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Carean Oh

Carean Oh is a Singaporean full-time writer and educator who founded the English enrichment centre Writers Studio School of English. The former-auditor-turned-teacher has more than 20 years of experience in the field of English language education.[1] As of August 2022, she has over 13.6k followers on Instagram and 532 followers on her Facebook page.[2][3]

Carean Oh
Carean Oh.jpg
EducationMasters
Alma materLancaster University

Background

Education

Carean obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2003.[4] During her studies at NTU, she also attained a Minor in Arts specifically in European Art History and Appreciation. Following that, she went on to obtain her Postgraduate Diploma in Education, English, Mathematics, and Science in 2004 from the National Institute of Education’s (NIE) Office of Graduate Studies and Professional Learning. She was also trained to teach high ability students by the Gifted Education Branch in the Ministry of Education.[5]

In 2016, she pursued her Masters in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, where she completed the course in 2019.[4]

Career

Prior to her studies at NTU, Carean held several internship positions at Fraser and Neave Limited, Hasbro, and Panasonic.[6] Following the completion of those internships, she went on to become a full-time external auditor at KPMG Singapore. She was also seconded to the corporate taxation department in KPMG Singapore. After that stint, she then joined Deloitte & Touche LLP and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) as an intern prior to furthering her studies.

During her time at NIE in 2003, Carean was attached to Zheng Hua Primary School as a trainee teacher.[6] She graduated with distinctions at NIE and went on to become a level representative in the English Department, followed by the Subject Head of Information Communications & Technology and the Head of Department of Science at Kranji Primary School. During her time at MOE, she won several awards, coordinated and consulted on multiple projects, and assisted with the mentorship of trainee teachers.

In 2008, Carean coordinated action research projects for cluster schools and presented her findings to the cluster teachers on how pupils in Kranji Primary School perceived an online learning environment.[7] The same year, she was mentioned for her dedication and professionalism as a role model for teachers by Director-General of Education Seah Jiak Cho’s Teacher’s Day address.[8]

She was a Speech and Drama teacher and collaborated with Theatreworks and Act 3 International to train her students in characterisation, voice projection, puppetry, stage directing, scripting, stage make up and sound effects.[6] She led cluster school events and immersion programmes like the Zhuhai Yung Wing School Teacher & Pupil Immersion Programme. As an MOE teacher, Carean was a PSLE Oral examiner and participated in the marking of English language and Science PSLE exam papers.

Carean was also appointed to help correct student behaviour and handle disciplinary issues during this period and contributed to the Student Affairs and Pupil Development Department.[9] She held a leadership position in the Ministry of Education for 6 years before moving on to pursue educational consultancy and writing.[6]

Writers Studio

In September 2012, Carean founded Writers Studio School of English. Today, she manages a team of 26 staff including 16 English language teachers.[10] Most of her teachers were English language teachers in the Ministry of Education. As of July 2022, the English tuition centre has 55 5-star reviews on Google Reviews.[11]

 
Carean Oh teaching a student. Photo from Carean Oh.

Writers Studio offers courses for students aged 6-16 across kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels of education. Students can either attend classes onsite at the Writers Studio centre or online. Some of the English courses offered at Writers Studio include:

  • Twinkle Stars for K1 and K2
  • STELLAR Integrated Creative Writing for P1 to P6
  • STARBRIGHT Writing for P4 to P6
  • STARDREAM Integrated for Sec 1 to Sec 4

Writers Studio celebrated their tenth year in operation in 2022 to honour the school’s history, identity and aspirations.[12]

Works

Over the course of her career, Carean has had her articles on education published on various publications and websites like Kiasuparents.com, Honeykids Asia, LEADnovate leadership magazine, Daily Creative Writing, and her educational blog.[13][14][15] She has published two books, Read it Right and Unlock Your Potential to Write Vividly.[16][17] Carean also mentors her students who are keen to pursue writing to write for LEADnovate magazine and ACE magazine.

Media Coverage

Carean has been featured on multiple media outlets, including CNA, The Straits Times, CNA938, CreativesAtWork, and The Sanatan Chronicle.

Year Channel Title Refs.
2021 CreativesAtWork #bossbabe [9]
2021 CNA 93.8 FM Basic soft and hard skills will be needed in a

post-Covid, pre-5G world.

