Chinese-English Bilingual Programme for children between age 6-11
What to expect from our Bilingual Programme
The programme is available to students in Grades 1 through to 5 and is taught by a bilingual teacher with the support of a bilingual teaching assistant in each class.
Students in the bilingual programme enjoy a personalised experience, as there is a 1:12 teacher-to-student ratio.
Students will receive in-depth instruction in these areas relative to their Mandarin and English language skill level. In addition, this programme supports the learning of Chinese culture and literature.
The bilingual programme at OWIS aligns with the IB PYP, and students also receive weekly instruction from our specialised teachers in Music, Art and Physical Education.
The bilingual programme at OWIS provides primary school students with the foundation they need to succeed in secondary school at OWIS.
Who is the Bilingual Programme For?
The bilingual programme is ideal for any student who is interested in deepening their Chinese studies while maintaining and developing their English language proficiency. This includes:
Native Chinese Speakers
Students who grew up in countries where Mandarin is the native language and they have age-appropriate fluency in Mandarin and English. They will benefit from this programme as it allows them to continue exploring their native language while simultaneously immersing themselves in the English language. It will enable them to have a deeper understanding of both languages.
Non-Native Chinese Speakers
Students who have been studying Mandarin and English for a while, and who have an advanced level of understanding, may enjoy the challenges of being in this immersive environment. This programme allows them to read, write and speak Mandarin fluently whilst maintaining their English skills.
The Structure of the Bilingual Programme
The bilingual programme at OWIS is intentionally designed to provide students with an understanding of all concepts using both languages. The teachers in this programme are trained bilingual educators, which allows students to benefit from an immersive learning environment.
For instance, when teachers are presenting the ‘Mind and Body’ concept, they would create learning engagements that allow the students to explore different key concepts in both languages. Throughout the lesson, students are encouraged to discuss and ask questions in both English and Mandarin. The strategic design of this lesson allows students to expand their vocabulary in both languages while working toward linguistic fluency.
English Instructions
English Language
60% UOI
40% Maths
50% PSPE
50% Art in class
60% UOI
PE (Weekly Specialist)
Art (Weekly Specialist)
Music (Weekly Specialist)
English Instructions
Mandarin Language
40% UOI
60% Maths
50% PSPE
PE (Weekly Specialist)
Sample Timetable - Grade 1 & 2
English Instructions
Mandarin Instructions
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
UOI English
9 – 10 am | Maths Mandarin 9 – 10 am | English
9 – 10 am | Maths Mandarin 9 – 10 am | PSPE Assembly 9 – 10 am |
Break (10 – 10:30 am) | ||||
English
10:30 -11:30 am | PE
10:30 -11:30 am | Art Specialist
10:30 -11:30 am | Mandarin 9 – 10 am | English
10:30 -11:30 am |
Maths English
11:30 -12:30 pm | Mandarin
11:30 -12:30 pm | UOI English
11:30 -12:30 pm | Maths Mandarin
11:30 -12:30 pm | Music
11:30 -12:30 pm |
Lunch
(12:30 – 1:15 pm) | ||||
UOI Mandarin
1:15 -2:15 pm | UOI English
1:15 -2:15 pm | UOI Mandarin
1:15 -2:15 pm | Maths English
1:15 -2 pm Art in Class 2 – 2:30 pm | Art in Class
1:15 – 1:45 pm Mandarin 1:45 – 2:45 pm |
Mandarin
2:15 – 3:10 pm | English
2:15 – 3:10 pm | PSPE
2:15 – 3:10 pm | Guided Reading English
2:15 – 3:10 pm | Guided Reading Mandarin
2:45 – 3:10 pm |
There Is Ample Room to Learn and Grow at One World International School
Discover how the Bilingual Programme at OWIS helps your child achieve fluency in both English and Mandarin with our high-quality bilingual, bicultural and bi-literate education.
How the Bilingual Programme is Implemented at OWIS
All lessons in the Bilingual programme take place entirely in Mandarin and English and are taught at the native level. The classes focus on developing age-appropriate, mother-tongue skills in speaking, writing and reading. This ensures that children maintain and build the language skills that will give them the opportunity to work in both languages and cultures fluently.
Maths, Units of Inquiry and PSPE are delivered in both English and Mandarin, allowing students to enjoy the benefits of full cognitive bilingualism. Specialised subjects like Music, Art and PE are delivered in English by subject experts with the full support of bilingual assistant teachers. This allows students to access the whole curriculum and range of facilities at OWIS while also building relationships with other students within the school.
For students who are not yet fluent in English but would want to access our curriculum, we offer an EAL programme.
Why consider the Bilingual Programme at OWIS?
Every child a unique individual
We value and treat every child as a unique individual. To achieve optimal personal and academic growth, we personalise your child's learning journey based on their specific needs, interests and progress.
Rich selection of extracurricular activities
Your child has plenty of engaging co-curricular activities to choose from. That way, they can explore their passions, learn new skills and boost their confidence in areas such as sports, arts, music and languages.
Low student-teacher ratio
In our small class sizes, your child benefits from greater personal care and attention. Being part of a small and nurturing classroom environment also helps students form more meaningful connections with their teachers and peers.
Inquiry-based international curriculum
Aligned with the IB PYP, our bilingual programme provides students with an immersive experience in each language and culture. By expanding their proficiency in Mandarin and English, children gain an invaluable competitive edge for the future.
School-wide nationality cap
To ensure all 70+ nationalities are equally represented across our school body, we cap enrolment of students coming from a single nationality at 30%.
Reasonable tuition fees
As a not-for-profit educational institution, we reinvest back into our school to continuously improve our quality of teaching. That way, we can deliver the highest quality of education without excessively high fees.
The Benefits of Bilingualism
Increased economic opportunities
Bilingualism will allow students to be more successful in our interconnected global economy as there will be a greater need in the future for a multilingual workforce.
Better academic achievement
Research over the last few decades has indicated that students who had a bilingual education and spoke multiple languages had achieved more than their peers, especially in maths, reading and vocabulary ultimately leading to better university prospects.
Cross-cultural appreciation
Students who are bilingual have an appreciation for both cultures. Students are able to engage in both languages through stories, idioms and other primary sources of information without requiring translation which leads to deeper cultural exchanges.
Increased cognitive development
Research has shown that bilingual students have improved brain function, which leads to an increased ability to problem solve, improved memory and recall, and multitask more efficiently.