Knowing more than one language has many benefits, including the potential to study, work and live abroad. Let your child make the most of their expat lifestyle now by picking up new languages at school that might just come in useful in the future. With many preschools and international schools in Singapore offering a wide variety of languages – Mandarin, French, German, Spanish and more – parents are really spoilt for choice.
Find out more about what you can expect from the language programmes below.
Odyssey The Global Preschool
What’s on offer
Children at Odyssey The Global Preschool enjoy English and Chinese lessons as part of the curriculum. The preschool offers Chinese language immersion classes across all levels (18 months to six years), with a designated full-time Chinese language teacher for each class, who stays with the children throughout the entire school day.
An inside look
The school takes on an integrated approach to learning, where language is acquired through literacy, numeracy, music and movement, cookery, fitness and outdoor experiences. The curriculum involves termly projects, where children pick up new vocabulary during research and discovery, as well as through field trips relevant to the theme they are exploring.
Hear from a student
“Everyone in the class knows how to speak English and Chinese. I break down the word I don’t know into a few parts and pronounce the parts to form the word. If there are new words I don’t know, I will ask someone whom I think will know, like my friends, teachers or my mummy and daddy. We learn writing to learn how to spell words. In the future, it will be very helpful if you are an author and write your own books, like Dr. Seuss, who wrote and drew his own books.”
– Avery (6)
5 locations island-wide
theodyssey.sg | contact@theodyssey.sg
Canadian International School
What’s on offer
Students at the Canadian International School can pick up Chinese, French, Spanish (from Grade 1 onwards) and Japanese (in Grades 11 and 12). The school also has a popular Chinese-English bilingual programme from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 and a French- English bilingual programme from Grade 1 to 3. The curriculum for both bilingual programmes are fully aligned to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.
An inside look
In the school’s bilingual programmes, there are two qualified teachers for each class – one English-speaking teacher and one either French- or Chinese-speaking teacher. With inquiry-based instruction in classes, and using authentic materials such as songs, stories, websites and even tweets, students engage in hands-on activities like roleplay, cooking and quizzes. They also learn to appreciate other cultures by performing and celebrating in festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Hear from a parent
“I went on the Open Minds field trip (CIS’s outdoor learning programme) to Gardens by the Bay. It was outstanding how the first half of the day was conducted in English and, after lunch, the whole session was in Mandarin and taught by the Mandarin teacher. The kids learnt about the flowers in Mandarin, discussed, played, explored and had a whole conversation with the teacher. They sounded so fluent and confident; I was really impressed.”
– Karni Tomer
Tanjong Katong Campus, 371 Tanjong Katong Road
Lakeside Campus, 7 Jurong West Street 41
cis.edu.sg
Singapore American School
What’s on offer
At the Singapore American School, students are able to study languages including Chinese, Spanish and French. Chinese and Spanish are available from the early years while French is offered from Sixth Grade. The school also has a Chinese Immersion programme that operates using a sliding scale model, starting with full immersion in Kindergarten. As the programme enters its third year, the ratio for Second Grade immersion will shift from 75/25 (Chinese/English) to 60/40. More English learning time is built in, enabling students to expand their English academic skills while continuing to develop their Chinese foundation. It progresses to a two-way immersion programme by Fourth and Fifth Grade where both native English speakers learning Chinese and native Chinese speakers who are learning English enrol in the programme.
An inside look
Through the programme, besides the language itself, students explore the cultures and their value systems. Immersion students enjoy a variety of fun and educational activities, including excursions to Chinatown, performances, calligraphy and paper cutting. To enhance learning, the school also has a 1:1 iPad programme where students use Chinese learning apps in class.
Hear from a parent
“The programme exceeded my expectations. My daughter Olivia reads stories in Mandarin without pinyin. She recognises characters on the street and speaks to people in Chinese around town. I even hear her speaking Chinese with her immersion classmates when they play.”
