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October 28, 2014

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Home » Supplement » Education

Building children’s Chinese language skills with a purpose

Source: Shanghai Daily | October 28, 2014, Tuesday | Print Edition

AS the most widely spoken world language, and as the national language of a country with huge economic opportunities, it’s easy to see the advantages of learning Mandarin Chinese. For parents, it’s particularly clear how children growing up in an increasingly globalized world can benefit from learning the language.

According to Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers,” he reasons to learn something well, it takes approximately 10,000 hours at a given task. So, in addition to dedicated classes, how can schools help students reach their “10,000 hours” needed to achieve fluency in Chinese? Although you’ve probably heard that “children soak up language like a sponge,” it’s only effective if children understand and appreciate the significance and context of the language they are learning. By implementing a customized language program focused on nurturing students’ linguistic skills and cultural intelligence, while building appreciation and interest in Chinese language and culture, schools can help place children on the path to fluency.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Whether you have been living in China for one month or for many years, it’s likely the case that your time here has been rich with experiences you might never have had back home. For parents raising children in Shanghai, the opportunity is even greater: the ability to provide your child with a global outlook and key language skills is the experience of a lifetime. A carefully selected Chinese program, tailored to your child’s ability, will help them take advantage of this truly unique opportunity.

As a leader in bilingual education, Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) has long recognized the value of Chinese language learning, and has made it one of the key components of the school’s program. Guided by an internal Chinese language research and development team, YCIS provides students with both substantial language skills and cultural understanding. The 14 levels of Chinese classes at the school not only provide students with a more customized classroom experience, class materials and textbooks are also based on the latest research and are updated annually according to students’ changing needs. Vicki He, YCIS’s Chinese superintendent, explains, “We believe that education must change with time, and we are constantly evolving our Chinese program to provide a significant learning experience for our students.”

Integrated with culture
and character

For children living in Shanghai, it’s important to learn Chinese not only to begin to master an additional language, but also as a tool to understand and become fully engaged with culture. At YCIS, every child studies both Chinese language and culture in addition to English, and in the Kindergarten and Primary year levels, there are two fully qualified teachers, one Western and one Chinese, in every classroom. With regular exposure to Chinese culture, and real models of co-cultural partnership, children gain an enhanced understanding of the language they are learning and develop an appreciation for diversity.

As part of developing children’s “global mindsets” through additional language and culture programs, schools also have the responsibility of helping shape forward-thinking individuals. At YCIS, all students participate in a character education program that helps develop positive character traits such as perseverance, kindness, and diligence, all vital in shaping globally compassionate citizens. Katie Gates Everett, mother of two children at YCIS, notes, “The school’s unique bilingual model, coupled with the character education program, creates a culture where both diversity and inclusion are valued. We love hearing our three-year-old singing rhymes in Mandarin and telling us ways to be a good friend.”

Beyond the classroom: making language fun and functional

Although class time with quality language educators is critical for improving learning, for children to continuously apply and practice what they are learning in class, schools also need to make language learning fun. According to Janie Dong, Primary head of the Chinese Department at YCIS’s Regency Park and Century Park campuses, “We encourage and recommend that our students attend a range of activities and competitions that allow them to use their language skills. We also organize regular school events, including a Chinese Cultural Day, a Chinese New Year Celebration, and a Chinese Handwriting Competition for the students, so children can use their Chinese skills in fun and exciting ways.”

Recognizing the bigger picture

In addition to helping students gain perspective about the immediate language and cultural gains studying Chinese offers, schools can also help students realize the bigger, more global picture. For high school students applying to university, with the admissions process becoming ever more competitive, knowing a second or third language adds a new dimension to a student’s application. This is true for the 2014 graduating class at YCIS Shanghai, which had an impressive 67 percent of students graduate with a bilingual IB diploma, providing them with heightened university and career options from the start.

“10,000 hours” is truly possible when children have a committed and personalized school environment that places considerable emphasis on building a natural interest in studying language and culture. A unique and quality Chinese language program, like that at YCIS, helps students not only achieve fluency in this major language and culture, but it also opens up a whole world of opportunities, helping set children up for future, global success.

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