easy to misspell.

Some places to look up such common words include:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/page/spellingcommonmisp?view=uk


Then test your mental spelling faculties here:

http://www.vocabulary.cl/Games/Spelling/Common_Misspelled_Words.htm?inn=weight&fb=&tr=&ok=


:)

SS: Healthcare

Take care of your health. Falling rich is for the rich!

A visual representation of Healthcare costs around the world; put in charts and diagrams for easy digestion

By way of comparison, Singapore spends about 3% of its GDP on healthcare. Information about Singapore and further statistics for comparison can be seen here: Singapore healthcare spending compared with other countries

Social Studies: An Ageing Population

For your reading:

Government preparing for ageing population
http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20091020-174701.html

305 EL Assignment

With the worksheet that you've filled up, write a paragraph of text that will persuade your target audience to buy your product. Please remember your paragraph should 


1. highlight the problem
2. identify one benefit of your product that solves the problem
3. Try to use language creatively, (rhetorical questions "Shouldn't you buy insurance to secure your future?", alliterations: eg. "Britain's best business bank")
4. make sure you have included an example or evidence that is convincing (people to endorse your product? proof? science?)
5. Try to use either emotional appeal or irony in your passage.


The written passage should be a smooth flowing piece of coherent text. 
E.g.


Have you ever been embarrassed by damp and smelly underarms after a day's work? Regular deodorants stop working after six hours but Rexona women's extra strength anti-perspirant deodorant keeps you dry up to 18 hours. A special formula made up six natural ingredients continues to keep you odor-free and dry even in the hottest days. Tests conducted by experts with 1000 volunteers showed that eight out of 10 women prefer Rexona over other leading brands.

302: Government Support for an Ageing Populaton

Government Support for an Ageing Populaton

A. Central Provident Fund (CFP)
What is CPF about: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/CPF/About-Us/Intro/Intro.htm

Among Singapore residents aged 65 in 2006, _____ % can expect to be alive at age ____ and _____ % at age _______. This rising life expectancy means a change in the way we support ourselves. Why? Because many of us would not be able to earn a living by the time we reach our 80s.

What are the three accounts in CPF and what can they be used for?

1.______________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________________________


For your reading pleasure and fun:
Read about CPF’s new scheme to help retirees meet their financial needs:
http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/CPF_LIFE/CPF_LIFE

http://www.cpf.gov.sg/cpf_info/elearning/cpf_plasma/cpf_menu.html
- Click on Managing your Retirement
(advance slides with next slide option at bottom of page)
- Click on Retirement Planning
Try the Interactive Journey (suggested monthly income for retirement: $2000)

B. Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents
… provides help from the law courts for aged parents to seek ________________ from their children, who are capable of supporting them, but who are not willing to do so.

C. Tax Relief, and D. Public Housing Scheme
Government encourages family support (Many Helping Hands) by offering financial incentives for extended families to live close to each other. This way, families are able to take care of their elderly.
Under tax relief, you can get an income tax relief if you take care of your ______________________________________________ or if your grandparents take care of your children while you and your spouse are at work.
Our Public Housing Scheme offers a grant of $40,000 if you buy a flat in the area where __________________________.

302: An Ageing Singapore

Watch the video and answer the following questions about found in your worksheet:

Questions for the work sheet are here:
 

Instructions:
a. Watch the Video first.
b. Then read the statements below.
c. Replay the video and fill in the blanks:

1. By 2030, ____ in ____ Singaporeans will be over the age of 65.

2.         a. What is the ______ of looking after the old and sick?

            b. Should they be cared for at home and,

            c. _____ should provide the care?

 These questions confront Singapore’s __________  ___________

3.  To provide better help to those who need it, experts say there must be more research on ageing issues.

4.  Areas of research include

           a. financing ________-term ________ __________ in the community
           b. management of chronic diseases
           c. identifying the needs of ___________ __________.

5.  Researchers hope by producing a usable set of data, _____________  ____________ will be able to translate the information into _________  ______________.

6. How does this video relate to what we have been studying in SS?
_______________________________________________________________________

7. What are the guiding principles of good governance you can identify or link to this video?
_______________________________________________________________________

a few links about prepositions...

"Here is a list of common words that can be used as prepositions: about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but (when it means except), by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, outside, over, past, since, through, to, toward, under, until, up, upon, with, within, and without."



Online worksheet: multiple choice
http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/231.html
Same website offers more practice on prepositions, as well as other grammar forms. View them in the online quiz format and get instant assessment results.