Is Singapore’s population losing its grip on mother tongue languages as we become more proficient in English? Two surveys by the Institute of Policy Studies on race, religion and language, found that while proficiency in English has risen, all ethnic groups have become less proficient in mother tongue languages.

The eighth episode of the IPS On Diversity Podcast dive into the intricate mix of language, identity, and culture of Singapore. Liang Kaixin hosts the discussion with Dr Teo Kay Key, IPS Research Fellow, and Kishan Singh, a science educator who embarked on formally learning his mother tongue, Hindi, in his mid-20s.

Dr Teo sheds light on the paradox of English proficiency in Singapore, where the mastery of the English language, while opening global doors, seems to have diluted proficiency in official mother tongues such as Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. This decline in linguistic diversity sparks a deeper conversation about the loss of cultural identity and the implications for Singaporeans navigating their multilingual heritage.

Kishan shares his personal journey, highlighting the challenges faced by non-Tamil Indian Singaporeans in connecting with their cultural roots through language. His experience underlines the broader societal and educational dynamics that influence language learning and retention among Singapore's minorities.

In closing, the discussion touches on possible policy recommendations to Singapore’s approach to language education. Dr Teo and Kishan propose innovative approaches to language learning that prioritise interest, relevance, and the removal of the stigma and shame associated with speaking mother tongues and dialects.

Find out more about adulting and housing in Singapore:

• CNA (21 August 2022): Bad at Mother Tongue? What some parents are doing to help young ones be more fluent
• Straits Times (31 October 2023): Becoming proficient in English has come at a cost for many Singaporeans

About our guests:

Teo Kay Key, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies

Dr Teo Kay Key is Research Fellow at IPS Social Lab at the Institute of Policy Studies. She has a PhD in Political Science from the National University of Singapore. Her research interests are in political and social attitudes, public opinion, voting behaviour, and Singapore society. She is interested in examining these topics using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Her current projects examine a myriad of issues in Singapore, including attitudes towards the family, social norms and values, and national identity.

Prior to joining IPS, she worked in the civil service for nearly three years doing strategic planning, training, and policy work.

She also has a Masters in Political Behaviour from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and a Bachelors in Social Science from the Singapore Management University

Kishan Singh, Adult learner of Hindi language, Science Educator

Kishan Singh is a science educator with over 10 years of teaching experience, both in local and international schools. He also completed a secondment at the Ministry of Education concentrating on policy work around international students in our local schools. Since his MA in Science Education, he has an interest in how different groups perceive science, and how informal education, through social media and podcasts, has the potential to engage and involve wider audiences. He also does a podcast with his best friend called T42 available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

More from On Diversity

• Season 4 Episode 7: Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM Field with Sieren Lim, Associate Professor at NTU, and Ainul Md Razib, Founder AinLovesCode
• Season 4 Episode 6: Youth and Climate Anxiety with Melissa Low, Research Fellow at NUS and Darren Quek, Principal of Forest School Singapore
• Season 4 Episode 5: Youth and Caregiving with Tan Poh Lin, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Jason Leow
• Season 4 Episode 4: Home Alone and Adulting with Chew Han Ei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at IPS and Klinsen Soh
• Season 4 Episode 3: Hustle Culture and Quiet Quitting with Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow at IPS and He Ruiming, Founder of The Woke Salaryman
• Season 4 Episode 2: Destigmatising HIV and AIDS with Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor of NUS and Terry Lim, Associate Director of Action for AIDS
• Season 4 Episode 1: The Dual Challenges of Poverty and Single Motherhood with Carrie Tan, MP, Founder of Daughters of Tomorrow and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE
• Season 3 Episode 9: Being Biracial in Singapore with Shane Pereira, Research Associate at IPS and Dave Parkash, Co-Founder at Fook Kin Restaurant