At UWCSEA, the language of instruction is English. In addition
to English or English as an Additional Language (EAL) lessons,
almost all students take another language. This can be a First
Language, (which includes a language learned as a child, other
languages spoken at home and/or in previous school setting,
as well as ‘heritage languages’, which are languages spoken
by a parent, grandparent or ancestor). Alternatively, students
can take a Foreign language. This language is not spoken as
a first language by any family member and the learner is not
culturally connected to the language.
The languages offered depend on the grade and campus.
The course that a student is placed in will depend on their
proficiency in the language, which includes their experience in
learning the language in an academic setting.
Language courses are designed to provide our students with
exposure to their own culture and linguistic identity, in the
case of First Languages, or other cultures in the Foreign
Language courses as well as to acquire skills in a language
other than English. The details of our LOTE courses are
outlined below; our K–12 EAL programme is explained on a
separate factsheet.
For the most part these lessons take place during the
academic timetable; any exceptions are marked.
We admit EAL learners from K1 to Grade 11 on both
campuses, and support students whose first language is
not English in retaining and developing skills in their home
language (first language) wherever possible. In addition to the
languages offered via the academic timetable, we also offer
a comprehensive Home Languages Programme for students
who wish to maintain and develop a level of academic
exposure to a language which they do not study during the
school day.
This brochure gives information about the K–12 LOTE
language learning pathways available at UWCSEA.
Students joining the College may be tested to ensure they are
placed in a course that matches their previous experience and
attainment with the UWCSEA language course.
Foreign Language Courses
Beginner courses
These are for students with little or no prior exposure
to learning the language. In the IB Diploma Programme
(IBDP), these are the ‘ab initio’ courses. There is at least one
beginner language option available for students joining in
K1–Grade 8, and Grade 11.
Continuation courses
These courses require students to have had at least a year
of prior academic study in the language. There are
continuation courses available for students joining the
College in K1–Grade 11.
First language courses
A selection of first language courses are offered through
the academic programme. Students joining these classes
are assessed as part of the formal assessment and
reporting process.
UWCSEA students who successfully complete a first language/
Group 1 course in a language other than English in the IB
Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12), as well as meet all
other requirements, will graduate with an IB Bilingual Diploma.
Our Home Languages Programme is usually offered after school
and allows students to develop their home language when this
is not available to them at an appropriate level through the
academic curriculum.
School Supported Language (SSL) course
This High School programme is for first language learners
who would like to continue academic studies of their chosen
language. This course is available to students when their
chosen language has a small number of proficient users in
our community. To enrol in the course, students need to
have sound reading and writing skills. A students’ chosen SSL
language is not necessarily their first, best, home or family
language. It could be a language in which they were schooled
for a number of years.
For this course, parents receive assistance from UWCSEA to
hire a professional tutor (additional cost involved) who works
with the student and collaborates with the school. Students
are also supported by a UWCSEA language teacher who
provides literature instruction and supervises study time.
Students meet two times per week during the academic
timetable in a class which may contain speakers of a number
of different languages. Those who complete the programme
in Grades 11 and 12 earn a bilingual IB diploma.
Home Languages Programme (HLP)
Our HLP is offered outside the academic timetable and is
not formally assessed. The aim is to help students maintain a
language they speak at home (this is not necessarily their first
language) and to develop literacy skills, particularly in reading
and writing. These classes may assist students progress to a
first language class if it is offered in the academic programme.
Languages at UWCSEA
Overview of language offerings on Dover Campus
Languages
K1
K2
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
Foreign
Language
Beginner
Chinese
French
Spanish
Foreign
Language
Continuation
Chinese
French
German
Japanese
Spanish
First
Language
Chinese
Dutch
French
German
Hindi*
Japanese*
Korean*
Spanish
SSL
EAL
Home Languages
* Students may be offered the SSL or Language A as an alternative if there are insufficient numbers to form a class.
Chinese in K1–G2, Chinese first and second language students are taught together in interactive classes with emphasis on speaking
and listening. From Grade 3 onwards, first language Chinese is offered as a separate class.
Dutch in Grade 7 and 8, Dutch is taught as a first language after school. More information on UWCSEA’s Dutch language and
cultural programme for students in Grades 7–12 can be found at uwcsea.edu.sg/Dutch.
German in Grades 7 and 8, German is taught as a first language according to the Swiss curriculum, supporting students joining
us in Grade 7 from the Swiss School in Singapore; German First Language speakers and ‘Near first-language speakers’ are also
encouraged to join this course that adopts a differentiated approach to prepare them for German A or German B HL in Grade 11.
More information on the programme for Grades 7–12 can be found at uwcsea.edu.sg/German.
Japanese is taught as a first language from Grade 6 onwards for first language speakers. Second Language Japanese speakers are
also encouraged to join this course that adopts a differentiated approach to prepare them for Japanese A or Japanese B HL in Grade 11.
Home Languages Programme is an option from K1. Students can choose either Model A with one session a week and a
responsive curriculum; or Model B with up to three hours a week and a rigorous , structured curriculum with assessments.
