Mandarin

Mandarin Chinese is taught across KS2 by our specialist Mandarin teacher. Children receive one hour of Mandarin lessons every two weeks.

Children in Key Stage 2 learn a variety of topics starting with greetings and moving onto numbers, body parts and food. In Year 3 this links with the children’s work on the country of China, deepening pupils’ knowledge and encouraging them to make connections across the curriculum.

The lessons encourage children to develop their skills in the four main areas of language learning: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This enables children to communicate effectively in an additional language as well as encouraging them to collaborate and support others.  While Mandarin Chinese characters can prove a challenge, many children enjoy the problem-solving and critical thinking aspects when they are presented with a new character. Using existing knowledge and creativity, children are encouraged to solve problems and test out their theories while developing their confidence, resilience and independence.

Children in Year 6 have the opportunity to take the Youth Chinese Test (YCT) and there is a very high pass rate.

We strongly believe in promoting an appreciation and an interest in different communities and cultures. Some of our Year 5 children also take part in the local Love Languages Competition, which they won in 2019.

Click here to view a play written and performed by Year 3 pupils, entitled, “Zodiac Great Race Play”.