In the first instalment of our new preschool series, EVELINE GAN finds out what you need to consider before you enrol your kid in a bilingual school.
In the first instalment of our new preschool series, EVELINE GAN finds out what you need to consider before you enrol your kid in a bilingual school.
Better focus, thinking skills and self-control are some of the many perks of learning more than one language. And that’s not all.
“We also know that bilingual children are able to better relate to others from different cultures and backgrounds, as well as display greater empathy. These are vital skills needed in today’s global market,” says Huang Ying, principal of Chengzhu Mandarin Kindergarten.
But how do you raise a bilingual child if you speak only one language at home?
This is where school comes in. The majority of preschools in Singapore provide some exposure to a second language as part of its curriculum, but an increasing number of schools now offer immersion programmes that allow your child to learn in a Mandarinrich environment.
How do these programmes work, and what should you look out for when choosing a bilingual preschool for your little one? We ask the experts.
Are all bilingual preschools the same?
Not all bilingual preschool programmes are carried out the same way. Each school has its own approach of incorporating the second language into its curriculum.
“The key difference is in the amount of Chinese taught, not just the language, but also its cultural appreciation,” says Brian Caswell, dean of research and programme development at Mindchamps.
Regular bilingual preschools tend to place a stronger emphasis on English and mathematics, he shares. On the other hand, bilingual immersion programmes offer greater exposure to the Chinese language and culture.
If your child is in a complete or 100-per-cent immersion programme, it means that his lessons are fully delivered in Mandarin. In a partial immersion programme, lessons and activities are conducted in Mandarin at least half the time, either on alternate days or at selected times of the day.
Some schools may combine both English and Mandarin in the classroom, so your child interacts with two teachers speaking different languages.
Which programme is the right fit for my child?
It depends on how much emphasis you wish to place on the Mandarin component of your child’s education, Brian says.
Huang Ying of Chengzhu adds: “A preschool that provides more exposure to the Chinese language than English would be the ideal choice for parents who want their children to be bilingual, but speak little or no Mandarin at home.”
Consider the pros and cons of each approach and see what makes sense for you. For example, some education experts advocate having both English and Chinese language teachers present during the child’s time at school.
“Having both English and Chinese language teachers allows the child to be competent in both languages, and he benefits from exposure to different perspectives,” shares a spokesman for Mindchamps’ curriculum and training department.
Patricia Koh, chief executive of Maple Bear Singapore, believes that having separate classes for each language may be less effective as it “forces the child to speak different languages according to a schedule or time of the day, which is not how language is naturally spoken on a day-to-day basis”.
On the other hand, having both language teachers in the same class may mean that children who are more familiar with English may interact more with the English-speaking teacher, thus reducing in-depth exposure to Mandarin, Huang Ying adds.
Would having teachers who are native speakers help my child learn the language faster?
According to the experts, children generally benefit most from teachers who are native speakers and possess an in-depth knowledge of the language, such as its grammar structure and culture.
“Teachers who are native speakers will be able to bring cultural elements into the learning process, helping children to understand how to use the language and why some words or sentences are used in a certain manner.
Thus, the learning process is more fun and engaging,” shares Huang Ying.
Plus, children learn by modelling what they hear. The first step to learning a language is listening, Brian says. For a child to master a language, particularly for a tonal language like Mandarin, it is important to ensure that what he hears is accurate, he adds.
Will my kid get confused if he has to switch between different languages?
Definitely not, experts say. In fact, research has shown that a child’s brain is “wired” to pick up languages at an early age, which makes it easier for children to master a language compared to adults, Patricia shares.
“A young child’s mind is like an extremely malleable blank slate, whereby information and habits are not yet mentally entrenched,” she says.
“On the flip side, a child mastering a single language first would make it harder to acquire a second or third language at a later age, as the grammatical structure and rules (of the first language) are ingrained into his mind.”
When is the right age to start?
The critical time to pick up different languages is from birth to six years old, shares Angeline Teo, education specialist at Elfa Preschool.
Research has shown that even infants have an innate ability to distinguish between different language sounds and tones, Angeline says. The greater exposure a child gets to a language, the more fluent he becomes in it, Huang Ying adds.
“By exposing your child to a Mandarin-rich environment, it will inculcate in them a love for the language and its culture,” says Angeline.
My kid dislikes Mandarin. How can a bilingual preschool programme help?
