Mother Tongue

Department Vision

Curate a nurturing and innovative learning environment that prepares every CCKsian for the future.
Nurture every CCKsian into a confident and effective communicator that shares their Mother Tongue heritage and culture passionately.
Impart noteworthy Mother Tongue associated values and traditions through Authentic learning experiences.

Teaching and Learning Approaches

Problem Based Learning: Encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.

Inquiry-Based Learning: Encourage students to explore language and culture through questioning and problem-solving.

Project-Based Learning: Students are tasked with projects that relates language learning with real-world applications.This enables students to connect theory with practice.

Blended Learning: Traditional in-class instruction paired with online resources to provide a flexible, personalized learning experience.

Authentic Learning: Myriad of in-house and external activities are curated to provide students with first hand exposure to cultural and traditional learning experiences.

Key Learning & Department Activities

Mother Tongue Fortnight
Celebration of Festivals
Mother Tongue Language Learning Journeys
Reading Programme
Cultural Performance Exposure

Mother Tongue Fortnight

The annual Mother Tongue Fortnight programme is a highlight of the department that aims to create an immersive opportunity for students to appreciate and learn their Mother Tongue Language beyond the usual curriculum.

The programme comprising of a full day carnival and customised language/cultural activities, such as broadcaster’s engagement and guided craftwork, were specially sourced and customised to suit our student’s learning needs and interests.

Through these series of activities, the department aims to enrich our student’s understanding and appreciation of languages and cultures, through authentic, hands-on learning experiences.

Mother Tongue Fortnight Carnival

The Mother Tongue Fortnight Carnival is the highlight of the series of programmes. This carnival was staged with the intention of catering a genuine carnival experience, infused with local heritage and flavours, to our students. A huge variety of traditional snacks and crafts were sourced and put together in a day long carnival that students were allowed to visit during their respective Mother Tongue lessons.

In collaboration with members from our Parent Support Group, food and tea booths, games and craftwork stations were set up timely for the carnival. Students were treated to traditional flavours like kueh, kacang puteh, putu piring, putu mayam and more. Concurrently, students can also indulge in rounds of traditional games like capteh, kuti kuti or even a match over chess. Alternatively, craftwork booths were also readily available for students to create meaningful souvenirs for themselves or even their parents. Bunga rampai sachets, mosaic coasters, pongal pot paintings, herbal massagers and many more were some of the Asian heritage craftworks that students were guided to complete.

Customised Language / Cultural Activities

To ignite the interest of our students in their Mother Tongue languages and related heritage, meaningful activities packed with targeted learning outcomes were identified and sourced for each level.

These activities strive to relate language and its applications to real life situations, thereby drawing a closer connection between Mother Tounges and our students.

Chinese Language

Sec 1: Chinese Calligraphy and its Application

Sec 2: Crafting Fragrance Sachets with Wester Herbs

Sec 3: Fusing a Traditional Umbrella with Art

Sec 4/5: Designing a Fashionable Tote Bag using Conventional Dyes

Malay Language

Sec 1: Crafting of Pantun in Hari Raya Cards

Sec 2: Jawi Calligraphy on Canvas Pencil Cases

Sec 3: Performing Arts (Kompang, Dikir Barat, Malay Traditional Dance)

Sec 4/5: Skuad Serbu Sekolah by Ria 89.7 DM (Introduction to Broadcasting and Media Industry)

Tamil Language

Sec 1: Learning Journey to Little India

Flower tying and thoranam
Mango leaves stringing activities
Pongal pot origami
Henna drawing
Photo session dressed in Saree / Veshti with accessories
Urivadithal game

Sec 2: Vanga Pongalaam (Pongal Cooking Session)

Sec 3: Silk Thread Bangle Making/Decorating

Sec 4/5: Research Work & Presentation (AI Tools)

Harvest Festival / Thanksgiving Day & Pongal Celebration

Celebration of Festivals

MTL Department organises traditional festivals from different cultures. This provides students with an immersive experience in the joyful festive atmosphere. These celebrations not only allow students to immerse themselves in the festivities but also provide an opportunity for them to understand and appreciate the meanings and values behind each festival. By gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of these celebrations, students develop a stronger attachment to their own culture and traditions, fostering a sense of pride and appreciation for their heritage.

Chinese New Year Celebrations

“Lohei” or “捞鱼生” which means “toss up a good fortune”. During Chinese new year, our students come together to participate in the lively activity of lohei. This involves tossing and mixing various ingredients together while expressing well wishes and blessings for the upcoming year. By actively participating in Lohei, students embrace the festive spirit and celebrate the Lunar New Year with enthusiasm and positivity.

