SECONDARY ONE E-REGISTRATION EXERCISE (2024 COHORT)

(3) Higher Mother Tongue Language

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please exercise your options when you receive a PG message. This is for eligible students only.

FAQ regarding Higher Mother Tongue Languages (HMTL) 

1)    Where is the venue of HMTL lessons? Does my child need to report to any Language Centre?

• Students taking HCL will be having their lessons in our school. There is no need to report to any Language Centre.
• Students taking HML will be having their lessons in Anderson Sec Sch.    
• Students taking HTL will be having their lessons after school in either Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC) or Marsiling Sec Sch.   

2)     Does my child need to take both MTL and HMTL? Does my child need to stay back after school for HMTL lessons?

• Students taking HMTL need not take MTL.
• Students taking HCL report to their HCL classes during mother tongue periods.  Secondary 1 HCL students will have extended curriculum of 50 minutes on one of the weekdays.
• Students taking HML reports to the ML class and students taking HTL will do self-directed learning during mother tongue periods.  Their lessons at the external centres are conducted once a week after school.  

3)     Does my child need to sit for his/her GCE O-level Chinese Language exam?

• Students taking HMTL will sit for their GCE O-level MTL exam (CL/ML/TL) at the  end of Secondary 3 .
• Students who obtain B3 or below for O-level MTL are strongly encouraged to re-sit for their GCE O-level MTL exam in June the following year.  As students are not allowed to sit for MTL and HMTL O-level exam in the same academic year, these students will NOT be offered HMTL in Secondary 4.

4)     What are the incentives of taking Higher Mother Tongue language (HMTL)?

• Student who obtains C6 or above for O-level HMTL and English Language will have 2 points deducted from their L1R5 aggregate score at O-level Exam for admission to Junior Colleges, if they meet the eligibility.
• Student who obtains C6 or above for O-level HMTL and English Language can use HMTL as L1 instead of English Language. However, if HMTL language is used as L1, O-level MTL (taken at Sec 3) cannot be used as one of the R5 for aggregate score computation. 
• Students need not offer Mother Tongue language at JC level if he/she has obtained a D7 or better for O-Level HMTL.

5)     My child is not offered HMTL. Can my child appeal to offer HMTL?

• MOE has identified a list of students who are eligible to take HMTL (HCL/HML/HTL).  The school will admit the students based on this list. 
• At the end of Sec 1 and Sec 2, the school will identify students who have done well in MTL and their overall results and offers them HMTL.     

Non-CL/ML Mother Tongue Languages 

1)     What will the non CL/ML students be doing during mother tongue periods?  

• Students who are not taking MTL in school will do self-directed learning during mother tongue periods. 
• The lessons at the external centres are conducted once a week after school.
• If the students have MTL lessons externally, they will be excused from lesson from 2pm to make their way to the centres.   
• If the last period of the day is a MTL lesson, the students are allowed to leave school early.

2)      Where are the venues of external MTL lessons?  How will it affect my child’s CCA?

• Tamil Language - Guangyang Sec Sch  (official centre) / Sengkang Sec Sch (by request only)
• TL ‘B’ Syllabus – Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC)
• CL ‘ B’ Syllabus – Compassvale Sec Sch (official centre) / Fuchun Sec Sch (by request only)
• Foreign Language in-lieu of Mother Tongue/ Foreign Language as Third Language – MOE Language Centre (Bishan)
• Chinese Special Programme – Clementi Town Sec Sch
• Malay Special Programme - Changkat Changi Sec Sch

External MTL lesson will take precedence over other activities in school, including remedial and CCA. Choose CCA in a way that it would not affect the external lesson.

3)     What are the things to note for Foreign Language (e.g. French/ German) in-lieu of MTL?

• There is no need to reapply MTL if approval is granted in primary school. 
• Vacancy to take lesson at MOELC is scarce and priority is given to Third language students.  If student wish to be placed in the waiting list, obtain the application form from HOD/MTL and re-submit the application.
• Students are expected to seek tuition externally and provide proof of attendance to the school periodically, even if they do not get a place in the MOELC.
• Students may register for the yearly exam at MOELC (Bishan), the result will be reflected in their report book.
• At the end of Sec 4, students will take GCE O level MTL exam.

4)     What are the things to note for Non-Tamil Indian Languages NTIL (Bengali/ Gujarati/ Hindi/ Punjabi/ Urdu)?   

• The school does not have NTIL class conducted during MTL lessons.   
• Parent should enrol their children in a NTIL language centre, e.g. Hindi Society Centre for Hindi lessons.  The Board for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages (BTTSAL) oversees NTIL instruction and assessment.  The list of NTIL centres can also be found on the official BTTSAL website at bttsal.com.
• Maintain regular attendance at the centres.
• Result from the centres will be reflected in the report book.
• At the end of Sec 4, students will take GCE O level MTL exam.

5)        How can I go about the application for MTL ‘B’ syllabus (CLB/ MLB/ TLB)?

• Obtain the application form from HOD/MTL
• Students in Exp and N(A) courses may offer Mother Tongue Language ‘B’ if they meet the following criteria at Sec 1 under AL system*:

AL 7 or 8 in Standard MTL or AL B or C in Foundation MTL

6)     How can I go about the application for Exemption from MTL/ Change of MTL?

• Obtain the application form from HOD/MTL
• Only student entering Singapore system after Primary 1 or students with medical reasons may apply for exemption

Changing of MTL is not allowed in Secondary School