Bilingual learning is one of the greatest benefits of education in Singapore; find out how one preschool’s unique curriculum boosts Mandarin skills in a fun and supportive environment
Want your child to speak and understand Mandarin in a supportive and encouraging preschool environment, mama? At Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Pre-School (SHHK Pre-School), children learn through purposeful play and sustained exploration in a supportive home-simulated setting, fostering a sense of growth and development to go along with their blossoming language skills.
SHHK Pre-School has a unique two-pronged curriculum; the first component is the framework set out by the Ministry of Education to make sure children are academically prepared for local primary school. The second component is the school’s innovative “Living Skills Programme” that encourages developing life skills and holistic character development. This is underscored by SHHK Pre-School’s eight core values:
Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Care, Harmony, Resilience, Sincerity and Perseverance.
Kiddos come together in a mixed-age environment with the ability to choose their own activities using the school’s “Plan-Do-Review” model that encourages a sense of purpose and reflection. For instance, a teacher might lead a group discussion about “Our Dream Garden”, then kiddos can choose whether they want to contribute using coloured pencils, crayons, water colours, and recycled materials to make a 3-dimensional garden.
At SHHK Pre-School, a teacher’s role is to facilitate, guide, and provide support to children, then it’s up to them to put their thoughts into action. In this process children become involved and actively engaged as they gather afterwards to share their experiences and reflect on their work.
From Nursery through K1, Chinese constitutes 80% of classroom language and is adjusted to 60% Chinese/40% English for K2 in preparation for primary school. Children don’t just develop strong language skills through speaking and writing, they also gain an appreciation for Chinese culture.
Children at SHHK are able:
- To understand Chinese
- To use the language in daily routine
- To convey meaning
- To speak with confidence
- To recognize printed words
- To read with assistance
- To write Chinese characters
Children learn the language through all sorts of fun activities, including music and dance. Check out these adorable little ones in a recent music and movement lesson incorporating dance and wushu that was conducted by professionals at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Dance Theatre.
Just as in life, the learning never stops at SHHK Pre-School. The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy also provides after-school care for primary students, Chinese enrichment and adult language classes. Every child can simply learn how to live an enriching and engaging life. And they’re open for registration now!