To cultivate a child’s love of learning, there is a simple rule: Regardless of the subject, children love learning only if it is done in a fun and engaging manner, Brian says.
“Research shows that young children are experiential learners – they learn through experience,” he adds.
Huang Ying shares that “language is caught, not taught”. “The best way for children to pick up a second language is to immerse them in a fun environment where they play, listen, interact with stories, songs, games, poems or drama,” says Huang Ying.
That is why it is important for parents to pay attention to other elements, other than the amount of time your child is exposed to the language, when choosing a bilingual preschool.
According to the experts, a good bilingual programme should include cultural and arts appreciation and activities, as well as moral values development, all of which make language meaningful.
“For example, Chinese poetry, tea appreciation, Chinese calligraphy and clay modelling or incorporated as part of Mindchamps Chinese Preschool’s programme for a better understanding of Chinese culture,” says Brian.
What else should I look out for when choosing a school?
As with any preschool, the experts advise parents to take a look at its learning environment: Do the children and adults seem happy and confident there? Do the teachers look professional and give off positive energy?
Speak to the principal to get a better idea of how the programme is run and the school’s policy, especially on issues you may be concerned about.
“For example, what is the school’s policy for picky eaters, how do teachers manage cranky children, what is the discipline policy, or how often do the children have free playtime? This way, you get a sense of whether the preschool shares your parenting values,” says Huang Ying.
Bilingual Schools To Check Out
We check out some of the top bilingual preschools in Singapore to give you a clearer idea of their programmes and curriculum.
Chengzhu Mandarin Kindergarten
Launched in January 2016, this preschool runs a four-hour programme in a Mandarin-rich environment. Nursery classes are conducted in Mandarin, providing full immersion in the language, while kindergarten kids have an hour of English exposure per day in preparation for Primary 1.
It offers a themed-based curriculum designed by early childhood and Mandarin language specialists from Singapore and China. Kids are exposed to speech and drama, music and movement, storytelling, role-play, art and craft, as well as Chinese cultural arts activities such as calligraphy and brush painting, folk dance and folktales and poetry.
The school features a children’s library with a collection of 2,000 books relating to Chinese culture which kids can enjoy at the reading loft or borrow to read at home.
Visit www.chengzhu.edu.sg
Elfa Preschool
Launched in 2000, Elfa Preschool offers a Chinesefocused bilingual learning programme designed to nurture children’s love of the language.
As part of its Chinese curriculum, children participate in a wide range of activities such as story-telling, theme-based dramatic play, music and hands-on activities, which develop their creativity, social skills, as well as logical and problem-solving skills. Its programme also places emphasis on moral values, festivals and cultures relevant to Singapore’s context.
At Elfa, 70 per cent of the pre-nursery and nursery classes are conducted in Mandarin to help build a strong foundation. For Kindergarten 1 and 2 classes, 60 and 50 per cent of the classes are conducted in Mandarin respectively.
Visit www.elfapreschools.com
Maple Bear Singapore
Headquartered in Canada, Maple Bear’s curriculum emphasises on nurturing bilingual language and literacy. Kids in its bilingual immersion preschool programme are exposed to both English and Chinese.
Each class is assigned two teachers who speak each language and are present throughout the children’s time in school.
Maple Bear believes that “learning is fun” and children learn best through sensory experiences and their innate curiosity. Its centres boast indoor and outdoor play areas, and kids can expect plenty of fun, exciting hands-on activities that encourage them to create, explore and discover the world around them.
Afternoon enrichment activities such as sports, speech and drama, and music, are available for children attending its full day programme.
Visit www.maplebear.sg
Mindchamps Chinese Preschool
All Mindchamps’ preschools run on an exclusive award-winning academic curriculum, which is based on almost two decades of solid research and development designed to enhance child development in the areas of sensory, motor, intellectual, linguistic, emotional and social development.
Its Chinese preschool follows the same programme, with playgroups, nursery and kindergarten classes carried out mainly in Mandarin. Students in its Chinese preschool programme will also experience arts and cultural appreciation activities, such as clay modelling, painting and calligraphy.
In addition, children get exposure to Chinesefocused values, which are incorporated into the preschool’s activities. For instance, qualities such as gratitude are highlighted through Chinese tea appreciation.
Visit www.mindchamps.org/chinese-preschool
ILLUSTRATION JOYCELYN KOH