[18]
2021 The Straits Times Life skills your kid needs for a smooth transition to Primary 1 [19]
2021 The Sanatan Chronicle The Power of Language Learning | Interview with Carean L Oh [20]
2016 CNA Insider My PSLE Life | Talking Point | CNA Insider [21]

Awards & accolades

Year Award/Title Awarding organisation Refs.
2008 Outstanding Youth in Education Award (Finalist) Ministry of Education, Singapore [22]
2006-2008 Most Caring Teacher Award Ministry of Education, Singapore [23]
2006 Most Caring Teacher Award Ministry of Education, Singapore [23]

Volunteer work

Carean has been involved in multiple volunteerism projects over the years, including:

  • Vice-chairperson of Nanyang Technological University Welfare Services Club’s Regular Service Project for the Intellectually Disabled (RSPID) from 2000-2003.[24]
  • Collaborating with violinist Tang Tee Khoon on a project in 2018 to promote chamber music to young children from My First Skool, Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd (ISCOS), and Superhero Me.[25][26]
  • Key sponsor of the CraftPreneurs of Singapore, a nonprofit associated with SingYouth Hub.[27]
  • Collaborating with mental wellness education program Chatty Caterpillar. [28]
  • Volunteering at Singapore Family Service Centre in storytelling sessions, instructing early speech and language-impaired children, and giving help to parents who seek educational opportunities for their kids.[24]
  • Sponsoring a space for We Are Hear, a social listening project in Singapore.[29]
  • Providing marketing support to Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support.[24]
  • Raising book donations to support the Providence Foundation, Sisters of Providence in Chian Saen, Thailand.[12]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Oh, Carean. “Experience | Carean Oh”. LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  2. ↑ carean_oh. “Carean Oh”. Instagram. n.d. Accessed 4 August 2022.
  3. ↑ careanohsg. "Carean Oh". Facebook. n.d. Accessed 22 August 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oh, Carean. “Education | Carean Oh”. LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Oh, Carean. “Course for Teaching Higher Ability Students- GEP Branch”. LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Oh, Carean. “Experience | Carean Oh”. LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Oh, Carean. “Cluster Action Research - Letter of Testimony from NIE”. LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Jiak Choo, Seah. “Teachers' Day Message 2008 - "Transforming Lives"”. LinkedIn. August 29, 2008. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 CreativesAtWork. “#bossbabe”. YouTube. July 3, 2021. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  10. ↑ Writers Studio. “Meet Our Skilled O Level English Tutors | Writers Studio”. Writers Studio. n.d. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  11. ↑ “Writers Studio Ptd Ltd”. Google. n.d. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Writers Studio. “Celebrating Writers Studio’s 10th Anniversary – Books, Humour and Memoirs”. Writers Studio. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  13. ↑ Oh, Carean. “Why Creative Writing Is the Most Important Skill in the World”. KiasuParents.com. April 19, 2022. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  14. ↑ Oh, Carean. “5 ways to encourage kids to achieve more – and how we can help them reach their goals”. HoneyKids Asia. June 16, 2021. Accessed 29 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Oh, Carean. “Parenting Tips Singapore | Writing Courses in Singapore”. Carean Oh. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  16. ↑ Writers Studio. “Read it Right - Writers Studio”. Writers Studio. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  17. ↑ Writers Studio. “Unlock your Potential - Writers Studio”. Writers Studio. n.d. Accessed 21 August 2022.
  18. ↑ Oh, Carean. "Catch Me Live on 93.8FM". Carean Oh. June 25 2021. Accessed 22 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Yeo, Stephanie. "Life skills your kid needs for a smooth transition to Primary 1". The Straits Times. June 27 2021. Accessed 22 August 2022.
  20. ↑ Sanatani, Dipa. "The Power of Language Learning | Interview with Carean L Oh". The Sanatan Chronicle. June 10 2021. Accessed 22 August 2022.
  21. ↑ CNA Insider. "My PSLE Life | Talking Point | CNA Insider". YouTube. June 1 2016. Accessed on 22 August 2022.
  22. ↑ Ministry of Education. "NATIONAL HONOURS FOR INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG EDUCATORS". Archives Online. July 4 2008. Accessed on 22 August 2022.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Awards". Carean Oh. n.d. Accessed on 22 August 2022.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Oh, Carean. “Volunteering | Carean Oh.” LinkedIn. n.d. Accessed on 8 August 2022.
  25. ↑ The Red Pencil. “ART & MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN (In collaboration with Tang Tee Khoon Grand Series)”. Facebook. November 12 2018. Accessed on 8 August 2022.
  26. ↑ Tang, Tee Khoon. “TTKGS artists with language teachers from the Writers Studio and their students !”. Facebook. November 11 2018. Accessed on 8 August 2022.
  27. ↑ CraftPreneurs of SG. “WORKSHOPS”. CraftPreneurs Of SG. n.d. Accessed on 21 August 2022.
  28. ↑ Join the WS Community. “Terrarium Workshop for Children”. Writers Studio. n.d. Accessed on 21 August 2022
  29. ↑ We Are Hear Singapore. “Free Heart-based Listening (Physical)”. Eventbrite. n.d. Accessed on 21 August 2022.
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