Mother Tongue

Mother Tongue Languages Department

Our Department Mission

To nurture passionate and proficient users of the Mother Tongue languages who possess strong moral values and a lifelong appreciation for their linguistic and cultural heritage. 

The Mother Tongue Languages Department seeks to develop confident communicators and culturally grounded individuals who value their roots and embrace their identity. Through authentic and engaging learning experiences, we aim to deepen students’ love for the language, strengthen their connection with their heritage, and empower them to communicate with empathy and respect in a multicultural society. 

Department Philosophy

The Mother Tongue Languages Department recognises the challenges faced by 21st-century learners in acquiring and using their Mother Tongue languages. As such, the department strives to nurture students’ interest and love for the language through a repertoire of effective pedagogical approaches that develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students are also provided with opportunities to participate in various MTL-related competitions to further hone their language proficiency and build confidence in authentic communication. 

The school’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP) — the Journalism and Broadcasting Programme — supports and complements the learning of the Mother Tongue languages in Holy Innocents’ High School. Through exposure to journalism and broadcasting within the MTL curriculum, students are able to apply their language skills in authentic contexts such as journal writing, news reporting, and audio-visual production, thereby deepening their engagement and appreciation of the language. 

Teaching Team

Our Signature Programmes and Key Highlights

1.  Applied Learning Programme (ALP) - Journalism and Broadcasting 

2. Mother Tongue Languages Fortnight Programme 

3. Chinese New Year Celebrations 

4. Hari Raya Celebrative Activities  

5. Upper Secondary Theatre Experience  

6. Lianhe Zaobao Correspondents  

Mother Tongue Languages Fortnight Programme 

Our annual Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) Fortnight celebrates the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of our community. Through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences, students deepen their appreciation for their Mother Tongue languages and cultures while building confidence in using the language in authentic contexts. 

During the two-week celebration, students participate in a variety of cultural and language-related activities, such as traditional art and craft sessions, language games, and the popular MTL Singing Competition. Secondary One students also engage in creative projects such as round fan painting and tie-dye, where they explore traditional art forms while expressing their individuality. 

Students further experience the vibrancy of different cultures through interactive booths, food tastings, and festive highlights such as the Hari Raya mini carnival. These activities provide opportunities for students to appreciate the beauty of each culture, from ketupat weaving and traditional attire displays to multicultural performances. 

Through these authentic experiences, the MTL Fortnight aims to foster in our students a deeper love for their Mother Tongue languages, strengthen their cultural identity, and nurture a spirit of inclusivity and respect in our multilingual society. 

Cultural Performance Exposure (Theatre Experience) 

Each year, our Secondary 3 students have the opportunity to attend professional Chinese cultural performances through the Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) (“文化随意门”计划). This programme aims to enhance students’ interest in the Chinese language and deepen their appreciation of Chinese culture by providing authentic experiences in public performing arts venues. 

In recent years, our students have enjoyed engaging performances such as crosstalk (相声), which not only showcase the beauty and wit of the language but also allow students to experience the vibrancy of traditional Chinese performing arts in an authentic setting. 

Through these immersive experiences, students gain a richer understanding of the language’s expressive power and cultural depth, fostering both linguistic confidence and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. 

"Script It Right" Chinese Radio Drama Scriptwriting Workshop and Competition  

"Script It Right" is an annual Chinese radio drama scriptwriting competition and workshop, jointly organized by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese radio station UFM100.3, and Holy Innocents' High School. The event is open to students from secondary schools, high schools, junior colleges, and polytechnics across Singapore and aims to promote the Chinese language through creative writing and storytelling. The program includes scriptwriting workshops to hone students' skills and a competition to recognize outstanding scripts, which are often broadcast on UFM100.3.