Mother Tongue Department

Key Events and Activities

Our Vision

Every student a passionate and confident user of the Mother Tongue Language.

Our Mission

To nurture thinking individuals and passionate users of Mother Tongue Languages.

MTL students are developed in 3 critical areas: 

• Communication skills in MTL – students possess the attitude and habit in using MTL in their daily communications;
• Deep understanding and appreciation of one’s own Mother Tongue culture and with cross-cultural awareness;
• Critical thinking skills to question and innovate 

To make MTL a living language, we strive to make learning of MT Languages joyful and interesting. Thus, we continuously enhance our teaching strategies to engage our students in learning of the MT Languages. We also provide authentic learning experiences for students to understand and appreciate their culture and have cross-cultural understanding.

Key Events & Activities in 2024

• Celebration of Ethnic Festivals 

• Reading Programme

• T.G.I.F.

• Mother Tongue Fortnight Activities

• Mother Tongue Language Camp

• Theatre Performances

• Conversational Chinese / Malay Programme

• Speech and Drama Programme

• E-Immersion Programme

Mother Tongue Fortnight

The EGPS Mother Tongue Fortnight is an exciting two-week event filled with diverse cultural activities, language competitions and learning experiences for our students to appreciate their own culture. The activities include Bunga Rampai, Pau Making, Thoranam, Opera Mask Painting, Puppetry, Kolam, and many more. 

Throughout the Mother Tongue Fortnight, students has the opportunity to reflect on their learning and share their thoughts with their peers and teachers in class. They summarize their learning points and shared what they found most interesting and meaningful about the activities as well as reflecting on the importance of language learning and the cultural significance of different languages. 

Overall, the Mother Tongue Fortnight was a wonderful opportunity for students to explore and appreciate the diverse cultural traditions that make up Singapore’s rich heritage. Through the participation of the various cultural activities and language competitions, they had gained a deeper understanding of different cultural practices and developed a greater appreciation for their own culture.

Primary 4 Mother Tongue Camp

The EGPS MT Cultural Camp was organized with the aim of providing a platform for Primary 4 students to learn and appreciate the cultural heritage of their respective mother tongues. The camp focused on promoting cross-culture understanding, exploring the history and fun facts of different cultures, and experiencing the excitement of traditional activities.

This year, the Primary 4 students had the privilege of learning the traditional art for the 3 ethnic races. It kicked off with a Bunga Manggar activity, where students learned about the significance of the decorated palm tree and the role it plays in Malay weddings. The students worked together to create their own Bunga Manggar using colorful crepe paper. This activity gave them a hands-on experience in learning about the Malay culture and traditions. For the Opera Face Mask activity, students learned about the origins and significance of the Chinese Opera Face Masks. They were taught about the different types of masks, colours and their meanings. The students then made their own opera face masks using vibrant colors, giving them a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture. The Agal Villaku painting activity was a fun and interactive experience for the students. They learned about the significance of the Agal Villaku in the Tamil culture and the symbolism behind it. The students then painted their own Agal Villaku using traditional colors, patterns, and designs, making it a memorable learning experience. 

The camp also included a variety of traditional games such as Tarik Upih, Lereng, and Tiger & Goats. These games not only provided entertainment but also taught the students about the history and cultural significance of the games. Overall, the P4 MT Cultural Camp was a fun and exciting experience for the students. They had the opportunity to learn about their own culture as well as others, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation amongst each other. The activities were engaging and interactive, making it a memorable experience for the Primary 4 students.

T.G.I.F. (Languages Day)

This year, the Mother Tongue and English departments teamed up to organize the T.G.I.F. activities for students on the Friday of Week 9 in Term 2. Themed “Characters Come Alive,” the event aimed to foster a love for reading among students. The activities provided an engaging and meaningful way for students to explore the unique attributes of various languages.

Conversation Chinese / Malay Programme

As part of EGPS Multi-Modal Programme (MMP), the Primary 3 students participated in the Conversational Chinese / Malay Programme during MMP periods in Term 2. This programme provided the Primary 3 students with a platform to gain exposure to conversational Chinese or Malay and practise what they have learned in authentic settings.  

E-Immersion Programme

• Chinese Language –People’s Republic of China

• Malay Language –Malaysia

• Tamil Language – India