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Bendemeer Primary School

Chinese

Find out how Bendemeer Primary School nurtures students' love for Chinese Language through reading, cultural activities, and talent development programmes from Primary 1 to 6.

Last updated 4 August 2026

Our Primary 1 to Primary 6 Chinese Language curriculum aims to hone students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through a repertoire of teaching strategies and ICT-enabled lessons. We hope to bring about joy of learning. Therefore, lesson activities are carefully scaffolded to support and enthuse students to read, write and communicate with confidence.

Young students in school uniforms learning in classrooms, using tablets and worksheets at their desks.

Programmes

(1) MTL SOAR Reading Programme（阅读计划）

MTL SOAR, an MOE initiative, aims to (1) Spark interest, (2) Open minds, (3) Appreciate cultural roots and (4) Rise as a bilingual reader. In BPS, we strive to make reading time an engaging, dynamic and enjoyable experience. To cultivate a love and interest for reading in MTL, every student is given a reading passport to document his/her reading journey. Our CL Reading Ambassadors have also put in place the following platforms:

  • Structured curriculum reading periods

  • Silent reading of MTL storybook during morning assembly (every Thursdays and Fridays)

  • Termly visit to school library

  • BPS Chinese Read Quest Competition

  • Sharing of book reflections in class/online

  • Come dressed as MTL characters during ‘Book Character Day’

  • ‘I can be a News Broadcaster’ (Upper Primary level)

Students in classrooms and a stage, some in traditional Chinese costumes, presenting in front of screens with Chinese text.

MOE SUPPLEMENTARY READERS GUIDE FOR PARENTS

(2) Chinese New Year Celebrations（新年庆祝会）

The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations is one of the festive occasions that students in Bendemeer Primary School celebrate to raise awareness of the Chinese culture in multi-racial Singapore. On the day of celebration, all staff and students are encouraged to be dressed in their ethnic costumes. We will gather in the hall to watch the highly-anticipated CNY concert organised by the MTL department. Our students also have fun during the handicraft activities, while learning about the significance of Chinese New Year’s culture and practices.

School Leaders pose between two red lion dance costumes in a school hall filled with seated children.
A festive start to the New Year, filled with abundance!

(3) Mother Tongue Language (MTL) Fortnight（母语双周）

Mother Tongue Language Fortnight is a key annual event to provide an engaging environment for the learning of Mother Tongue Languages (MTL). A variety of language and cultural activities are specially curated for students of every level to actively use MTL and appreciate its associated culture. Some of the CL language and cultural activities include clay modelling, bean art, mask painting, kite making, paper quilling and singing of Chinese pop songs. Students also participate in various MTL competitions such as poetry recital competition. Through these hands-on activities, students get to immerse deeply and appreciate the beauty of the culture itself.

Five student activity photos: clay modelling, bean art display, painted masks, kite making, and Chinese pop song performance.

(4) MTL Cultural Trail（小三文化之旅）

Besides MTL Fortnight, the MTL Cultural Trail is another annual programme for our Primary 3 CL students. Teachers creatively transform school spaces into cultural learning stations. Students get to work in groups to explore the various stations to learn and appreciate Mother Tongue Language (MTL) and its culture.

Four panels showing children drawing, traditional Chinese paintings, colorful shuttlecocks on a table, and a child assembling costume cards.

We hope that through these efforts, our students will cultivate good reading habits, spark creativity, sharpen their oracy and critical thinking skills.

(5) CPES CL Drama Appreciation（文化随意门）

In our efforts to enhance students’ interest in Chinese cultural performances, the CL department also bring Primary 4 CL students to watch a Chinese Drama performance. Students will engage in post-drama class-based discussion with their teachers and complete student reflection to consolidate their learning experience.

Performers in colorful costumes on a stage with dramatic lighting during a theatrical show.

(6) Talent Development (才能培训）

Students with good language ability will have the opportunity to represent our school in annual National MTL competitions such as creative writing, story-telling competition. Through these platforms, these selected students will gain invaluable learning experiences and get to network with students from other schools to deepen their passion for Chinese Language.

(7) Mother Tongue Support

Mother Tongue support programmes and after-school arrangements

ABLE programme

  • To support students who require additional support in the learning of Chinese Language for Primary 3 and 4 learners.

  • It focuses on strengthening oracy (speaking and listening) and literacy (reading and writing) skills. Teachers deploy multi-modal learning strategies to engage students and build their confidence in CL learning.

Types of after-school support

  • For P5 to P6 students support/supplementary class

  • MTL consultation sessions for P6 students in preparation for their PSLE

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