English Language and Literature
Discover how YHSS's English Language and Literature department builds confident communicators through engaging programmes in reading, public speaking, and creative writing.
Our Team
Department Introduction
Strategic Objectives and Initiatives
Language gives life and colour to us because we use it to express ourselves and communicate with each other. It is also a vital instrument for critical thinking, which will develop us into effective thinkers and communicators. It is hence imperative that we should aspire to be competent communicators of the global language that is English. At Yuhua, our vision is to develop our learners into a community of confident communicators. To achieve this, the Department has designed key programmes which are aimed at instilling confidence and passion in the English language.
Signature Programme(s)
Some of our key programmes include the following:
School-wide Reading and Media Literacy Programme.
Self-directed gamified approach to the acquisition of grammar and vocabulary. To encourage students to learn at their own time and space, the department actively engages students online via in-house learning portals with added gamified elements. For example, students learn about grammar and vocabulary through a series of trainings and missions, which are both competitive and fun.
Annual World Book Day to inculcate interests and increase motivation in the learning of English and English Literature. The WBD is a week-long festival of activities organised by the Department designed at inculcating interest and love in the language. Activities that were organised this year include the following :
i. Spelling Bee Competition
ii. Characters Come Alive
iii. Library Thematic Display
iv. WBD Essay ChallengeParticipation in the Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA) to develop students’ confidence and proficiency in spoken English. Through workshops, mentoring sessions and competition preparation, students are given opportunities to refine their public speaking, pronunciation and presentation skills while learning to communicate effectively and confidently before an audience. Selected students also represent the school in the annual national competition.
As for Literature, the Literature Unit organised the following activities to deepen students’ interest and increase engagement in Literature:
i. Blackout Poetry
ii. Flash Fiction
ii. National Schools Literature Festival – Set Text and Unseen DebatesAnnual Term Project as Weighted Assessment to inculcate Joy of Learning. At Yuhua, students do not just go through the usual pen-and-paper test. At every level, students complete a Term Project as one of the Weighted Assessments. These projects aim to develop specific skills in the students. Examples of the Term Projects include the following :
i. Poster Design and Podcast for Secondary 1 Englishii. Travel VLOG for Secondary 3 English
iii. Analysis of pop songs for Secondary 2 Literature
iv. Creative Writing for Secondary 3 Literature
Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA) 2026
Eight of our students took part in the YMCA Plain English Speaking Awards 2026, widely regarded as the most prestigious English Language competition for schools in Singapore. The competition assesses students' ability to structure and deliver a speech based on an experiential learning journey, as well as to think on their feet during impromptu questioning.
We are proud to share that three of our students reached the semi-finals, and two went on to compete in the finals. ROWE ASHA WIDYARANI from 4 Contribute emerged as the overall winner of the Upper Secondary category, while IVY LIM XIN HUI from 2 Responsibility finished in the top 7 of the Lower Secondary category. Additionally, NAIK KUNJ UMANG from 4 Flourish finished as a semi-finalist and received an achievement award in recognition of his efforts. This is the first time our students have placed among the top finishers in this competition, at either level.
World Book Day 2026
