How YCIS Beijing Provides Children the Language Tools to be Globally Competitive?
In its 20 years of serving Beijing expat families, Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) has produced high achieving students not just in the sphere of traditional Western education but also in the Chinese language field. Nowadays, speaking two or three languages is not an option…
Primary School Bilingual and Bicultural Language Education
The youngest of students at YCIS Beijing have the greatest and most frequent exposure to Chinese language in all areas of study. In the Early Childhood Education and Primary School sections, YCIS Beijing’s unique co-teaching model is on full display, with at least a third of all content across all subjects taught half in Chinese and half in English. While potentially challenging logistically, YCIS Beijing employs refined grouping for students, separating each grade into six distinct levels according to their Chinese and English ability, thereby ensuring that each student receives appropriate language aid.
At the heart of each class is YCIS Beijing’s Co-Teaching Model, which Western Primary Curriculum Co-ordinator Ms. Jennifer Mills details: “Co-teaching enhances the bilingual learning experience. All co-taught lessons are delivered in both Chinese and English. Students gain valuable insights into ‘east meets west’ as conceptual lesson content is taught in both languages. They learn in both languages, increase vocabulary, extend their linguistic abilities and are nurtured in both language contexts throughout the lesson.” Chinese and English teachers are treated as equals in the classroom, rather than the Chinese staff member serving the more typical role of teaching assistant.
Cultural Co-Teaching
The co-teaching method is an excellent vehicle for cultural teaching as well. Ms. April Peng, the Chinese Primary Curriculum Co-ordinator, expanded on some of the more interesting ways in which the co-teaching model is utilized in the classroom: “Besides learning subjects like maths and geography in multiple languages, teachers will also use examples from both Chinese and Western culture to teach to different topics. For instance, when doing a unit on seafaring explorers, YCIS has had English-speaking teachers talk about Marco Polo in English while the Chinese teacher would teach the students about Zheng He in Chinese. This unique blend of culture and language in a variety of subjects greatly enhances the value students receive from each lesson.” The model’s applications extend far beyond efficient Chinese and English language study.
Cultural learning is also applied in a variety of other forms, such as Chinese cultural events. Ms. Peng explains: “Students are able to participate in a number of different cultural activities, ranging from acting in Chinese plays to Chinese poetry reading to even hip-hop dance classes using contemporary Chinese songs. All of these activities help students to interact with Chinese culture outside of the classroom and explore the Chinese language more fully.” Through these projects, children can familiarize themselves with the country in which they are currently living. Their surroundings are no longer viewed as odd or foreign but rather something to be embraced and cherished.
Building on Primary Language Foundations in Secondary School
Chinese culture and language learning continues into YCIS Beijing’s lower secondary schooling. Students continue their immersion in Chinese culture and language not just through classroom education but also through Experience China trips. These trips will take students to various places throughout China to understand the rich and diverse cultural background that the country possesses. Jessica Sun, YCIS Beijing’s Secondary Chinese Co-ordinator, explains, “We believe that the Chinese studies programme provides our students with a more in-depth understanding of the country they live in. We hope that the programme will encourage and motivate students to become more immersed in Chinese culture and their community.”
Students who attend YCIS Beijing’s upper-secondary program will have the opportunity to build further upon the strong Chinese foundation already laid by their primary and lower secondary schooling. Regular Chinese language and culture classes continue through their final years of schooling; in fact, nearly 50% of YCIS Beijing’s IB graduates receive bilingual diplomas, a true testament to the school’s multicultural environment.
To learn more about YCIS Beijing’s Chinese language and culture programme, please visit their website at www.ycis-bj.com.
Article provided by Greg Eiselt, 施睿嘉, Marketing Officer of Yew Chung International School of Beijing, 北京耀中国际学校
Leave a Reply