Last updated 31 August 2026 | ADM–2627
In Grades 11 and 12, students are supported by an SSL
supervisor and also a professional tutor in their chosen
language as they study towards a bilingual diploma.
SSL lessons are part of the student’s timetable, within the
framework of the IBDP. 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: Azerbaijani, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali,
Burmese, Cantonese, Chinese, Dzongkha, Filipino, Hindi,
Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Malay, Marathi, Mongolian,
Sinhalese, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Urdu, Uzbek 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, the 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.
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 confirm the student’s eligibility for the language, and
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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