Mother Tongue

Our Vision

The Mother Tongue Language (MTL) Department strives to develop BTPS students to become confident communicators and active learners of MTL, who are effectively bilingual and rooted in traditional culture.

Our Mission

Our mission is to enthuse pupils through fun and engaging teaching pedagogies while learning Mother Tongue.

Our Belief

We believe that every child can learn. The BTPS MT teachers sees every BTPS pupil as a flower bud. They will all bloom but at their own pace. Our role as teachers is to nurture each bud patiently and diligently so that they will blossom eventually.

Key Programmes

Reading Programme

We aim to build a strong foundation and nurture the love of Mother Tongue in our students through reading. Our Reading Programme includes “Visit the Library”, “School Based Reading Activities” and “SLS Reading Mums & Dads”. Every year, students will be introduced to the new books in the school library collection.

“SLS Reading Mums & Dads” is a collaboration between parents and teachers where our supportive Reading Mums and Reading Dads will read Chinese story books to our students online. Teachers will create online activities like Kahoot and Drawing to further stimulate the interest of our students.

World Book Day

In conjunction with World Book Day, we organised a series of activities to encourage our students to discover the pleasure of reading. Activities include visiting the MOLLY bus by National Library Board, picture book introduction and presentation by a renowned local author and performances put up by teachers.
Students engage in classroom activities to create their own books and Malay students get to dress up as their favourite characters from the book. Our school also hosted a book fair from a local publisher.

Mother Tongue Learning Fortnight

We aim to create an immersive environment for the learning of Mother Tongue languages and appreciation of Singapore’s unique culture. In 2023, the theme is “Kampong Spirit”. Our pupils will get to enjoy various performances and activities which allow them to enjoy Kampong life.

MTLF Closing 2023

Parent Child Video Making CL

Parent Child Video Making ML

Parent Child Video Making TL

Learning Journeys

On 9th May 2023, our Primary Four students visited SINGAPORE HOKKIEN HUAY KUAN CULTURAL ACADEMY for a live drama experience where they were immersed in a thought-provoking performance put up by a local theatre company.

Primary 4 Learning Journey to Singapore Hokkien Huay Kwan Cultural Academy

Competitions

Goodtalk “Global Village” Children & Youth Bilingual Speech Convention

We aim to cultivate student appreciation of their Mother Tongue through positive experiences. In order to provide these experiences, for the third year in a row, our school has participated in the Goodtalk “Global Village” Children & Youth Bilingual Speech Convention. This competition cum convention is a semi-official activity organised by China in collaboration with countries like Australia, the United States, Denmark, Japan and Singapore. It aims to promote Chinese and English language among young second language users. Through speech competitions and exchange activities, it also serves to deepen the learning and understanding of each other’s cultures.

14th Goodtalk “Global Village” Children & Youth Bilingual Speech Convention

Pongalo Pongal 2023

In conjunction with the celebration of the harvest festival by Tamil commmunity, Pongal, our Tamil pupils took part in “Pongalo Pongal 2023” - a series of competitions for primary school Tamil pupils organised by Mediacorp Seithi.

Dhakshanya from 5 Compassion took part in the competition. As part of the competition, she wrote a letter to a friend sharing information about Pongal. Her entry won the Top 6 entries nationwide and was published on the Mediacorp Seithi’s website. Dhakshanya wrote about the four days of Pongal celebration, namely ‘Bhogi’ (when old things in the house are disposed by burning), ‘Surya Pongal’ (when Pongal rice is cooked in a pot. As it boils over, the celebrants shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ representing the ushering in of new beginnings and blessings), ‘Maattu Pongal’ (when cows are revered and honoured for their role in farming) and ‘Kaanum Pongal’ (when relatives visit each other and receive blessings from their elders). Her drawing of sugarcanes and the Pongal pot at the end of the letter enhanced her written entry.

Winning entry by Dhakshanya