Mother Tongue Languages
Discover how Hougang Secondary School's Mother Tongue department builds language skills and cultural pride through immersive programmes, competitions, and enrichment activities.
Head of Department
Ms Cheng Sze Mei Carmen
Subject Head
Ms Yvonne Liew
Teachers
Mr Muhammad Irwan Bin Jamal (ST/Malay Language)
Ms Chen Si Si
Mr Lee Heng Han
Mr Mohamed Hairi Bin Nor Azmi
Mr Leo Sing Ann
Ms Nur Nadzirah Bte Mohamed Hassan
Ms Yu Honghong
Mdm Wang Qingzhen
Ms Lian Bee San
Ms Zhou Shaojuan
Mr Chua Yong Le
Mdm Janisah Binte Johari
Mr Watt Chan Meng
Vision
To nurture in our students a strong foundation in their Mother Tongue Languages and an enduring interest in their culture.
Mission
To be a value-added department that inspires the pupil love for their culture.
Objectives
Our teachers are committed to produce students who are:
Highly proficient in the use of Mother Tongue Languages
Confident and articulate speakers
Rooted in the values and appreciative of their cultural heritage
Programmes/Focus/Events
CNY Celebrations
Mother Tongue Fortnight & Cultural Camp
Cultural Performance Exposure
Other Related Links: https://zbschools.sg/ (opens in new tab)
Chinese New Year Classroom Decoration Competition
The Chinese New Year Classroom Decoration Competition is an exciting event aimed at fostering cultural awareness and celebrating the rich traditions of the Chinese New Year within Hougang Secondary School. The primary objective of this competition is to engage students, teachers, and staff in a creative and educational experience that goes beyond the typical classroom setting. By encouraging participants to decorate their classrooms in accordance with the Chinese New Year theme, we aim to promote cross-cultural understanding, appreciation of diversity, and respect for the Chinese cultural heritage.
Through this competition, we hope to provide a platform for students to learn about the customs, symbols, and significance of the Chinese New Year, all while promoting teamwork and creativity. The event also serves as an opportunity for students to develop essential skills such as research, teamwork, and communication as they collaborate to design and execute their decorative ideas.
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Hougang Secondary School Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) Programme 2026
Under the Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Hougang Secondary School organised a cultural performance programme for 132 Secondary 1 students on 24 March 2026. The students watched The Monkey King: Legendary Return, a stage production by Singapore Focus Theatre. The performance gave them an opportunity to experience Chinese performing arts and deepen their appreciation of Chinese heritage, supporting our school’s vision of nurturing students who are morally grounded, purposeful, and capable of achieving their goals.
Adapted from the classic masterpiece Journey to the West, the production invited students to journey alongside the titular character, Sun Wukong, tracing his adventures and personal growth. As they witnessed the Monkey King overcoming struggles and mature throughout his quest alongside his companions, students were drawn into a relatable story that prompted meaningful reflection on their own character development. Enhanced by dazzling stage lighting, striking soundscapes, and energetic choreography, the vibrant performance seamlessly brought timeless Chinese literature to life.
The highly interactive performance kept our students fully spellbound. They cheered enthusiastically and participated actively in various segments throughout the show. Beyond its entertainment value, the experience offered a meaningful way for students to connect with their mother tongue beyond classrooms, sparking their curiosity, deepening their cultural pride, and inspiring a newfound enthusiasm for performing arts.
中三母语文化营
后港中学于2025年5月29日主办了以“代代传承的传统草药”为主题的中三母语文化营。通过让学生亲身体验中医和传统马来草药疗法的同时，也鼓励他们有意义地运用母语，并进一步理解了传统草药在当代社会中的文化意义。
文化营先于学校礼堂以嘉年华的形式展开，学生可在各种中医和马来传统草药的展摊中体验传统疗愈文化。接着，学生到各个教室参与学习制作草药香囊，并能够将这些香囊带回家。最后，学生回到礼堂参与了“新空下”新谣音乐分享会，文化营就在悠扬悦耳的新谣音乐中结束了。
学生认识中医穴位的分布及其疗效
学生通过闻香学习分辨各类草药
老师说明多种草药的功效与应用
我来示范如何制作香囊！
你要我帮你称多少药？
看我这样子，像不像中医在抓药？
Mother Tongue Language (MTL) Fortnight 2025 Overview
The MTL Fortnight is an annual program designed to create an immersive environment for students to learn and appreciate Mother Tongue Languages and Cultures. It aims to make MTL learning engaging and relevant by offering a range of activities that bring language and culture to life.
