Quality teaching and learning experiences in mother tongue (Tamil language) in Singapore kindergartens: teachers’ perspectives

Growth of English Language amongst Singapore's children appears to have paralleled decline in Mother Tongue languages, raising serious concerns about language maintenance and gradual loss of the local ethnic languages. Limited research has been conducted on kindergarten level Tamil language instruction in Singapore. This grounded theory research contributes to understanding teachers' perspectives on quality teaching and learning experiences in the Tamil language in Singapore kindergartens and preschool centers. While formalized teacher training positively influences teachers' perspectives on Mother Tongue language and contributes to quality teaching and learning experiences, Tamil language teachers in Singapore kindergartens do not attend such training courses.