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, says movement, poems and sharing information about things that interest children, to motivate them to speak Mandarin, as well as to read and write it.

Mandarin EduDrama (Elementary Level)

Communication classes for non Mandarin speakers aged 3 years and above.

This programme is designed to meet the needs of children from non Mandarin speaking backgrounds, helping them to develop an enjoyment of the language and culture. In the process they acquire Mandarin whilst loving every minute of learning.

Each session covers a wide range of communication skills and activities, combining every day conversation with:

• Drama and movement
• Conversation and idea sharing
• Rhyme and rhythm to stimulate sensitivity to the tones and textures of Mandarin
• Speech and language games to focus on visual and oral recognition of high frequency words and basic sentence structure
• Fundamental character writing skills
• Creative arts and crafts based on the different theme of each term
  

• Children are grouped into small classes according to age and ability. The maximum number of students to a class is 12, ensuring that each child gets individual attention within the security of a group.
• Sessions are held twice a week, for an hour each time.

Mandarin EduDrama (Intermediate Level)

Chinese culture and literacy course for children aged 3 to 8 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 2)
• 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

Understanding Chinese Idioms (Primary 1 – 2)

Chinese idioms — there are thousands — hold the essence of Chinese literature and history. Anyone who wants to understand Chinese culture and language must have a basic understanding of cheng yu (Chinese idioms). Behind every idiom is a story, hence there are thousands of stories. After all, Chinese culture is at least 5,000 years old! Chinese use idioms to enhance the accuracy and meaning of what they say, be it an official statement, or a conversation.

To learn to speak Mandarin effectively, students are immersed in the language, which means they must appreciate the idioms so that they can appreciate Chinese literature.
Using drama, rhymes, songs and dance, this programme brings meaning to Chinese idiomatic language. Learning the language is thus more fun as it involves discovery and understanding.

Appreciation of Chinese idioms can be used in writing essays and also enhances reading comprehension and thus an understanding of Chinese literature, culture and philosophy.

Creative Speaking and Writing (Primary 1 to Primary 2)

Experienced educator and published author Grace Huang Shiu 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