The program seeks to broaden students' horizons by providing opportunities for them to explore and experience their own cultural traditions. Through diverse cultural activities, students can deepen their understanding of their heritage, values, and cultural identity.
Ultimately, the MTL Fortnight aims to deepen students’ interests in learning mother-tongue languages, doing so in a fun setting outside of traditional classroom activities. We believe that stimulating students’ interests in the languages and cultures are key to getting students motivated in learning.
Program Organization and Activities:
The MTL Fortnight is organized within a designated two-week period, one week in Semester 1 and the other in Semester 2. The programme includes a range of activities to achieve its objectives. Some of the planned activities include:
Language and Cultural Workshops: Various workshops are conducted to provide students with hands-on experiences related to language and culture. These workshops can cover aspects such as traditional art, music, dance and culinary practices.
Communication Competitions: Activities like debates, speeches, and recitation contests are organized to encourage students to actively use their mother tongue language and to improve their communication skills.
Interactive Productions: Creative projects such as audio drama production allow students to collaborate, use their language skills and express themselves in culturally meaningful ways.
Cultural Appreciation: Students are encouraged to reflect on their cultural identity and share personal stories related to their heritage. This fosters a deeper connection to their roots and a sense of belonging.
In summary, the MTL Fortnight serves as an immersive platform for students to learn and appreciate their Mother Tongue Languages and Cultures. Fun and engaging activities are curated to stimulate students’ interests, motivating them to learn more.
2026 Mother Tongue (Chinese Language) Fortnight Programme
2月9日至2月13日和7月20日至24日这两周，后港中学母语部进行了全校母语双周活动（Mother Tongue Fortnight）。这两周的活动以沉浸式学习为核心，兼顾广度与深度，通过每日开展的全校性活动，营造丰富的语言环境，让母语自然融入学生的校园生活。同时，学校根据不同年级的学习特点，安排主题鲜明的体验式活动，引导学生走出课本，在实践中拓展视野，深化对语言与文化的认识。
母语双周活动以四年发展规划为蓝图，围绕饮食、音乐、手工艺、服饰及语言等文化主题，精心设计每年的活动内容。通过主题的延续与活动形式的创新，让学生在四年的学习历程中，获得多元而循序渐进的文化体验，在潜移默化中提升语言能力，拓展文化视野，深化对母语文化的理解与认同。
From 9 to 13 February and 20 to 24 July, the Mother Tongue Department at Hougang Secondary School conducted its school-wide Mother Tongue Fortnight programmes. Centred on immersive learning, the programmes strike a balance between breadth and depth. Through daily school-wide activities, a rich language environment is created, allowing students to use their Mother Tongue naturally beyond the classroom. In addition, experiential activities are thoughtfully designed to cater to the learning needs of different levels. These activities encourage students to go beyond textbooks, broaden their horizons through hands-on experiences, and deepen their understanding of language and culture.
Guided by a four-year developmental plan, the Mother Tongue Fortnight programmes are designed around enduring cultural themes such as food, music, crafts, fashion and language. Through the continuity of these themes and the introduction of fresh and engaging activities each year, students are provided with diverse and progressively enriching cultural experiences throughout their four years in school. This approach nurtures their language proficiency, broadens their cultural perspectives, and deepens their understanding of and appreciation for their Mother Tongue cultures.
