English Writing Skills

**Social Mix @ Tanjong Pagar**— Learn, Chat & Connect 🍃 Ever wanted to practice Korean but didn’t know where to start — or who to speak with? Join us for a casual and welcoming Korean social night in Singapore, where native Korean speakers and learners come together to chat, learn, and make new friends 🤍 ✨ What to expect: • Small group conversations with a 1:3 ratio (1 native speaker : 3 learners) • Relaxed, guided discussions — no pressure, no judgment • Open mingling sessions to meet more people throughout the night • A safe space to practice Korean at your own pace Whether you’re just starting out or already learning, this is a space to build confidence, pick up real-life expressions, and connect with others who share the same interest. Come for the language, stay for the people 🇰🇷💬 Location: TBC! 싱가포르에서 한국어가 그리울 때, 혹은 새로운 인연을 만나고 싶을 때 어디로 가야 할지 고민하셨나요? 🤍 어색함 1도 없는 분위기에서 외국인 친구들에게 한국어도 알려주고, 현지 친구들과 찐한 인연을 쌓고 싶은 분들을 위한 'Social Mix'에 여러분을 초대합니다! 🇸🇬🇰🇷 ✨ 우리 모임은 이래요! • 황금 비율 소그룹 대화: 한국인 1명과 학습자 3명이 한 팀이 되어 깊이 있게 소통해요 (1:3 비율 사수! 🤝) • No Pressure, No Judgment: 정해진 정답은 없어요! 가벼운 가이드를 따라 편하게 수다 떨며 자신감을 북돋아 주는 힐링 타임 🍃 • 자유로운 네트워킹: 정해진 세션이 끝나면 더 많은 사람과 밍글링하며 인맥을 넓힐 수 있어요. • 언어 그 이상의 커넥션: 한국어를 매개로 모였지만, 결국 남는 건 좋은 사람들! 한국어 튜터가 되어주셔도 좋고, 그냥 새로운 친구가 필요해서 오셔도 좋아요. 가벼운 마음으로 오셔서 리얼한 표현도 공유하고, 싱가포르 생활 꿀팁도 나눠봐요! 🙌

🌟 Do you wish you could speak confidently in front of others? Maybe at work, during meetings or even introducing yourself? You are not alone. Many of us were once afraid to speak — until we found the right guidance. That’s why Sutera Utama Toastmasters Club is bringing you SPEECHCRAFT, an 8-Hour guided learning experience designed to transform your confidence. ✨ What you will gain: • Speak clearly & confidently • Learn how to structure & deliver your message • Improve body language & vocal expression • Real practice with supportive mentors • A safe, encouraging environment to grow 📅 8th, 22nd, & 29th April 2026 & 13th May 2026 (Wed) ⏰ 8:00PM – 10:00PM 📍 Sutera Utama Toastmasters Office 💰 Early Bird Promo: RM350 (Normal RM399) This is not just a workshop…it is a new chapter into a more confident YOU. 💪 Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your speaking skills & take the stage with confidence! 🎙️ https://tally.so/r/EkqbzB 👩💼 Contact +60116-7088136 (Wong Wei Jing) +6017-7298967 (Jojo Tay)

Welcome! Gist below! :-) 1. Bring a book to the meet! 2. Buy a drink (and a bite if you're hungry). 3. Say hi to the folks. 4. Read! 5. We'll do a short round of intros and a short sharing at the end too. :) Come in and find us (we're probably the only reading group)! In the event that the place is full, we'll find a back up nearby. :-) This is a limited seats, small group event, so do try to update your RSVP early if your plans change! Thanks in advance! Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (DT21)

**Special topic for this week: TODO!** Have you ever wondered what happens after you write your program in any programming language and hit "Run"? Welcome to the new group dedicated to Compiler Engineering so we can discuss language design, static analysis, VMs, and code generation. Topics related to hardware architecture and FPGA are also welcomed! **Join us weekly and learn about:** * The vision for this group. * A crash course on how to start learning compiler dev (including top book recommendations). * An open networking session for showcasing projects and finding collaborators. * Weekly topic to learn about particular aspect of programming languages or hardware **Who is this for?** * Anyone building DSLs or new languages. * Anyone curious about low-level systems and programming * Anyone hiring for compiler/toolchain roles (come pitch your jobs!). * Anyone who wants to learn more about programming languages nature! This isn't a lecture—it's a conversation. Come share your projects and get motivated! This group is not super serious, so if you want to just yap about how bad is the new C++ standard you can find some listeners here. See you!

