English Language

Department Overview

Guided by our school vision of nurturing Reflective Learners, Gracious Citizens, the school is committed to developing effective and purposeful English Language users.

We believe that a strong foundation in the English Language is essential for students to make sense of rapid advancements, connect meaningfully with the wider community and eventually access opportunities in an innovative and empathy-driven world.

This belief drives the department’s commitment to developing language users who are not only aware of purpose, audience, context and culture but also able to apply this awareness in their interactions. Our programmes are designed to nurture listening, reading, speaking, writing, grammar and vocabulary skills through learning tasks that are meaningful and set in authentic contexts.

Teachers create a language-rich environment that fosters communication and critical thinking through thought-provoking and engaging activities. Language learning is approached in an integrated manner, using resources that reflect diverse perspectives and encourage real-world connections.

At the heart of our teaching and learning processes is a student-centred approach. Teachers model and scaffold language skills while differentiating instruction to meet varied learning needs, interests and talents. Students are given time to build their confidence and raise their competencies, as language concepts are introduced, revisited and deepened across the six years.

Department Members

Key Programmes

Super Readers, Assemble!

This week-long event has our school buzzing with various activities and initiatives designed to engage and inspire our students. Through the exploration of the wonderful world of books, our students enhance their literacy skills and cultivate a lifelong love for reading.

The highlight of the event is ‘Characters Come Alive!’ Day, when students come dressed as storybook characters. Stepping into the shoes of their favourite storybook characters and embodying their traits, our students embark on a memorable role-play adventure!

Lit Infusion

Imaginative thinkers, confident speakers and joyful readers! Through this programme, our students will appreciate literature and creative expression. In Primary 2, students will explore classic fairy tales, learning about their features and familiar elements like magic, good versus evil and happy endings.

Primary 3 students take this further by diving into fractured fairy tales, where familiar stories are turned on their heads. Through creative reimagining and playful experimentation with rhyme and rhythm, students begin to see themselves as storytellers in their own right.

By Primary 4, students step into the world of poetry. They read, write and analyse poems across a range of poetic forms, discovering how language can be shaped and crafted to create meaning and emotion.

In Primary 5, students engage deeply with short stories, exploring a writer's craft and unpacking key themes through rich discussion and reflective writing. Guided dialogues help make their thinking visible, encouraging them to articulate and refine their interpretations with growing confidence.

Oracy Programmes

We believe that being confident and articulate users in the English Language is key to helping our students express themselves clearly and connect meaningfully with others. Through these oracy enrichment programmes, students will have opportunities to develop strong communication skills in ways that are both enjoyable and purposeful. Students will have lessons focusing on areas such as Speech and Drama, Poetry Recitation, and Storytelling and Dramatisation. These are rich learning experiences designed to build their confidence, creativity and presentation skills.

Sparking the Joy of Learning: Experiential Learning

These authentic and meaningful experiences are designed to support the language development of our students. They are able to make connections between spoken and written language by engaging in shared, purposeful activities that lead to rich opportunities for reading and writing.

Primary 1 - Sandwich Making

Primary 2  - Prata Discovery

Spelling Bee

To support our students in enhancing their spelling skills, students from Primary 1 to 3 take part in Spelling Bee competitions. These friendly competitions give students the opportunity to apply their word recognition and decoding skills as they compete with their peers. Held twice a year, the Spelling Bee has become a much-anticipated and well-loved event—enjoyed by both participants and members of the audience alike!

Celebrating our students' achievements

Inter‑school Debate Championship 2026

The Wits & Words Competition 2026, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and Nanyang Girls’ High School, celebrates the art of debate and the power of words. This prestigious championship provides primary school pupils with a platform to sharpen their communication skills, build confidence, and develop critical thinking.

This year, the drive to debate came entirely from the ground up — students eager for exposure to debate proposed the idea, and the school readily supported their initiative by registering a team. Their enthusiasm and preparation bore fruit, as the team triumphed in both preliminary rounds and proudly clinched the Best Speaker awards in each. These achievements reflect not only their eloquence and determination, but also the school’s commitment to nurturing student voice and supporting meaningful opportunities.

We celebrate their success with pride, as they embody the spirit of Wits & Words - courage, clarity and the joy of persuasive expression.

Link to IG post:

www.instagram.com/p/DXqhzhNj2Cr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==