Mandarin Program

Providing early exposure to a third language, students in JK and SK will be engaging Mandarin with the emphasis on exploring the Chinese culture and learn simple greetings and requests. The students will be introduced to the phonetic system to build up the basic vocabulary in each Mandarin class through reading stories, singing, dancing, and other hands-on activities.

As beginners to Mandarin, our Grade 1 students are introduced to the Pin-Yin system orally and through writing in their early lessons. Students will also learn basic vocabulary and to write simple characters. As well as being introduced to the phonetic system, children get to grips with self introductions, greetings, family, ages, senses, numbers, directions and animals. Foundational Mandarin at this age provides students with a springboard for further study, and adds another string to their multilingual bow here at The Giles School. 

Mandarin for Grade 2 teaches young language learners how to use the phonetic alphabet to read Chinese characters fluently and equips them with basic vocabulary, phrases and sentences. Building upon the foundational knowledge of Mandarin gained previously, children at this stage learn how to tell time, master introductory conversations, and explore family, positions, nature, hobbies and animals. Sessions are fun and interactive with songs, poems, origami, Chinese television programs and games all being a part of everyday learning. 

Grade 3 students develop their oral communication, written and reading skills across a variety of themes. Topics of study include sports, hobbies, community, food and drink, shopping and the home environment. Learners will grasp how to form sentences, specifically directional questions that will aid their self expression and information finding abilities in Mandarin to further their learning. They will become adept at translating from English to Mandarin and vice versa. 

As the third language program taught at our school, the Mandarin course provides students with the opportunity to learn the delightful Chinese language and its culture. Grade 4 students continue building their knowledge of the language acquired in the previous years, and conduct and understand daily conversations in Mandarin. Topics such as family, food, nationalities and shopping are explored and help learners further develop their oral communication, reading and writing skills, by listening and responding to simple phrases. Students also gain knowledge and vocabulary based on in-class conversation and study Chinese short poems and literature.

In Grade 5 & 6 with advanced Chinese study appropriate for learners at this level, students listen and respond to short, structured texts in Mandarin and express ideas and opinions with the relevant language conversations in an informal style. Their language skills at this stage mean that they can convey their thoughts and feelings in written form, as well as read and understand small Mandarin texts.  Children learn to understand, vocalize and express themselves on concepts such as nature,  animals, time, dates, professions, the human body and also find joy through the exploration of authentic native poetry. 

Our Mandarin program for Grades 7 & 8 supports further advancement in oral communications, reading and involves students writing short stories. A range of stories with varying subjects are introduced for story learning activities, that promote discussions, the expression of feelings and opinions, as well as to help children identify and understand more complex language conventions.