Mother Tongue Department

1. Mother Tongue Languages at Dunearn 

Nurturing active learners and proficient users of Mother Tongue Languages. 

At Dunearn, we believe that learning Mother Tongue Languages goes beyond developing language proficiency. Through meaningful and authentic learning experiences, students grow in confidence as communicators, deepen their appreciation of language and culture, and discover opportunities to express their creativity and talents. 

Communicate with Confidence 

Students strengthen their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through purposeful discussions, presentations, storytelling and collaborative learning. They learn to express their ideas clearly and use their Mother Tongue Languages confidently in authentic contexts. 

Appreciate Language and Culture 

Students discover the richness of Chinese and Malay languages and cultures through literature, performances, festive celebrations, cultural experiences and learning journeys. These experiences deepen their appreciation of their heritage while helping them connect language learning with the world around them. 

Create and Shine 

Students are given opportunities to discover their strengths and express their creativity through writing, public speaking, media production and language competitions. Through our talent development programmes and enrichment opportunities, students develop confidence, creativity and a passion for language beyond the classroom. 

Meet Our MT Team 

2. MTL Learning at Dunearn 

扎根文化，自信沟通 

Berakar pada Budaya, Yakin Berkomunikasi 

• Chinese New Year celebrations 

• Hari Raya celebrations 

• Mother Tongue Languages Fortnight 

• Cultural & Language workshops 

• Learning journeys 

• Performances and exhibitions 

3.Talent Development 

At Dunearn, the Mother Tongue Languages Department believes that language learning extends beyond the classroom. Our Talent Development Programme seeks to nurture students’ interests, strengths and potential in Chinese and Malay by providing meaningful opportunities for them to deepen their language proficiency, express themselves creatively and develop a strong appreciation of their cultural heritage. 

Students are exposed to a range of authentic platforms that develop different aspects of language learning. Chinese Language students hone their creativity and written expression through the National Secondary School Chinese Creative Writing Competition (新蕾奖) and the Author-in-Residence Programme (驻校作家计划), while the National Text Recital Competition (全国朗诵比赛) builds confidence, expressive speaking and an appreciation of literature. 

Malay Language students similarly extend their learning through competitions such as Piala Cendekia Sahibba, which develops vocabulary, strategic thinking and teamwork; Cepat Tepat 2.0, which challenges students’ knowledge of Malay language, proverbs and culture; and the Pena Emas EDN Writing Competition, which provides a platform for students to showcase their creativity in written expression. 

Our students have achieved encouraging results across these platforms, including recognition for creative writing, strong competition placings and awards for exemplary conduct and sportsmanship. More importantly, the learning journey develops qualities that extend beyond competition results. 

Through preparation, practice, collaboration and feedback, students learn to persevere, communicate with confidence, think creatively and take pride in their progress. By providing purposeful mentorship and opportunities to represent the school, the Mother Tongue Languages Department aims to help every student discover their strengths, develop their talents and grow into confident communicators who value their language and heritage.