Mandarin Programmes

Chinese teachers at our centres use highly creative methods to motivate children to speak Mandarin, as well as to read and write Chinese script.

The approach is immersion in Standard Mandarin. In PlayNest, PlayClub, Bilingual PlayClub and PlayNursery, children are exposed to Mandarin tones at an age when correct tonality registers most effectively — before and just as they learn to express themselves.

Mandarin EduDrama

In Mandarin EduDrama classes, the immersion continues: the language is used in an environment of fun and relevance. We use storytelling, drama, music, songs, movement, poems and sharing information about things that interest children, to motivate them to speak Mandarin, as well as to read and write it.

Chinese Cultural Arts (Ages 4.5 – 12 years)

Chinese cultural activities, drama, dance, martial arts, paper cutting and calligraphy, engage children in language, reading and writing. In the early stages of the programmes, children in kindergarten and early primary school learn most of their speech work through drama, which is a natural extension of child's play, and an enjoyable and stimulating way to learn.

Our programmes do much more than enable students to reach the Mandarin level required by primary schools in Singapore. Our curriculum is linked to and includes the school curriculum, although students work, additionally, with high quality literature, developing enjoyment and appreciation of the language and cultural nuances.

• Weekly 90-minute sessions.
• The maximum number of students to a class is 12, ensuring that each child gets individual attention.

Students aged 6 years and above are prepared for an annual Achievement Award at the end of the year, moderated by a visiting Chinese professor.

Mandarin EduDrama

Chinese culture and literacy course for children aged 3 to 12 years

Mandarin EduDrama motivates children’s interest in learning about Chinese culture, language, reading and writing. Children develop a solid foundation in Mandarin and confidence in speaking Mandarin.

In the early stages of the programme, children in kindergarten and early primary school learn most of their speech work through drama, which is a natural extension of child’s play, and an enjoyable stimulating way to learn.

Our programme does much more than enable the students to reach the Mandarin level required by primary schools in Singapore. Our curriculum is linked to and includes the school curriculum, although students work, additionally, with high quality literature, developing enjoyment and appreciation of language and literacy.

Skill based activities include:

• Conversation, discussion skills and idea sharing
• Story making and essay writing
• Presentation skills to speak in small groups or in public
• Awareness of 600 - 3000 characters required for each level of primary school (Primary 1 to 6)
• Poetry reading
• Drama – improvised and scripted
  

• The maximum number of students to a class is 12, ensuring that each child gets individual attention within the security of a group
• Each session is for 90 minutes once a week

Mandarin Early Readers

A course to develop early Mandarin reading skills for children aged 3 to 6 years

When is the best time to help children develop the ability to read? As early as possible!

Educational experts suggest that from 3 to 6 years old is the most critical period for children to learn. Our Mandarin Early Readers programme has been specially designed to assist children during these crucial initial stages. Children increase their knowledge of Mandarin vocabulary and strengthen their reading comprehension, laying a strong foundation for further Mandarin studies.
Mandarin Early Readers equips young children with the skills necessary to read simple storybooks, enabling them to understanding the relationship between the pictures, words and speech.

Children feel motivated to read independently, to their peers and to their teacher because they feel good about themselves, developing enjoyment and appreciation of language and literacy.

• Share stories and books
• Word recognition activities
• Reading aloud in small groups
• Learn how to structure sentences
• Drama games

• Weekly 90 minute sessions
• Maximum number of students per class is 12, ensuring each child receives individual attention
• One fully qualified experienced teacher and one assistant teacher

Children are encouraged to borrow at least one Mandarin book each week from our specialised children’s library – The BookRoom.

Creative Writing in Mandarin (Primary 1 to Primary 4)

This programme offers a unique teaching methodology to early primary students through specially designed creative writing programmes. Each level of programme uses specific techniques, strategies and highly stimulating activities that enable young students to understand and enjoy using the essential elements of spoken Mandarin and Chinese writing, and progress effectively at each level, ensuring that they surpass the standards set by the Ministry of Education. Students are able to converse more confidently and expressively, and write creatively. 

Primary 1: Foundation

The foundations for speaking, reading and writing Chinese are set in Primary 1 in a fun, creative learning environment.

Aims - to enable students to:
•  Speak full sentences
•  Understand simple composition
•  Create a simple article and present orally
•  Use metaphor
•  Create simple poems

Primary 2: Writing

Students expand upon their vocabulary skills gained in Primary 1, learning how to use language more systematically and effectively.

Aims – to enable students to:
•  Expand full sentences imaginatively
•  Understand basic composition
•  Structure an article with paragraphs and present orally
•  Think and write creatively

 Primary 3 and 4: Creative writing

Primary 3 and 4 students are introduced to specific strategies to stimulate their imagination and creative thinking when composing their own literature. Children learn how to express their own ideas in highly creative ways, with attention to details such as grammar and style.

Aims – to enable students to:
•  Use language imaginatively
•  Structure different text types to create their own storybook,   
poem and interview script
•  Ask interesting questions
• Write in a confident and engaging manner