该活动包含一系列活动以实现其目标，部分计划活动包括：
The programme includes a range of activities to achieve its objectives. Some of the planned activities include:
1制作体验与文化欣赏——沉浸式体验，加深对传统文化的理解和欣赏，认同感与自豪感。如：中一印刷与印刷术，
中二搭建“八大名楼”，中四中国结制作；杨柳青木版年画，试穿京剧服装与拍照，茶艺与欣赏，怀旧零食玩具小铺等。
2提升学习兴趣，在游戏中体验传统文化的博大精神，如：成语竞猜大比拼，AI象棋，投掷游戏等。
3提高学生有效地使用母语，提高沟通能力，如：点唱华文歌曲，学生作品《与声剧来》广播剧播放，中四辩论赛等
4在实践与欣赏中了解传统文化，做到寓教于乐。如：卡拉OK大家唱 与看电影等。
1. Experiential Learning and Cultural Appreciation – To provide immersive, hands-on experiences that deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of traditional Chinese culture, while fostering a sense of cultural identity and pride.Examples: Sec 1 Chinese printing and traditional printing techniques; Sec 2 construction of the “Eight Famous Towers of China”; Sec 4 Chinese knot-making; Yangliuqing woodblock New Year prints; trying on Peking Opera costumes and taking photos; tea appreciation and tea art; and a nostalgic snacks and toys stall.
2. Enhancing Learning Interest – To spark students’ interest in learning through games and interactive activities, allowing them to experience the richness and depth of traditional Chinese culture in an enjoyable way.
Examples: Idiom guessing competitions, AI chess and throwing games.
3. Promoting Effective Use of Mother Tongue – To encourage students to use Chinese more effectively and enhance their communication skills through various interactive platforms.Examples: Chinese song dedication, broadcasting students’ audio drama production 《与声剧来》, and the Sec 4 debate competition.
4. Learning Through Practice and Appreciation – To help students gain a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture through hands-on activities and cultural appreciation, making learning both meaningful and enjoyable.Examples: Karaoke sessions and movie screenings.
Mother Tongue (Malay Language) Fortnight Programme
HS Mother Tongue Fortnight celebration this year brought a lively array of traditional activities, performances, and interactive sessions that truly engaged students in the richness of our cultural heritage. Each activity was filled with opportunities for students to deepen their appreciation for their Mother Tongue languages and to connect with cultural traditions in meaningful ways. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights!
School Wide Activities
The Malay Language (ML) Unit organised a series of enriching activities aimed at deepening students’ appreciation and understanding of the Malay language and culture. A variety of interactive booths were set up, allowing students to experience traditional practices firsthand.
At the traditional games booth, students learned and played batu seremban and congkak, two well-loved heritage games that promote concentration, strategy, and fine motor skills. They also had the opportunity to learn ketupat weaving. Ketupat weaving offered students a meaningful hands-on experience that connected them to an important aspect of Malay culture.
The Origami gasing is a simple yet engaging activity that combines creativity with cultural appreciation. As students fold and assemble the paper top, they develop fine motor skills, focus, and patience. The process also encourages spatial awareness and problem-solving as they figure out how each fold contributes to the final shape. Beyond the hands-on benefits, creating an origami gasing helps students connect with a traditional game in a fun, meaningful way, fostering appreciation for cultural heritage while enjoying a playful, hands-on craft.
Additionally, students had the chance to participate in a roti kirai making activity, where they observed the process of preparing the lace-like crepe and tried making their own under the guidance of teachers.
Students also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in festive cultural experiences by putting on traditional baju kurung and enjoying a variety of traditional Malay kuehs and delicacies during the mini Hari Raya celebrations in class. Through this hands-on experience, they gained a deeper understanding of the customs and practices observed during Hari Raya, appreciating the values of togetherness, gratitude, and respect that are central to the celebration.
Through these meaningful and experiential activities, students gained greater insight into traditional Malay customs and values, fostering a deeper sense of cultural pride and appreciation for their Mother Tongue.