Please be reminded that participants should already know at least all Hiragana, Katakana letters and basic grammar.
Important points to remember: 

(1) Participation for the purpose of dating or solicitation is also strictly prohibited. 

(2) We are usually seated somewhere in front of the fruit and juices store 

Q. Do I need to pay?
A. No! All the native Japanese participants are volunteers.
【日本語を教えるボランティア募集】
・このグループでは一緒に日本語を教えてくれるボランティアを募集しています。
・今のところは隔週１回、水曜日に開催していますが、ボランティアが増え次第、頻度を増やしていこうと考えています。
・今のところ中級、上級レベルの学習者がメインで、日本語を使い会話練習するだけなので、日本語を教えたご経験が無くても問題ありません。
・興味がある方は、気軽に参加下さい。

**Coworking for writers in your area** Join us for some focused writing time on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am....All writers and all experience levels are welcome, and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com/). **Other Important Details:** **WiFi**: Simply Bread cafe does not have wifi, but if needed, you can use the one from next door at CBTF. **Address**: Simply Bread, 1 Fifth Ave., #01-03 Guthrie House, Singapore 268802. **MRT stop**: Blue line, Sixth avenue **Parking**: Basement parking available at Guthrie House **Venue Guidelines**: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something. **What to Bring**: Your FULLY CHARGED laptop / digital writing device - there are no power outlets available there.

Bring your writing toolkit, charged batteries (social and electronic) and a writing agenda two hours long! Join fellow writers/journalists embarking on their journey towards Pulitzers and Hugos or maybe a print deadline! We accept researchers and marketers clearing overtime too! :) **We Write Together** is here to start building a writing community and get to know like-minded folk with stories to tell. Let's make new friends! As this is a small group event with limited slots, please keep your RSVP up to date!

Where does genuinely new stuff come from, and what does the answer obligate us to do? We are primates, evolved for the African Savana, with meat machines in our heads. These meat machines can do something curious: they can imagine. Even further, they can be “creative”; that is, they can imagine something “novel”. At first glance, imagination seems like a cute quirk. We can imagine fantasies, tell fun stories, paint pictures, make gadgets. Some of these stories we deem “creative” or “novel”. But what actually counts as “new/creative”? The commonly used notion for “creative” in various domains of study is the creation of something “novel” and “useful/appropriate”. “Novel” ensures the new idea/invention is not just a basic recombination of old things. “Useful/appropriate” ensures that the idea is meaningful, reveals something interesting, and is not just a random mess. Both of these terms are broad and contentious (intentionally so). Who defines what is “novel” or useful/appropriate”? Should it be defined by the individual who originated the idea, or by the social judgment of peers, or specifically by experts, or by history/those who come later? The **Systems Model** recognizes that “creativity” is not a property determined by individuals, but through an interaction between the domain/field of innovation, the social ecosystem (gatekeepers, institutions, etc.), and the innovation itself. Other views emphasize the **cognitive mechanisms** of creativity. New ideas do not emerge “de novo”, they emerge from a recombination of past ideas, with a novel “transformation of the problem space”. Hence, an individual needs to make the creative leap with regards to themselves (their past experiences, cultural knowledge, etc.); it is a mental operation. Even if their new idea might already be known to someone else/the public, if they themselves did not know it, it is still a novel creation for them. Thus the question: Is there a rigorous notion that can tell whether something is “truly novel”, or even quantify how much? And who decides? Beyond the domain of fiction and art, our meat sack brains can also imagine things like multiple dimensions, 4D space, invisible forces, and other notions that at the time were heavily criticized as fanciful thinking (imaginary numbers, non-euclidian geometry, microscopic germs). Our minds were shaped by natural selection to solve savanna-scale problems — predators, social hierarchies, thrown objects. There's no selection pressure for imagining or grasping 11-dimensional string theory or quantum field theory. Feynman himself suspected we might not be able to understand wavefunction collapse or superposition. And human working memory is sorely limited. It is surprising that these ideas turn out to be “*real”*. They explain the physical world and give us tremendous power over it. Sometimes, increasing our power over the physical world depends on creating ever more “novel” ideas/absurdities (e.g. Infinite dimensional vector spaces. Subatomic particles. Quantum phenomena. etc.) Outlandishness is not sufficient for scientific success, but those ideas that yielded the greatest increase in understanding/power were often the most outlandish. In other words, the degree of “creative novelty” in science is proportional to the degree of increased physical power we gain. Is there a limit to what our brains can conceive? Science and art are very different domains. But therein lies the puzzle: the process of creativity deployed in science seems no different from the process of creativity deployed in art; so perhaps the same process is generating novelty in both. This suggests a tantalizing unity of what it means to be “novel”. If the same process generates “novelty” in 2 (seemingly) different branches: art and science, and one branch leaves physical traces, then “novelty” might not be mere arbitrary social judgment. Discussion Questions: * What counts as “creative”/”novel”? Who judges this? Is it an individual or social or objective judgment? How do we know whether something is “new” or not? Are we just “doing whatever we do?” * Operationally, how does creativity work? How does creativity “create new things”? Where does the newness come from? * Is the process of creativity in art, social science, natural science, engineering, technology, all the same underlying process? * If it is the same underlying process, how does “novelty”/creativity in science relate to creativity in art? * What’s the difference between imagination, creativity, and knowledge? * Is society obligated to create the conditions necessary for people to engage their creativity? If we disable people’s creativity, is that a form of mind control?

