Lifelong Learning Award from Singapore Polytechnic

Tanuja Kapoor is a veteran educator and language-learning advocate whose work reflects the power of lifelong learning. Known for her professionalism, patience and reflective approach, Tanuja has built a reputation for blending traditional teaching strengths with more contemporary coaching and facilitation methods. Her practicum work showed a clear commitment to translating new learning into real classroom practice, particularly in ways that better engage today’s students. Today, Tanuja is a Mother Tongue Specialist Officer at the Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages.

Despite having years of teaching experience behind her, she chose to return to formal study and enrolled in Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) Specialist Diploma in Coaching, Guidance and Facilitation Skills to upgrade her skills further as an educator. The programme had taught her different types of strategies to employ as an educator, including inclusive practices for special needs students, and effective classroom management.

Tanuja is also especially passionate about helping other teachers evolve their teaching methods so they can continue to inspire new generations of learners. She was also selected to be a practicum supervisor at SP to support trainees who were teaching Hindi as a mother tongue language. Her willingness to mentor peers, share ideas openly, and exemplify a coaching-led teaching approach has made her a respected figure among colleagues and younger educators. Tanuja’s journey stands out as a strong example of what that commitment looks like in practice: an experienced educator who continues to learn, adapt and lead by example.