During the Mother Tongue Fortnight too, students from different levels took part in a range of enriching activities. The Secondary 1 Malay Language students had the opportunity to delve deeper into the art of batik, exploring its creative designs and cultural significance. The Secondary 2 students explored various places in Singapore that hold historical significance for the Malay community, deepening their appreciation of local heritage. The Secondary 3 students learnt about bedak sejuk and other forms of traditional healing, gaining insight into cultural practices passed down through generations. Meanwhile, the Secondary 4 students delved into the symbolic meanings behind selected idioms and discovered the beauty of the Malay language through its creative and expressive forms.
Roti Kirai Making Booth Activity
Art & Crafts Booth On Origami Gasing
Exploration of Batik Activity
Mini Raya Celebrations in Class
Traditional Games Booth – Batu Seremban
Ketupat Weaving Activity
HS MTL Reading Programme
Reading Programme (EL write-up):
The Mother Tongue Language (MTL) Reading Programme at Hougang Secondary School aims to nurture a culture of reading and instil a lifelong appreciation for the Mother Tongue languages among students. The programme is designed to enhance students’ language proficiency, critical thinking, and reflective abilities through exposure to authentic, meaningful, and engaging texts.
Students explore a wide variety of reading materials, including contemporary articles, short stories, poems, and excerpts from novels. These texts are carefully selected to match students’ interests, linguistic levels, and current social issues relevant to Singapore and the region. Leveraging their Personal Learning Devices (PLDs), students also access online resources such as Berita Harian and Lianhe Zaobao to stay informed about contemporary topics and practise reading authentic materials.
Reading sessions are conducted regularly during curriculum time with structured activities that focus on comprehension, vocabulary development, and higher-order thinking skills. As part of post-reading reflection, students share their perspectives during sessions such as GREAT Moment, where they relate the themes and values in their readings to the school’s GREAT values
Through this integrated approach, the MTL Reading Programme not only strengthens students’ mastery of their Mother Tongue languages but also develops independent, thoughtful, and values-driven learners who can connect language learning to real-life experiences and character growth.
Reading Programme (ML write-up):
Program Membaca Bahasa Ibunda (MTL) di Sekolah Menengah Hougang bertujuan untuk memupuk budaya membaca serta menanamkan apresiasi sepanjang hayat terhadap bahasa ibunda dalam kalangan pelajar. Program ini dirancang untuk meningkatkan kecekapan berbahasa, kemahiran berfikir kritikal dan reflektif pelajar melalui pendedahan kepada bahan bacaan yang autentik, bermakna dan menarik.
Pelajar-pelajar berkongsi pengalaman bermakna semasa sesi GREAT Moment, mengaitkan kisahnya dengan nilai sekolah.
Pelajar didedahkan kepada pelbagai bahan bacaan, termasuk artikel kontemporari, cerpen, puisi dan petikan daripada novel. Bahan-bahan ini dipilih dengan teliti agar sesuai dengan minat, tahap kecekapan bahasa dan isu semasa yang relevan dengan konteks Singapura serta rantau ini. Dengan menggunakan Peranti Pembelajaran Peribadi (PLD), pelajar turut mengakses sumber dalam talian seperti Berita Harian dan Lianhe Zaobao untuk mengikuti perkembangan isu-isu semasa dan melatih kemahiran membaca bahan autentik.
Permainan selepas membaca meningkatkan pemahaman dan menjadikan pembelajaran lebih menyeronokkan!
Sesi membaca dijalankan secara berkala dalam waktu kurikulum melalui aktiviti berstruktur yang menekankan pemahaman, pengayaan kosa kata, dan kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi. Sebagai sebahagian daripada refleksi pasca bacaan, pelajar berkongsi pandangan mereka dalam sesi seperti GREAT Moment, dengan mengaitkan tema dan nilai daripada bahan bacaan kepada nilai-nilai GREAT.
Melalui pendekatan bersepadu ini, Program Membaca Bahasa Ibunda bukan sahaja memperkukuh penguasaan bahasa pelajar, malah membentuk pelajar yang berfikiran matang, reflektif dan berteraskan nilai, serta mampu menghubungkan pembelajaran bahasa dengan pengalaman hidup dan pembangunan sahsiah mereka.
