Mother Tongue

OBJECTIVE:

At White Sands Primary School, we embrace a nurturing MTL programmes with three core objectives: fostering Communication Proficiency by developing real-world language skills, nurturing Cultural Engagement through engaging activities that spark interest in MTLs and ethnic culture, and creating an environment that truly supports students in Showcasing Achievements, providing platforms for them to express their language and cultural learning. This approach is designed to cultivate a sense of care and encouragement, ensuring a holistic education that not only imparts language skills but also nurtures a deep connection to cultural roots and celebrates each student's unique achievements.

MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGE (MTL) FORTNIGHT ACTIVITY

As part of the school’s continuous efforts to expose students to their culture and traditions and to deepen students’ engagement in the learning of the Mother Tongue Languages, the MTL Department will organize the Mother Tongue Languages Fortnight (MTLF) for all P1 to P6 students. Through MTL Fortnight activities, the school aims to:

• create an engaging environment for the learning of MTL
• provide platforms for students to learn MTL actively
• provide authentic opportunities for students to use MTL and experience different aspects of culture

During the MTL Fortnight, a wide range of MTL activities is conducted to enable students to learn and use MTL in novel and exciting ways. The activities include handicrafts, storytelling, show and tell, making of traditional snacks and desserts using clay, traditional games etc. Cultural camps are organised to provide students with an immersive environment to learn and use the language. The students will enjoy the event tremendously and have a very rich cultural learning experience.

Festive Celebrations

Various festive celebrations were held in school with the aim of providing authentic experiences for our students to observe, understand, appreciate, and respect the different cultures. Beyond the vibrant festivities, it also serves as a nurturing platform for character development, honing students' performance skills, and fostering a deep appreciation for cultural heritage.

CHINESE LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT KEY PROGRAMMES

P1 & P2 Reading Programme:
Our Primary 1 and 2 students participate in the MTL SOAR programme, which is designed to Spark interest, Open minds, Appreciate cultural heritage, and help them Rise as confident readers. This programme aims to ignite pupils’ interest in reading Mother Tongue storybooks through a range of engaging activities such as storytelling sessions, bookmark-making, and book cover design. During SOAR sessions, teachers use Small Readers and age-appropriate texts to create meaningful learning experiences. These not only foster a love for language and storytelling but also help students develop essential 21st-century competencies such as civic literacy, communication, and critical thinking.

P3 Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES):
The P3 Chinese Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) offers students immersive experiences in Chinese theater performances. Through live performances, students deepen their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, fostering respect for diversity and enhancing social cohesion. The CPES is designed to complement the school curriculum and enhance students' learning beyond the classroom. By attending live performances or participating in interactive workshops led by professional artists, students gain firsthand exposure to the beauty and intricacies of Chinese cultural heritage.

P3 to P5 Communication Skills Courses
The primary goal of these courses is to nurture our students into proficient and confident communicators in the Chinese language. The curriculum encompasses a variety of engaging activities such as speech and drama, poetry recitation, storytelling, and news reporting. Additionally, students will have ample chances to demonstrate their progress and skills through participation in school events and external competitions.

MALAY LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT KEY PROGRAMMES

Higher Mother Learning Journey

The Higher Mother Tongue Learning Journey aims to:

1. Cultivate a sense of belonging to Singapore, fostering pride and ownership.

2. Develop an appreciation for the rich Malay heritage and culture, promoting diversity awareness.

3. Educate students on phrases and words related to the Malay Sultanate, trade, and culture evident at Fort Canning before and after 1819. This historical focus provides context, tracing linguistic and cultural evolution. The journey ensures students gain insights into their heritage, connecting them on a deeper level.**

Lensa Si Cilik Competition:

Lensa Si Cilik Competition, generously supported and funded by MLLPC, is an annual national event hosted at White Sands Primary School. Geared towards nurturing a passion for the Malay Language in our digital native students, the competition focuses on crafting comic scripts incorporating proverbs. While the 2018-2019 competitions took place both online and on-site, the subsequent years, 2020-2022, transitioned to an online format due to Covid constraints. The culmination of students' efforts resulted in the creation of three published comic booklets, distributed to primary schools across Singapore. Inaugurated in 2023, this competition seeks to further enrich the appreciation for Malay Language by encouraging creative expression through the exploration of proverbs. Participants are tasked with producing a 1-minute short story video that creatively integrates proverbs through a short role-play.

TAMIL LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT KEY PROGRAMMES

• Tamil P3 and P4 Speech and Drama

In our effort to nurture confident and eloquent Tamil speakers, a Speech & Drama Programme is incorporated into the P3 and P4 curriculum in Term 2. Through these lessons, students will acquire the skills and techniques needed for storytelling, recitation and acting. Students are also able to express themselves and communicate with others with confidence and creativity. These lessons culminate in a performance at the end of the session to display what the students have learnt.