English Language

Discover how the English Department nurtures confident communicators through STELLAR, enrichment programmes, and targeted support for every learner.

Last updated on 15 September 2026

Department Mission

Nurturing confident communicators and collaborators.

Key Programmes

1. STELLAR (MOE, Singapore)

STELLAR stands for “Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading”.

It is an English instructional programme developed for primary schools that enables us to teach our children the critical life skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in English through effective and engaging strategies that are developmentally appropriate.

The programme employs the following strategies:

Shared Book Approach (SBA)

A teacher sits holding a picture book while young students in PCPS uniforms sit on the floor listening.

Shared Book Approach (SBA)

The teacher introduces and shares a Big Book with the pupils. Students are then taught language items, structures and skills explicitly, including concepts of print, phonics and grammar.

Modified Language Experience Approach (MLEA)

Students engage in activities inspired by the STELLAR books they read in class. These experiences include art and craft, drama, and other engaging activities.

The Primary 1 students made their own paper lanterns during the unit ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’.

Students in school uniforms sit at teal desks, proudly holding colorful paper craft creations in pink, green, and yellow.

Modified Language Experience Approach (MLEA)

The Primary 2 students have the amazing opportunity to witness the metamorphosis of a butterfly right in their own classroom!

Young students in uniforms observe caterpillars on leaves, a butterfly in a container, and release it outdoors.

Modified Language Experience Approach (MLEA)

Engagement in such activities provides the context and content for the children to think and talk about, using the target language structures and vocabulary they have been exposed to in SBA.

With the help of the teacher who transcribes the children's input, the pupils come up with a piece of class writing. This becomes the basis for group writing when the children work in small groups, before they go on to individual writing.

Dramatisation @ PCPS

Students are given opportunities to bring the stories from their English lessons to life through dramatisation. This helps them to understand the story better.

Young students in PCPS uniforms perform a butterfly life cycle skit in a decorated classroom.

Dramatisation @ PCPS

Dramatising the story, ‘A Butterfly is Born’.

Literacy Stations

The language skills learnt in both SBA and MLEA are reinforced in Literacy Stations. Activities are planned and differentiated for the students. Students have the opportunity to re-learn, revisit or extend their learning at their own pace and in differentiated ability groups.

Young students in school uniforms playing Snakes and Ladders, sorting cards, sitting on the floor, and reading books in a classroom.

Literacy Stations

Young students in school uniforms sit at blue tables reading books and doing activities in a classroom.

Literacy Stations

The Primary 1 and Primary 2 students engaged in a variety of literacy station activities.

2. School-Based Curriculum

The department has put together a series of programmes to complement STELLAR, so as to enhance the teaching and learning of the English language.

1. Literature-Based Instruction

Literature-based instruction is the type of instruction in which authors' original narrative and expository works are used as the core for experiences to support children in developing literacy. In addition to STELLAR lessons students are exposed to authentic and rich models of language through the incorporation of mentor texts in teaching reading, writing, listening and speaking. The texts also serve to inculcate creative and critical thinking in our students.

2. Learning Journeys

Primary 1 students heading to the Singapore Zoo to learn more about animals. This journey is in line with the mini-research they will be conducting on animals.

Learning Journeys

3. Choral Reading Show &Tell/Poetry Recitation

In our constant strive to improve the spoken ability of our students, children are exposed to a series of speaking activities.

4. Newspaper-based EL lessons (P5)

Newspaper-based EL lessons (P5)

3. English Fiesta

The annual English Fiesta is held with the aim of creating opportunities for our students to learn and celebrate the English language in various forms.

Students are immersed in an array of indoor as well as outdoor activities. Some of these activities include games carnival, authors’ display, poetry appreciation, oral comprehension task and literature appreciation. The carefully crafted activities create a meaningful context for language use while increasing learner motivation.

Three scenes of young students in a gymnasium doing language activities with word cards on the floor and a whiteboard.

English Fiesta

4. Support Programmes

Learning Support Programme (LSP)

LSP is a literacy support programme initiated by MOE that caters to the needs of our struggling readers. Students in this programme are given additional support in reading to keep up with the standard EL curriculum. The lessons are conducted by a trained Learning Support Coordinator (LSC).

School Based Dyslexic Remediation (SDR)

SDR is a two-year intervention programme for Primary 3 and 4 students. Students enrolled in this programme are identified for support through a systematic screening process for dyslexia conducted at the end of Primary 2. The programme is conducted in small groups by trained school personnel using a remediation curriculum designed by MOE Reading Specialists.

Reading Remediation Programme (RRP)

The RRP provides support to our P3 and P4 students who continue facing difficulties in reading the English language. The programme exposes students to a range of coping strategies for reading comprehension which enable them to better manage their learning in the regular classroom.

5. Applied Learning Programme (ALP) – English language

Applied Learning Programme (ALP) – English language & ICT collaboration

C³- Confident Communicators and Collaborators

Punggol Cove Primary School Applied Learning Programme overview slide showing student outcomes and tiered activities by level.

Applied Learning Programme (ALP)

At Punggol Cove Primary School, we envision every student to be a Curious Lifelong Learner, a Confident Leader and a Responsible Innovator, ready to serve and lead. The Applied Learning Programme (ALP)- C^3- Confident Communicators and Collaborators- empowers students to apply their learning from English and New Media & ICT classrooms in meaningful service to the school and wider community.

Through real-world problem-solving, the programme nurtures curious lifelong learners, confident leaders, and responsible individuals. It develops critical thinking, collaboration and effective communication through writing and oracy, while strengthening students’ understanding of global and societal issues.

Advocacy-based learning activities are thoughtfully designed across three learner blocks—lower primary, middle primary, and upper primary—and are categorised into direct service, indirect service, and advocacy.

At the lower-primary level, programmes are designed with elements of problem-based learning to cultivate empathy and lay the foundation for collaborative problem-solving.

As students progress to the middle and upper-primary levels, Design Thinking (DT) is introduced to guide them in developing innovative and purposeful solutions, empowering them to express ideas clearly and inspire positive change in authentic, meaningful contexts.

For more information about this programme, click this link: https://punggolcovepri.moe.edu.sg/pcps-experience/Programme/alp