**What if the most valuable thing you could do is stop and think?** Join experts, founders, and curious humans for 90 minutes of real conversation over dinner. No easy answers. Just better questions. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Pain is meant to signal damage, but what if everything looks normal and it still hurts?** ​As science uncovers more about how the brain constructs pain, the boundary between physical and psychological discomfort is becoming less clear than we once believed. What is the nature of pain? Is it inherently surprising or unpleasant? \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Note: This is a ticketed dinner gathering. For tickets, please click [here](https://luma.com/zpglm538) or head to: [lu.ma/socrates**](http://lu.ma/socrates**)

True Breakfast will shutter on 26 April thus we decided to pay them one last visit. We have been to True Breakfast outlets several times (this one and the one at Cuppage) so we are a bit sad that they are closing down as they serve authentic Taiwanese breakfast. Let's enjoy it one last time while they are still there. Reviews: [https://sethlui.com/true-breakfast-capitol-singapore/](https://sethlui.com/true-breakfast-capitol-singapore/) How to get there: Nearest MRT: City Hall Nearest bus stop: City Hall Stn Exit B (04167) If you have any questions or comments, please ask them in the Comments section. See you there! Cheers, KehHan & Jacky

\*Please note the change of venue. We are no longer able to meet at Charlies and will be looking for a new venue. !!! Beware of scams! If you have been contacted about featuring your work at our meetings or have been asked for any kind of payment it is a scam. Country: Argentina Written in: 1976 Pages: 280 Starting as an experimental study of a romantic female character, Manuel Puig elaborated with streams of consciousness and unspecified dialogue to create this untraditional novel. Fast paced and challenging social, sexual and literature norms, it's seen as his most successful work, having been adapted into multiple films and plays. Here's and excerpt from [an excellent review on Medium:](https://thebiblioraptor.medium.com/literature-as-resistance-reading-manuel-puigs-the-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-9d8ce00c10fa) One of the major ways in which literature has made its presence felt is as a tool of resistance. Manuel Puig’s novel *The Kiss of the Spider Woman* is such a battle waged through words, critiquing authoritative institutions, exploring the quest for freedom, and telling human stories of rebellion, love, and loss. The novel was published in 1976 and is written mainly as dialogues between its dual protagonists — Luis Alberto Molina and Valentin Arregui Paz — detained in a Buenos Aires prison. Valentin is a Marxist rebel who is in jail for waging a political struggle against the government. Molina, who identifies as a woman and homosexual, is imprisoned for the sexual corruption of minors. They are cellmates, who go from strangers to friends and more. One might think that a story that is limited only to one location and written as dialogues between two people might be monotonous. But this is where Puig’s genius lies. Although the physical setting is confined, the reader can transcend that dingy cell, along with the characters, through the sole power of storytelling. \*\*\*\*\* **New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club?** Here's what you need to know: 1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.) 2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month. 3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space. 4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 22 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Let’s meet and share our thoughts about Carson McCullers’ novella, The Ballad of The Sad Café.

**Let’s catch up and take an afternoon break.** **Grab a coffee or snack and let’s chit chat! Gayle and I will bring adult coloring books and/or a simple craft if you’d like to unwind and relax.😊**

When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?