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EDUCATION

Nanyang Technological University

Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, Minor in Psychology

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Aug 2016 -

May 2020

  • Honours with Highest Distinction, CGPA: 4.95/5.00

  • Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal 2020: Top graduate in Linguistics and Multilingual Studies

  • Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Award 2020: Academic performance, strong leadership ability, and potential for contributing to society

  • School Book Prize 2017 and 2018: Top student in Linguistics and Multilingual Studies

  • Dean’s List 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020: Top 5% of cohort

  • Nanyang Scholarship: Academic excellence, leadership potential, and outstanding co-curricular records

  • Final Year Project: Effects of music attrition on English-Mandarin Chinese bilinguals’ lexical tone perception and production in a foreign language

  • Relevant coursework: Child Language, Developmental Psychology, Language and Communication Disorders, Language and Music, Language and the Brain, Learning Environments for Young Children, Multilingualism Across the Lifespan, Psycholinguistics, Second Language Acquisition

​RESEARCH WORK

Publications

Project Officer

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Aug 2020 - Present

  • Toh, X.R., Tan, S.H., Wong, G., Lau, F., & Wong, F.C.K. (2023). Enduring musician advantage among former musicians in prosodic pitch perception. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 2657. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29733-3 [Impact factor 4.997]

  • Toh, X.R., Lau, F., & Wong, F.C.K. (2022). Individual differences in nonnative lexical tone perception: Effects of tone language repertoire and musical experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 940363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940363 [Impact factor 4.232]

Presentations

Research Assistant

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Jun 2018 -

Dec 2019

  • Toh, X.R., Lau, F., Toh, W., Wong, F.C.K., & Chan, A.H.D. (2024, Jul 10 – 13). Relationship between implicit learning and Chinese reading is mediated by orthographic awareness [Poster presentation]. 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Lau, F., Toh, W., Toh, X.R., Wong, F.C.K., & Chan, A.H.D. (2024, Feb 29 – Mar 1). Attentional bias to Pinyin vs. characters is moderated by orthographic awareness in Chinese [Poster presentation]. 8th Annual Conference for the Association for Reading and Writing in Asia, Jeju, South Korea.

  • Lau, F., Toh, X.R., Toh, W., Chan, A.H.D., & Wong, F.C.K. (2023, Jun 26 – 30). Cross-language relationships between reading proficiency and language component skills in young English-Chinese bilinguals: A cross-sectional study [Conference session]. 14th International Symposium on Bilingualism, Sydney, Australia.

  • Lau, F., & Toh, X.R. (2023, Mar 30). Novel visual statistical learning task and its relation to Chinese orthographic awareness [Conference session]. International Symposium on Cognition and Neuroscience, Singapore.

WORK EXPERIENCES

VOLUNTARY WORK

NTU, Neurolinguistics & Cognitive Science Lab

  • Convened 2 symposiums and 2 seminars with overseas experts in linguistics, cognition, and neuroscience.

  • Delivered oral and poster presentations at 3 in-person international research conferences on English-Chinese bilingualism and biliteracy.

  • Published 2 top-tier journal articles as first author on the cross-domain effects of language and music.

  • Co-wrote 2 grant call proposals for pioneering intervention studies; clinching a $758k and $663k award.

  • Designed novel tasks and recruited participants for MOE-funded experiments to examine reading and writing development among over 300 young bilinguals.

  • Managed lab's grant progress reports, budget expenditure, and human resource hiring process.

Project Officer
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Aug 2020 - Present

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NTU, Neurolinguistics and Cognitive Science Lab

  • Collected data for a Mandarin Chinese character learning experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of 6 different learning methodologies among 120 early bilinguals with and without dyslexia.

  • Composed summaries of speeches at international research conferences for publication purposes.

Research Assistant

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Jun 2018 -

Dec 2019

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Dynamics Therapy Centre for Kids

  • Facilitated speech therapy intervention in Alternative and Augmentative Communication including Picture Exchange Communication System and Key Word Signs for nonverbal children.

  • Promoted occupational therapy with sensory integration for children with sensory processing issues. 