Bagi Program Membaca Bahasa Melayu, elemen gamifikasi telah diperkenalkan untuk meningkatkan pengalaman membaca. Pelajar mengambil bahagian dalam cabaran membaca, memperoleh mata dan membuka kunci ganjaran berdasarkan pencapaian bacaan mereka. Pendekatan ini memupuk persaingan yang sihat dan menjadikan pembacaan lebih menarik.
阅读计划（Reading Programme）
通过阅读，培养学生的学习兴趣。学生可以获取课堂之外的知识和信息，提高语言和思维能力，培养学生的逻辑思维、判断力、分析能力。为今后的学习、工作和生活打下坚实的基础。
通过阅读，在校内举办各种活动，激发学生学习的兴趣。
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校园早报
推动和鼓励学生利用晨读或业余时间阅读课外书以及网上《校园早报》，丰富和扩大学生们的知识面，增加阅历和见识。
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GREAT MOMENT
GREAT 是我们后港中学五项核心价值观的首字母缩写，分别代表：
• 感恩（Gratitude）：培养学生对他人和社会的感激之情，学会珍惜生活中的每一个机会。
• 尊重（Respect）：强调尊重他人、尊重不同意见，建立和谐的人际关系。
• 同理心（Empathy）：鼓励学生站在他人立场上理解和关怀，促进情感交流和社会责任感。
• 适应力（Adaptability）：帮助学生培养应对变化和挑战的能力，适应不断变化的环境。
• 诚信（Trustworthiness）：树立诚信为本的价值观，鼓励学生言行一致，建立个人和集体的信任。
为了加深学生对这些核心价值观的理解，我校在每个偶数周的早晨开展以华语进行的分享和心得交流活动。在这些活动中，学生们不仅能深入探讨每项价值观的实际意义，还能通过分享个人体验和反思，将这些价值观有意识地融入到日常的学习与生活中。通过这种互动式的学习方式，学生们能够在实际情境中更好地理解和践行学校的核心价值观，从而提升个人素质，培养全面发展的能力。
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Malay Language
Curriculum/Subject Offered
Secondary 3 Exp: Malay Lit (Elective)
Programmes and Activities
1. Academic Programmes
Applied Learning Programme
Reading Programme (Secondary 1 to 5)
GREAT Moment Sharing (Secondary 1 to 5)
MT Fortnight Programme (Secondary 1 to 3)
Virtual Video Showcase (Secondary 1 and 2)
Sharing & Presentation of opinions through Video Production (Secondary 3)
2. Enrichment Programme
Toastmasters cum Debate Workshop (for Secondary 2 & 3)
Script-Writing Workshops (for Malay Lit students)
Words Go Round Workshop (for Malay Lit Students)
Dramatisation E-Dari Pena ke Panggung (for Malay Lit Students)
3. Competitions
Essay Writing Competition Pena Emasku
4PM Debate Competition 2021
Rentas Pentas 2021- A Malay Language and Cultural Competition
HS MALAY LANGUAGE PROGRAMME/ACTIVITIES
ML Scrabble 2023 @ Pei Hwa Secondary School
On 17 October 2023, 2 teams of Secondary 2 and Secondary 3 ML students took part in the N3 ML Scrabble organized by Pei Hwa Secondary School. While both teams walked away with certificates of participation, the Secondary 2 achieved second place overall with Muhammad Ismail Bin Jumadi from 2E winning second in the individual category.
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Malay Literature Dari Pena Ke Panggung (DPKP) 2023
Literature In Malay students did a dramatisation showcase of a poem entitled ‘Tidak Senang Dengan Duduk-Duduk’ on 7 September 2023. The DPKP dramatisation which is held at the Republic Cultural Centre, Studio at Republic Polytechnic, is aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the literary texts and to provide an avenue to interpret and adapt the text into a theatrical performance.
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