Should you teach what is different about Chinese to children? How should you introduce and explain tones, pin-yin, characters? How should you make learning Chinese as a child meaningful? What aspects of Chinese should you introduce when? What vocabulary should you introduce when and importantly why this vocabulary?
Children can and do make rapid progress when learning Chinese in a way that makes the most of Western pedagogy. Western children learning Mandarin need to make the most of interactive play learning strategies, their motivation to create their own meaning and their fascination with how different languages work from English to Chinese to texting in Chinese and English.
- We are passionate about children learning Chinese young. We provide free advice. We always learn from speaking to interested parents, schools and policy makers.
- We are an organization that has developed a West meets East pedagogy. Western children fail to learn Mandarin unless they are taught Western style.
- We have an amazing team of people working with us and in partnership with us. We pull on Chinese learning talent, expertise and knowledge from many places.
- Our employees and customers are loyal to us. We are the preferred employers of established Chinese tutors and consultants. Our customers and employees refer us to others.
All people involved in our organization are passionate and skilled people who value efficiency, innovation and great customer service.
Our approach to learning:
- Makes the most of the rhythmic, sing-song elements of Mandarin Chinese
- Introduces tones early and emphasizes pronunciation, given this is what is so difficult to master when older and what is so easy for young children to pick up
- Integrates culture
- Chinese has no tenses, so context matters.
- Language is a function of culture and vice-versa
- Culture is interesting and fun - especially given the tremendous Chinese heritage
- Builds a bridge between West and East in terms of
- A Western approach to learning
- A commitment to the Chinese language
- Tutors who are Westernised AND experienced and qualified in teaching Chinese
- Is innovative -we
- integrate modern technology such as pod-casting
- make use of different learning styles - e.g. learning by doing through Tai Chi and Chinese Art
- are constantly improving what we do and how we do it