Pongal Celebration

During the celebration of the Indian traditional Pongal festival, students actively participate by engaging in activities that include learning pongal recipes and creating rangoli art. Through these hands-on experiences, students not only gain practical knowledge of traditional cooking techniques but also explore their creativity by designing vibrant rangoli patterns.

Hari Raya Celebration

The Hari Raya concert at Chua Chu Kang Secondary School was a vibrant celebration of sharing and cultural appreciation. Students and teachers showcased the festival’s rich heritage through traditional Malay dance and Dikir Barat performances. Drawing from the knowledge and skills gained during the Mother Tongue Fortnight programme, students put together an engaging and meaningful concert. The event fostered unity and deeper cultural understanding, allowing everyone to embrace the values of generosity and harmony that Hari Raya Aidilfitri embodies.

Deepavali Celebration

The Deepavali celebrations at Chua Chu Kang Secondary School came alive with colour and spleandour as our Parent Support Group came together to organise a bazaar with the Tamil Department to showcase the rich and vibrant traditions of Deepavali. With booths featuring henna painting, art and craft and the trying on of traditional costumes, our CCKSians had plenty of fun as they learnt more about Deepavali with their friends and teachers.

Mother Tongue Language Learning Journeys

Learning journeys to heritage sites, such as Little India, Kampong Glam, and Singapore Chinese Cultural Center, provide our students with immersive experiences allowing them to have the opportunity to witness firsthand the vibrant traditions, customs, and historical significance embedded within their respective cultures. These learning journeys foster a stronger connection and appreciation for their heritage, enabling students to embrace their cultural identity with pride.

Reading Programme

Extensive reading is extremely important for the development of language proficiency. It is also the foundation for developing discerning readers able to engage texts critically. Students will be exposed to a wide array of different text types, with structured exercises to develop their reading skills. Students participate in book discussions, storytelling sessions, and interactive reading challenges that make reading both enjoyable and meaningful. The highlight of the programme is a grand showcase, where students present their learning through creative performances such as book dialogues and skits. This culminating event not only celebrates their reading journey but also fosters confidence and appreciation for literature.

In addition to the enriching activities of our reading programme, our Chinese Language Unit also publishes a student anthology, Huifeng Xulai. This collection features students’ creative writings and their perspectives on various social phenomena, showcasing their depth of thought and expressive abilities in the Chinese language. Through this anthology, students not only share their ideas and creativity but also inspire their peers to engage with societal issues and develop independent thinking skills.

Cultural Performance Exposure

The Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) (“文化随意门”计划) is an initiative by The Commitee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) since 2009. The objective is to enhance students' interest in Chinese Language and Culture through attendance at Chinese cultural performances at public performing arts venues.

Singapore Book of Records

In the beginning of 2024, as we embarked on our merged school journey stronger together, our student artists conceptualized and created a dragon painting to usher in the new year. In the relentless pursuit of excellence, aligned with the school value of enterprise, they went many steps ahead to create a 3-dimensional dragon sculpture. Throughout the process, they met with countless setbacks but pressed on with resilience to bring their project to fruition. This collaboration between the Mother Tongue and Aesthetics Departments was entered into the Singapore Book of Records!

Our Mother Tongue Team

Mdm	Tan Yoke Hong	HOD (Mother Tongue Languages)
Miss	Irdawaty Binte Mohd	Subject Head (Mother Tongue Languages)
Mr	Anthony Raj Joseph	Subject Head (Tamil Language)
Miss	Nur Fadelinah Bte Yusof	Senior Teacher (Malay Language)
Mdm	Zhao Huiyuan	Senior Teacher (Chinese Language)
Mrs	Chitra Murugan	Teacher
Mr	Daniel Chan Wei Min	Teacher
Mdm	Fazilah Bte Abdul Rahman	Teacher
Miss	Hafizah Bte Nordin	Teacher
Mdm	Ifa Hanifah	Teacher
Miss	Komala d/o Narayanan	Teacher
Mr	Koothaperumal Saravanaperumal	Teacher
Mdm	Latifah Bte Hassan	Teacher
Miss	Ma Ping	Teacher
Mdm	Balasuppramaniam Mohanavalli	Teacher
Mr	Pang Yew Cheng	Teacher
Miss	Tan Taw Ying	Teacher
Mr	Tang Shao Wei Alan	Teacher
Mdm	Wong Wun Chyen	Teacher