Mother tongue languages

Mission

The Hillgrove Mother Tongue language learning experience focuses on exposing students to their cultural roots through a series of workshops, competitions and learning journeys. We believe that language learning is not confined to the classroom and should be actively applied in our everyday lives. Through our curriculum and our enrichment programmes, we seek to develop each Hillgrovian to be a confident and proficient user of their own Mother Tongue Language. Our school also offers Higher Chinese to students who display keen interest and aptitude in the subject. 

Achievements & Highlights

Teaching & Learning

• School-based Curriculum Resources

• Reading Programme on Specific Readers and Newspapers

  • ZB Comma

  • Dewan Pelajar

• MT Intensive Programme for graduating students

• Differentiated Learning in Enhancing Learning Outcomes

• Cluster Sharing - SEC Examinations Malay Language Preparatory Workshop

• West Zone Chinese Language Network Learning Community (NLC) Sharing

• Personalised Digital Learning Programme (PDLP)

Cultural Exposure

• Festive celebrations: Chinese New Year concert and Hamper Wrapping for various beneficiaries, Hari Raya and Deepavali Celebrations

• MTL Fortnight Cultural Programme:

  • EL-ML Translation competition, Boogle competition

  • Multi-Ethnic Drumming workshop

  • CL Workshops: Name Carving, Puppet Making, Peranakan Culture and Tile Painting, Traditional Bamboo Book Making, Diablo Juggling, Xinyao Appreciation

  • ML Workshops: Drama, Song-writing, Podcasting & Interviewing Skills

  • Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) Chinese Crosstalk "La Kopi“ 文化随意门”计划《相声 La Kopi》2025

Others

• 《育林文集2025》-  compilation of students’ outstanding written work produced in 2025.

• Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents’ Club 联合学生通讯员俱乐部 2025

Distinguished Chinese Language Teachers Awards 2025

Congratulations to Mrs Pan-Cai Yijin Jane for receiving the 28th Distinguished Chinese Language Teachers Awards

Mrs Pan, who has 14 years of teaching experience, incorporates “character and citizenship education” into her Chinese lessons. She guides students to discuss current affairs in Mandarin, helping them develop critical thinking and empathy in the process.

Click here ↗ (opens in new tab) to view newsletter from Lianhe Zaobao 

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Competitions

Chinese Language Unit

9th National Text Recital Competition 2026 – Silver and Bronze Awards

2026 National Chinese Reading Contest for Primary and Secondary Schools – Distinguished Performance Award (Top 10 Finalists)

4th National Chinese Riddle Competition and Workshop (第四届全国中学生灯谜比赛及工作坊) - 2025 - Merit Award (Group)

8th National Text Recital Competition (第八届全国课文朗诵比赛) - 2025 

• Lower Secondary Category – 1 Bronze Award (Team)

• Upper Secondary Category – 1 Bronze Award (Individual)

1st National Chinese Reading Contest for Primary and Secondary Schools (第一届全国中小学华文阅读乐竞赛) - 2025 

• Distinguished Performance Award (Individual)

4th Heartstrings of Singapore Photography Competition (第四届“心系新加坡"摄影比赛) - 2024 - 2 Merit Awards (Individual) 

National Secondary Schools Chinese Mini Fiction Creative Writing Competition - 2024 - 1 Certificate of Merit 

7th National Text Recital Competition (第七届全国课文朗诵比赛) - 2024 - 2 Silver Awards

3rd National Chinese Riddle Competition 2024 - (第三届全国中学生灯谜比赛) - 6th Place

20th National Xin Lei Chinese Creative Writing Competition for Secondary Schools (新蕾奖”第二十届全国中学生华文创作比赛) - Gold Award

6th National Text Recital Competition (第六届全国课文朗诵比赛) - 2023 - 2 Gold with Merit, 6 Bronze

Chinese Street Dance Competition - Top 8 Finalist

6th National Chinese Flash Fiction Writing Competition for Secondary Schools - (第六届全国中学生微型小说创作比赛)

• 1 Bronze Award and 2 Commendation Awards

Malay Language Unit

National Essay Writing Competition (Pertandingan Mengarang PENA EMAS 2025) - 22 Gold Awards and 2nd Best Team Award

NUSA National Essay Writing Competition (Pertandingan Mengarang ‘Saya Boleh Menulis’ 2025) - 3rd position, 2 Gold with Honour and 1 Gold

NUSA National Speech Competition (Pertandingan ‘Saya Boleh Berpidato’ 2025) — 4th and 5th positions, Gold with Honour, and 1 Silver

SG60 Poetry Writing 2025 – Hadiah Mata Tinta — 3rd and 6th positions; students’ work published in Kejora di Tapak Tangan 2025

National Essay Writing Competition - (Pertandingan Mengarang PENA EMAS 2025) - Awarded 22 Gold & 2nd Best Team Award 

NUSA National Essay Writing Competition - (Pertandingan Mengarang 'Saya Boleh Menulis 2025) - 

• 3rd position

• 2 Gold with Honour and 1 Gold

NUSA National Speech Competition (Pertandingan 'Saya Boleh Berpidato 2025) - 4th & 5th position Gold with Honour, 1 Silver

SG60 Poetry Writing 2025 - Hadiah Mata Tinta: 3rd position and 6th position. Students work published in 'Kejora di Tapak Tangan 2025' 

Peraduan Penulisan Cerpen 'Orang Singapura' - 2025 - MLLPC 

SG60 Petah Spontan @ Keat Hong CC 

Inter-secondary School Translation Competition 2024 - Pertandingan 3T (TERJEMAH. TUTUR. TEPAT.) – 5th place

National Level Inter-School (Sec) Essay Writing Competition - (PENA EMASKU 2024)

• Upper Sec Category - 25 Gold Awards (one student achieved Top 30 placing)

• Lower Sec Category - 5 Gold Awards

National Level Inter-School (Sec) Essay Writing Competition (Pena Emasku 2022) - 5 Gold

Inter-secondary School Translation Competition 2023 - Pertandingan 3T (TERJEMAH. TUTUR. TEPAT.) - Top 10