Mother Tongue Department

• To develop Northstars into confident learners and competent speakers in their own Mother Tongue languages.

• To provide interesting experiences for Northstars to appreciate culture associated with their own Mother Tongue languages, as well as that of others.

The Malay Language unit has always placed emphasis on the need for understanding the rich cultural heritage and values of the Malay community in line with Arif Budiman. One of the key approaches is to infuse aesthetic and authentic learning through the different platforms such as Mother Tongue Language Fortnight, Hari Raya Concert and external events such as competitions and Malay Language Ambassadors (Rakan Bahasa 2018) for our Northstars. Through the exposure given, we hope to stress the importance of developing a strong appreciation of the Malay Language and being deeply rooted to one’s culture.

The Tamil Language unit believes in promoting the Tamil language and Indian culture through immersion and experience. The Pongal Festival concert helped to deepen the students’ appreciation of the South Indian culture. During Mother Tongue Language Fortnight, activities such as Kolam and Rangoli drawing and the making of garland and Indian traditional instruments were carried out. The unit also organised a talk for parents of the upper secondary Tamil students, entitled ‘Journeying with My Children during their Teenage Years’. The talk was given by SINDA Speaker Ms Sarojini Venkatasamy. A motivational talk for lower secondary Tamil students was also conducted. Given by SINDA Speaker Mr Balakumaran Krishnaswamy, it created greater awareness for students on how to leverage their strengths and weaknesses to maximise their potential. Our students took part in the Science of Tamils competition and National ICT Sharing for Tamil language students. Our teachers and students also participated in the Teaching and Learning of Tamil Language Exhibition at the 12th World Tamil Teachers’ Conference.