Combining literacy theory and second language acquisition theory, this study uses the Integrative and Effective Approach to construct an Integrative and Effective Literacy Approach for Chinese as a second language (CSL) students in secondary schools. Through teaching experiments conducted at three classes in a secondary school in Singapore, the study found that the Integrative and Effective Literacy Approach effectively improved the literacy skills of CSL secondary school students at all levels as compared to the traditional Focused Literacy Approach. In addition, this study also summarised the CSL students' literacy characteristics through classroom observation, interviews and artifact analysis. We could, thereafter, verify that the Integrative and Effective Literacy Approach can increase the students' interest in learning Chinese characters and Chinese language.