  • Conducted prompting and small group teaching using TEACCH, ABA, DIR Floortime, and ABI approaches among children aged 3 to 7 in the Early Intervention Programme and International School.

Intern Therapy and Teaching Assistant
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May 2019 -
Jul 2019

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Playeum Children’s Centre for Creativity

  • Customised play experiences and creative workshops for 1,000 children aged 1 to 12 using Reggio Emilia approach to promote open-ended and self-directed learning.

  • Coordinated professional development programmes to encourage 50 educators and parents to implement experiential learning in classroom and parenting activities.

Intern Playmaker
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Jun 2017 -
Jul 2017

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Autism Resource Centre

  • Conducted group teaching using TEACCH and ABA approaches to prepare 9 6-year-old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder for mainstream schools.

  • Developed lesson resources, visual supports, and social stories to achieve Individualised Education Programme goals.

  • Analysed videos using antecedent-behaviour-consequence charts to escalate concerns to therapists.

  • Facilitated class outings for applied learning activities and generalisation of new skills across settings.

  • Wrote publicity emails and quarterly newsletter articles for 100 caregivers

Intern Early Intervention Teaching Assistant
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Jan 2016 -
May 2016

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VOLUNTARY WORK

Autism Advocacy

Ally for Autism Advocacy

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Apr 2020 - Present

MINDS Woodlands Gardens School

Buddy for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

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Aug 2016 - Jul 2020

  • Planned outings and weekly 3-hour sessions teaching life skills to enhance independence and social integration of 60 trainees aged 10 to 60.

  • Conducted weekly live e-sessions on Zoom and curated toolkits with resources to continue providing enrichment for the trainees during the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker partial lockdown.

Dunman High School Senior High

Peer Tutor for Junior College Students

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Jan 2016 -

Jun 2016

  • Created lesson resources for weekly 2-hour sessions to improve 5 junior college students’ English Language and Linguistics results by more than 3 grade jumps in GCE ‘A’ Levels examinations.

  • Coached students in time management, organisation, and study techniques.

Stamford Primary School

Coordinator and Reader

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Jan 2014 –

Nov 2015

  • Led weekly 1-hour storytelling sessions under National Library Board’s kidsREAD programme to cultivate literacy and creativity in 20 lower primary school students.

Peace Connect Neighbourhood Link

Mentor for Primary School Students

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Jan 2010 -

Nov 2013

  • Spearheaded annual camps and weekly 1.5-hour tuition to strengthen results of 15 primary school students from disadvantaged families.

  • Integrated phonics to refine phonological awareness of a student with dyslexia.

Future Problem Solving Programme International

Community Problem Solving Competition

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Feb 2011 -

Jun 2013

  • Wrote a paper to examine Singapore’s food security and advocate a reduction in food waste.

  • Organised 10 planting workshops and sold merchandise to raise $2,000 for Food Bank Singapore.

  • Team achieved 3rd position at state level in 2012, and represented Singapore for the International Conference in the United States of America in 2013.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

NTU Welfare Services Club

Duty Committee

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Aug 2016 -

Jul 2020

  • Worked with a team of 8 volunteers to plan and execute weekly activities.

  • Planned onsite booth during NTU’s Social Impact Week to raise $500 for beneficiaries, increase awareness of various causes, and recruit new volunteers.

Dunman High School Community Services Club

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

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Jan 2010 -

Nov 2015

  • Collaborated with external organisations such as Mountbatten Community Club and Public Utilities Board to propose and deliver more than 5 community outreach projects.

  • Oversaw recruitment of over 50 volunteers for the club via social media and open house events.

  • Orchestrated a Values In Action Symposium to inculcate volunteerism and impart relevant service learning skills to more than 200 students across Singapore.

  • Received Goh Chok Tong NextGen Outstanding Student Leader Award in 2015 for community service.

  • Given People’s Association Youth Movement STAR Award in 2013 for service learning skills.

  • Awarded DHS Co-Curricular Activities Service Award in 2013 and 2015 for student leadership.

SKILLS

IT

  • Audacity.

  • E-Prime.

  • iMovie.

  • Microsoft Office.

  • Praat.

  • SPSS.

Language

  • Written and spoken English.

  • Written and spoken Mandarin Chinese.

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