– Cherie de Zwart
40 Woodlands Street 41
6363 3403 | sas.edu.sg
White Lodge
What’s on offer
At White Lodge, children aged 18 months to six and a half years are given the opportunity to learn Mandarin as part of the curriculum. Dedicated Mandarin teachers run daily lessons and also enrichment Mandarin classes in the mornings and afternoons.
An inside look
Based on the Singapore Kindergarten and Primary School frameworks, the fun-filled Mandarin curriculum aims to offer exposure to the language, culture and history. The preschool offers Messy Mixed Media, parent and child classes, with 15-minute Mandarin sessions. For older children, their exposure to learning Mandarin is also extended to reading and writing. Classroom activities include storytelling, singing, play-acting, listening, reading, writing, art projects, movement and performances. At the annual Art Exhibition and Big Sing event, some kindergarten children performed “The Tones Song” and “Clap Along with Me” in Mandarin for their families. Mandarin listening stations have also been introduced in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes where children listen to stories while following the words on the page in front of them. All students are given a good foundation of continued learning of Mandarin as a second language or a foreign language.
Hear from a parent
“As a non-Chinese speaking family, Mandarin has been my biggest concern for my kids in school. Thankfully, the fun, engaging and comprehensive Mandarin curriculum at White Lodge has helped build good skills for listening, writing, reading, art and music. Both kids have developed so much love and interest in the language. Sophia had a good foundation in Mandarin when she entered local primary school!”
– Rajes Manoharan
5 preschools and 3 childcare locations islandwide
6255 4230 | whitelodge.edu.sg
SJI International
What’s on offer:
SJI International believes that it is crucial for students to maintain their home language to develop linguistic and cultural ties to their home country. Their language philosophy strongly encourages additive bilingualism (where languages are added to students) rather than subtractive bilingualism (where languages are taken away). The Home Language Programme offers students with an opportunity to study their home language within school offers; it currently covers Japanese, Korean, French, Thai, German, Vietnamese and Hindi.
An inside look
Students can learn their home language at either a first or second language level, and the classes provide a clear pathway up through to the IB Diploma. Students have face-to-face lessons with their teachers twice a week, and one period of self-study in the library. During class times, students take part in group work, and discuss authentic materials from the home language culture and other literature materials. As classes are small, extra fees are chargeable for the course.
Hear from a student
“Studying my home language in school has been eye-opening as I get to rediscover my home culture and language.”
– Emma Parrot (15)
490 Thomson Road
6353 9383 | sji-international.com.sg
MindChamps Chinese PreSchool
What’s on offer
Catering to children 18 months to six years, MindChamps PreSchool has developed “The Love for Chinese Language” programmes for pre- and emerging readers. The school approaches language learning with an emphasis on engagement rather than rote learning. They also have a “Say and Sing” approach to develop phonemic and phonics awareness. For a deeper immersion experience, parents can choose to enrol their children in the Chinese PreSchool, which teaches the MindChamps PreSchool curriculum in Chinese, offering greater focus on the language and culture.
An inside look
The Chinese PreSchool offers a weekly Chinese Cultural Appreciation programme where kids can better understand the Chinese language and culture. Fun activities include calligraphy and painting, tea appreciation, clay sculpting, Chinese opera and Chinese chess.
Hear from a parent
“I had a very good experience with MindChamps PreSchool with my elder daughter previously and so MindChamps was my school of choice when it came to my son Alexander. Thanks to the strong Mandarin immersion environment, Alexander has been sprouting more Mandarin at home and happily sings the songs (in English and Mandarin) that were taught in school. He also asks us to read the weekly Chinese and English books. I think the school is integral in cultivating this love for both languages, something that is important and extremely invaluable in any child’s early learning journey.”
– Parents of Alexander Fong
39 locations islandwide
6828 2688 | mindchamps.org
Find out more about living in Singapore!
How to choose an international school
International schools in Singapore: Huge Guide