Grade 11 IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
Language A Group 1 courses (first language)
A – English Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – English Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Dutch Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – French Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – German Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Hindi Literature (SL and HL)
A – Japanese Literature (SL and HL)
A – Korean Literature (SL and HL)
A – Spanish Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – School Supported Language (SL)
Language B Group 2 courses
(Foreign Language continuation)
B – English (HL)
B – Chinese (SL and HL)
B – French (SL and HL)
B – German (SL and HL)
B – Japanese (SL and HL)
B – Spanish (SL and HL)
Language B Group 2 courses (Foreign Language beginner)
B – French ab initio (SL)
B – Spanish ab initio (SL)
Overview of language offerings on East Campus
Languages
K1
K2
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
G10
G11
Foreign
Language
Beginner
Chinese
French
Spanish
Foreign
Language
Continuation
Chinese
French
Spanish
First
Language
Chinese
French*
Hindi*
Japanese*
Spanish*
SSL
EAL
Home Languages
* Students may be offered SSL as an alternative if there are insufficient numbers to form a class.
Grade 11 IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
Language A Group 1 courses (first language)
A – English Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – English Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Literature (SL and HL)
A – French Literature (SL and HL)
A – Hindi Literature (SL and HL)
A – Japanese Literature (SL and HL)
A – Spanish Literature (SL and HL)
A – School Supported Language (SL)
Language B Group 2 courses
(Foreign Language continuation)
B – English (HL)
B – Chinese (SL and HL)
B – French (SL and HL)
B – Spanish (SL and HL)
Language B Group 2 courses
(Foreign Language beginner)
B – French ab initio (SL)
B – Spanish ab initio (SL)
Chinese in K1 and K2 students are taught together in interactive and dynamic classes that encourage all students to be active
Chinese speakers, with an emphasis on speaking and listening. From Grade 1, Chinese is offered at advanced level.
Home Languages Programme an option from K1, the classes may help to prepare students to join the first language classes
offered as part of the academic programme in the Middle and High School.
Last updated 31 October 2025 | ADM–2526
authors list and are supported by a SSL supervisor and an
professional tutor in their chosen language as they study
towards a bilingual diploma.
SSL lessons are part of the student’s timetable, and students
may have lessons with their tutor (additional cost) in the
allocated study time, or outside school hours, depending on
the tutor’s availability.
Home Languages Programme
HLP is offered for students who want to maintain and
develop a language spoken at home. This may be the
student’s ‘first language’ or ‘heritage language’, or it may be
another language to which the student has had extensive
previous exposure and in which the family is keen for the
student to maintain a level of fluency.
Classes are delivered by a qualified teacher in small groups of
3–6 students of similar age and ability. The classes take place
after school or at lunch time, supporting students to maintain
and develop literacy skills in the language at age appropriate
levels. Classes are scheduled subject to demand, and are an
additional cost.
In K1 to Grade 1 the focus is on maintaining or expanding a
student’s exposure to their home language in an environment
other than home. Teachers use a communicative approach
to build on speaking and listening skills through activities,
games and songs. Students learn to recognise patterns and
characters or single words. From Grade 2, a particular focus
on developing the literacy skills of reading and writing is
introduced, in line with the development of literacy skills
in the academic programme (English and other taught
languages) classes. Students expand their vocabulary and
develop confidence in speaking. They gain a sense of cultural
identity through different activities.
For older students, the programme is intended to assist them
to develop a level of proficiency that may allow them to move
into first language academic classes in Middle or High School
or the SSL course in High School. It may also assist students
who aim to study for a bilingual IB Diploma to develop a level of
language learning to access a relevant IBDP course.
First Language Courses
In the past, UWCSEA High School students have studied over
50 different languages as either SSL or HLP courses, including:
• Asian languages: Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Burmese,
Cantonese, Chinese, Dzongkha, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese,
Khmer, Korean, Lao, Malay, Marathi, Mongolian, Sinhalese,
Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Urdu and Vietnamese
• European languages: Albanian, Belarusian, Bosnian,
Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish,
French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian,
Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish,
Swedish and Ukrainian
• African languages: Amharic, Bemba, Kinyarwanda, Shona,
Siswati, Swahili, Zulu
• Middle Eastern languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian
School Supported Language courses
In Grade 9 and 10, this non-examined course helps students
develop literary analysis skills. Students who are studying
a number of different literature and language courses are
guided and supervised through the course by a UWCSEA
language teacher. In addition, they are supported in their
chosen language by a professional tutor (additional cost)
who sets learning engagements, gives feedback on progress
and assesses learning in each student’s chosen language. By
completing a variety of tasks independently and collaborating
closely with their tutor, students take ownership of their
learning. In addition to developing the conceptual tools for
exploring literature, SSL students also learn how to structure
critical analyses, essays and oral presentations about literature.
Each student’s written work is regularly assessed by a
professional literature tutor, against criteria provided by the
College. These teachers are carefully selected on the basis of
their experience and expertise. Parents play an important role
in supporting their children’s efforts by discussing work with
them and providing additional opportunities to use the target
language in a variety of contexts and for diverse purposes.
In Grades 11 and 12, students select from the IB-approved
Admissions
The availability of all language courses is based on demand; if an insufficient number of students request the course, we try to offer
an alternative course.
All students applying to continuation or first language courses are likely to be assessed to ensure the UWCSEA course is an
appropriate fit.
Those intending to apply to study a specific language through a School Supported Language course should contact Admissions to
discuss their request prior to making an application to ensure that we are able to support the language.
Home Languages: registration for these lessons is completed through the seasonal Activity sign-up. This enables students and
families to manage their lunchtime and after school schedule in one location.
For more information, please contact Admissions
admissions@uwcsea.edu.sg | Dover Campus +65 6774 2653 | East Campus +65 6305 5353
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