Mother Tongue Department

Meet the dedicated team behind the Mother Tongue Department, and discover the programmes that inspire students to connect with their language and culture.

Last updated 31 July 2026

A large group of about 17 people posing together indoors in front of a batik-patterned wall.

Teachers

Mother Tongue Languages department staff by designation

Designation	Name
Head of Department/Mother Tongue Languages	Mdm Li Kaiying
Subject Head/Malay Language	Mdm Halimah Mohmad
Senior Teacher/Malay Language	Mr Esfan Rizal Bin Rahwom
Teachers	Ms Ho Lian Shi
	Mdm Alena Puhari
	Mdm Alimah Lob (FAJT)
	Ms Chen Jiao
	Mdm Chew Poh Kim (FAJT)
	Ms Nur Fatin
	Ms Ho Lian Shi
	Mdm Mazni Abu Bakar
	Mdm Ng Huee Cheng (FAJT)
	Mr Ngoi Kah Teck
	Ms Nuraisyah Razali
	Mdm Nurliyana Hassan
	Ms Xiao Min
	Mrs Yip-Leong Jia En
	Ms Yu Hsin-Ju

Vision & Mission

Vision

Every student inspired to connect with and love their Mother Tongue.

Mission

To equip students with strong language skills and a lifelong love for their Mother Tongue.

Key Programmes

MTL Fortnight

The MTL fortnight is organised to create an immersive environment for the learning of MTL through a range of activities, competitions and workshops. Through active participation, students are able to experience MTL as a "living language".

Students in green uniforms paint colorful decorative paper cutouts on newspaper-covered tables in a classroom.

Three school students in uniforms practice a traditional tea ceremony with a clay teapot and wooden tray on a table.

Learning Journey

Learning Journeys are organised to give students an opportunity to experience a more in-depth appreciation of the MTL culture through drama and/or performances. The programme provides an authentic experience beyond the classroom.

Large group of people in colorful red, blue, yellow, and green shirts posing together on a black stage floor.

Stretch Programme

Students are identified to represent the school in various competitions, attend workshops and act as ambassadors in our partnership with external stakeholders. In 2025, a group of 24 Malay students, led by 4 Malay teachers, participated in our inaugural TIE trip to Kuala Lumpur, where they deepened their understanding of new cultures and engaged in authentic learning experiences within a Malay-speaking environment.

A large group poses in front of the pink-domed Putra Mosque, many wearing red robes and hoods.

Young girl in school uniform holding a gold trophy and certificate on a stage with a Chinese speech competition banner.

Highlights & Achievements

3rd Prize (Lower Secondary Category) - 23rd National Secondary School Chinese Creative Writing Competition (2025) - He Zimo (2-1)
Top 10 finalist in the National “Orang Singapura 2025” Short Story Writing Competition (2025) - Calihashim Arrauuf Bin Bahtiar (3-2)
Finalist in the National Mandarin Oratorical Competition (2025) - Yuan Yuhan (3-2)
National Secondary Schools Translation Competition Individual Merit Award (2025) - Ong Kai Xin (3-1)
Malay Language Debate Competition Best Speaker (Preliminary Round) (2024) - Muhd Nur Firdhaus Bin Zulkefli (3E1)
Finalist for OurHeartforSG Learning Gallery Creative Writing Competition (2023) - Goh Shi Hao (4E2)

Gallery

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