Mother Tongue

Introduction

Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire. – W.B. Yeats

Through the provision of a values-based and student-centric learning environment, we grow our students’ interest in and appreciation for the Chinese/Malay language and culture, and motivate them towards excellence in their Mother Tongue Language. As we nurture them to be responsible and active users of their mother tongue, the seed is planted for our students to be learned, future-ready persons who contribute to society.

本部门以价值观为本，打造以学生为中心的优越学习环境，培养学生对母语和华族/马来族文化的兴趣，进而激发他们投入到母语的学习里。本部门也力求灌输学生正确的传统价值观，让他们了解并珍惜本族文化。毕业自美雅中学的学生，会是能善用母语，有责任感，并能面向未来，贡献社会的好公民。

Melalui suasana pengajaran dan pembelajaran berteraskan nilai, kami berharap dapat menyemai minat dan cinta pelajar terhadap bahasa dan budaya Melayu. Dalam masa yang sama juga, merangsang mereka meraih kecemerlangan dalam Bahasa Melayu. Kami juga berhasrat agar dapat memupuk penghayatan dan pemikiran nilai-nilai murni yang menjadi asas budaya kita kepada pelajar. Diharap melalui pendidikan nilai-nilai ini, mereka menjadi pengguna yang bertanggungjawab dan aktif menggunakan Bahasa Melayu serta sentiasa bersedia menyumbang kepada masyarakat pada masa hadapan demi menyahut seruan visi Arif Budiman.

Programmes and Outcomes

Ask ‘How will they learn best?’ not ‘Can they learn?’ – J. Escalante

At Admiralty Secondary School, using Design Thinking, Mother Tongue Language teaching and learning is meaningfully designed to cater to the profiles and needs of our students.

• Customised teaching and learning - Learning is pitched at each student’s ability by teachers with relevant expertise. Contemporary issues are often discussed to engage students and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Higher ability students will have the opportunity to offer Higher Mother Tongue Language and Literature in Malay (Elective). Students who require more support will learn at an appropriate pace with customised materials.

• Authentic learning - Cultural exposure via learning journeys and overseas cultural immersion offer students real-life exposure to the use of their mother tongue and enhance their appreciation for the language and culture.

• Integration of ICT - The use of ICT is prevalent for greater relevance to students’ life and future, as well as to offer immediate feedback on students’ learning progress.

“Education is not an affair of 'telling' and being told, but an active and constructive process.” – J. Dewey

Mother Tongue Language Fortnight

Our MTL Fortnight exposes students to various contexts to expand their understanding and appreciation of their mother tongue and culture. Activities include:

• Chinese fold-fan painting (折扇), Seal carving (刻章), Chinese calligraphy (书法)

• Bunga Manggar making, Jawi calligraphy, Wayang Kulit making

Learning Journeys

Our MT learning journeys include visits to local cultural sites, participation in cultural activities, watching of theatre plays, etc. These journeys offer students out-of-school contexts to understand and appreciate the relevance of their mother tongue and culture in life. Some learning journeys that we have conducted are:

• Cultural Heritage Walk (走出校园—走进文化)

• World Book Day (世界书香日)

• Theatre drama performance, e.g. 《老九》、《摇滚聊斋》、《天门决》、《包小龙抓贼记》

National Events and Competitions

Our students participate actively in selected national CL/ML events and competitions. Most students shared their elation and excitement over joining national CL/ML events for the first time. We are certainly delighted to offer our students such opportunities and exposure for them to see their own potential and to get to know the national CL/ML scene. Annual national activities that our students have participated in include:

• National Chinese Challenge (华文大比拼)

• National Chinese Creative Writing Competition (全国中学生华文创作比赛—新蕾奖)

• National Secondary Schools Translation Competition (全国中学生翻译比赛)

• National Text Recital Competition (中小学课文朗诵比赛) (From 2022)

• National Chinese Riddle Competition (全国中学生灯谜比赛) (From 2022)

• Dari Pena Ke Panggung (2019)

• Dari Pena Ke Panggung (Teater Maya) (2021)

• -    Pemenang Skrip Terbaik (Karya : Ke Makam Bonda)

• 2021 National Poetry Competition

• -    1st Place (Dg Annisa Zunah Binte Md Alias, Lyra 6, 2021)

• -    2nd Place (Nabil Afiq Bin Jumali, Lyra 6, 2021)

Overseas Immersion Trip

Through week-long cultural immersion as well as daily debrief and reflection as in China, our students gain exposure and understanding of the education system, social culture and development in Singapore/China. They also develop their 21st Century Competencies in global awareness, and cross-cultural skills and sensitivities. Along the way, they will develop personal qualities such as resilience, responsibility and teamwork.