SINGAPORE: In response to a growing scarcity of tuition options for Malay and Tamil languages, mother tongue language teachers innovate amid shortages of educators in Singapore. As they explore innovative approaches to enhance language proficiency, the country also grapples with the Mandarin teacher shortage in preschools.
With the decline in proficiency in second languages across the country, educators are adopting creative strategies to engage students in learning their Mother Tongues, as reported by Channel News Asia.
Primary schools, facing a challenge in maintaining proficiency levels, are incorporating a new learning format emphasising interaction and technology. For instance, Malay language classes at Haig Girls’ School introduce Primary 1 students to numbers through songs and storytelling with the alphabet.
Rita Zulkarnain Taha, a Malay language teacher at Haig Girls’ School, highlights the importance of the new syllabus, stating, “The new syllabus encourages the students to communicate in Malay. And so when they talk to their friends, they will talk in Malay, even though their grammar is not really proper.”
The Ministry of Education notes a decrease in the use of second languages. In 2021, only 40% of Primary 6 students mainly spoke Malay with peers, compared to half a decade ago. On the other hand, Tamil usage dropped by 13%.
For Tamil language tuition centres like Jai Learning Hub in Yishun, the shift towards interactive teaching methods has proven successful. They began hands-on approaches a few years back, resulting in a steady 20% yearly growth in student enrolment, now including younger children.
Chairman Mageshwaraan notes the importance placed on Tamil by younger parents who understand the language’s significance, leading to increased enrolment in Tamil enrichment classes for children as young as two.
He stated, “The younger parents who were part of the generation that perhaps struggled a bit more in Tamil, truly understand the importance of Tamil right now and do not think twice before sending their kids over for Tamil enrichment classes to ensure that their kids, as young as two, have the ability to speak in Tamil and are able to articulate their thoughts in Tamil.”
As the demand for language education evolves, educators and institutions in Singapore are navigating challenges and adapting teaching methods to ensure that students continue to develop proficiency in their Mother Tongues. /TISG