The language path
Mandarin is the language of instruction for math and science in every grade. English is the language of reading, writing and history in the afternoon, and the balance shifts a little as children grow.
Mornings in Mandarin: songs, stories, counting and the day's routines
Math and science taught in Mandarin from the first week
Letters and first reading in English each afternoon
No Mandarin needed to start
Children stay with their class, and the teachers tell families what the next year asks.
Reading short stories aloud in Mandarin, and writing characters by hand
Math and science still taught in Mandarin
English reading, spelling and short writing in the afternoon
Social studies in English, with Mandarin words for the people and places
A family meeting each winter looks at what a child reads in each language.
Paragraphs and short reports in Mandarin and in English
Mandarin for math and science, English for history and literature
Group projects planned in one language and presented in the other
A spoken talk to the class once a term
Grade 5 ends with a family evening where students talk about a project in both languages.
Math and science in Mandarin, with problems read and explained aloud
Humanities, essays and discussion in English
Mandarin literature and longer writing in a weekly seminar
Electives and a service project in the community
Grade 8 ends with a talk before families, and the school helps each family look at the choices ahead.
Sample levels.
Classes
Every grade keeps the same hours. The morning belongs to Mandarin and the afternoon to English, and each class has the size shown here.
Kindergarten and grade 1
Grades 2 and 3
Grades 4 and 5
Grades 6 to 8
Sample programs.
In the room
Children count, measure and explain in Mandarin from their first week. Teachers use pictures, gestures and the materials on the bench, and they speak English when a child needs a word, so children keep learning while they pick up the language.
Nothing is taught from a worksheet in a language a child cannot follow. Each lesson starts with something to see or do.
Pictures, gestures and objects before words
Questions answered in either language
A Mandarin teacher in the room for every lesson
Every child moves at their own pace
Families
Families do not need Mandarin. They need to read the Friday note, come to two meetings a year and say what they see at home.
A short note in English tells you what the class did in each language that week.
Teachers meet each family in winter and again in spring to talk about how a child is doing.
Songs, a short play and a shared supper, where children teach their families what they know.
Short reading in English and a few lines of Mandarin practice, with a recording families can listen to.
Book a visit day and talk with the head of school.