Mother Tongue Languages      

Our Belief: Cultivating Champions of Culture and Expression 

Quoting the vision of our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew for a bilingual Singapore: “To each what he originally had – his culture, his language, a link with his past, his heritage.” 

At Greenridge Secondary, Mother Tongue Languages are not just about communication; they are a bridge to culture, heritage, and identity. The MTL Department aims to provide vibrant language and cultural learning experiences that encourage our Greenridge Champions to use their Mother Tongue in daily life and develop a lifelong passion for their languages. 

 Mother Tongue Languages through IDEAS 

Imagine    

We inspire our Champions to imagine how language shapes stories, values, and traditions. Through programmes such as the Applied Learning Programme (ALP), MTL Fortnight, and learning journeys, students explore possibilities for keeping their culture alive in modern ways. Whether envisioning a new twist on a traditional tale, reinterpreting festivals through creative projects, or connecting heritage to contemporary life, they begin to imagine how language can evolve while preserving its roots.

Discover 

As part of the ALP programme, our Secondary 3 students visited Kampong Lorong Buangkok to uncover and learn about Singapore’s rich history.

Our Champions discover the beauty and depth of their languages through immersive and hands-on experiences. They take part in translation activities, workshops, and cultural learning journeys that connect them with history and community. From visiting places like the Peranakan Museum or Kampong Lorong Buangkok to exploring traditional art forms and performances, they gain a deeper appreciation of linguistic diversity and cultural expression. During Mother Tongue Fortnight and MTL Week, they also participate in activities that showcase cultural traditions such as traditional games, performances, and crafts, discovering how language and culture are interwoven in everyday life.

Express 

Champions learn to express themselves confidently through writing, speech, and performance. They participate in MTL Week and Mother Tongue Fortnight activities that encourage storytelling, drama and performance, showcasing both creativity and communication skills. Through initiatives such as the Drama Games Workshop for personality development, students strengthen their communication abilities and nurture creative thinking through expressive emotions.

Accomplish 

Chen Qinghao emerged as the champion in the National Secondary School Creative Writing Competition 2025.

Nurul Batrisya emerged as the second runner-up, while Nyla Alesha clinched third place in the Petah Spontan (Public Speaking) competition held in conjunction with Bulan Bahasa 2025.

Our lower secondary students, Ramkumar Ikshitha, Thaaniyah, Rooswelt Soni Katherin, Varatharaj Priyadharshini, and Arunkumar Yazhini clinched third place in the Video Making Competition 2025 organised by Infonitics Pte Ltd.

Our Greenridge Champions demonstrate excellence by applying their language skills in authentic and competitive settings. They have earned national recognition in poetry writing, translation, radio drama, scriptwriting, and public speaking. These achievements reflect not only mastery of their Mother Tongue but also determination, creativity, and a strong sense of cultural pride.

Serve 

The knowledge our Champions gained through their Mother Tongue language experiences empowers them to contribute to the preservation and sustainability of the language. Their bilingual skills enhance their communication abilities and deepen their appreciation of the language’s culture and heritage, enabling them to serve the community meaningfully.

Key Features of Mother Tongue Languages @ Greenridge 

• Enhanced ALP in MTL: Creative platforms such as scriptwriting, radio drama, and lyrics workshops allow Greenridge Champions to develop expressive language skills. 

• Cultural Immersion: Events such as MTL Week and Mother Tongue Fortnight celebrate traditions through performances, games, and workshops. 

• ICT-Enhanced Learning: Champions engage in digital storytelling, translation, and creative writing using online platforms, showcasing how technology can bring languages to life. 

• Competitions and Achievements: Opportunities in national poetry, scriptwriting, translation, and speaking competitions allow Champions to achieve excellence and recognition.