Mandarin Immersion Pathway
Want your child to become fluent bilingual speakers? Even if your child is not a native Mandarin speaker or comes from a home environment where Mandarin is not spoken often, it is possible for children to be effectively bilingual at the end of their primary years. EtonHouse International School Broadrick offers a well-established Mandarin Immersion Pathway that nurtures children to become truly bilingual, culturally competent and internationally-minded. This programme is aligned with the IB PYP framework and is accessible to children from non-Mandarin (Chinese) speaking families.
EtonHouse Broadrick was also the first international school to provide a bilingual education programme in English and Mandarin since 2011, and remains one of the most comprehensive and effective bilingual programmes offered in Singapore. Our students consistently achieve impressive results in the annual Youth Chinese Test (YCT) while maintaining similar Maths and English standards as their peers in the Integrated Curriculum Pathway. This consistent excellence has been recognised over the years, most recently with the Best Language Programme (Gold) award at the HoneyKids Singapore Education Awards 2023.
We are incredibly proud to report that our Mandarin Immersion Pathway achieved a 100% passing rate in the Youth Chinese Test (YCT), an international standardised Chinese test, assessing young foreign students’ abilities to use Chinese in daily and academic contexts.
- Students who took the YCT Levels 1 to 3 scored an average of 97%, with 23 achieving full marks.
- Our Year 5 and 6 students achieved an average score of 84% for YCT Level 4—the highest level offered, which includes a writing component—demonstrating high language proficiency. Successfully completing Level 4 indicates that a student can communicate effectively in most situations during travel in China and in secondary education.
These exceptional results are a testament to the students’ dedication and the effectiveness of our Mandarin Immersion Pathway.
The best part of being in the bilingual program was that I could be an emcee to host the Mid-Autumn festival assembly in Chinese, and my parents were very impressed. Now I can communicate fluently with native Mandarin speakers. I can also write long letters in Chinese and successfully pass the YCT 4 test! Thank you for your support and help!
“I have nearly eight years of experience in EtonHouse’s bilingual programme, and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Learning about the culture and making new friends along the way are, in my opinion, the best aspects of studying Chinese.”
“I really like mandarin UOI because we learn about Chinese culture and traditions. Even though Chinese is the hardest language in the world to learn, the teachers here at EtonHouse are incredible at teaching Chinese as they will guide you through your difficulties when you learn Chinese.”
“The best part about being in the Bilingual Immersion Program is that you can sing Chinese songs together, you can learn a different language, everyone supports you, and you can be a part of so many interesting celebrations.”
“In my experience as a bilingual student, I have progressed from easy Mandarin characters and copying different characters, to being able to write a whole Mandarin book and write complicated Mandarin words. I can even read complicated Chinese idiom books by myself.”
“I remember that a few years ago, I travelled to China with my dad and we went to a restaurant. I spoke Chinese in front of a man and he was very impressed. He asked me where I was from and he was surprised and he praised me that an Indian who could speak a totally different language so fluently.”
“When I was younger I used to watch Chinese cartoons but I couldn’t understand an amount of words, but as I grew up I learnt more and more words in Mandarin and now I can understand all the things my favourite character says.”
Mandarin Immersion or Integrated Curriculum Pathway
At EtonHouse International School Broadrick, we offer two learning pathways: Mandarin Immersion and Integrated Curriculum. Both pathways, aligned to the IB Primary Years Programme, emphasise inquiry-based learning, enabling students to explore languages through study, collaboration, conversation, and application.
Features of our Mandarin Immersion Pathway
- Aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and accessible to children from non-Mandarin speaking families
- Two qualified teachers—Mandarin and English-speaking—work together to plan and engage with the students
- Intensive Mandarin exposure in Year 1 to build a strong Mandarin foundation ,followed by a balanced 50:50 bilingual immersion from Year 2 to 6.
- Immersive Mandarin language practice through conversations, inquiry, and collaboration throughout the day
- Transdisciplinary approach encouraging contextual Mandarin learning across different subjects, not just in language lessons
- Chinese culture incorporated into the curriculum to foster a deeper appreciation and love for the language
- Extensive opportunities for Mandarin immersion beyond the classroom, including ECAs conducted in Mandarin, play and lunch breaks, interactions with Mandarin teachers, and participation in Chinese cultural events
- Students can pursue Mandarin further as an IGCSE and A-Level subject at EtonHouse International School Orchard campus
The Structure
Nursery 2 | Kindergarten 1 | |
*Japanese is available for native speakers. |
*Japanese and Hindi available for native speakers. Students who do not meet the required English proficiency must complete EAL first |
Year 1 Mandarin Immersion Pathway provides extensive classroom time with a Mandarin-speaking Homeroom Teacher, immersing students in an environment where all interactions are conducted in Mandarin. This approach aims to establish a strong communication foundation for students to build on throughout their Mandarin Immersion Pathway.
Mandarin Immersion Pathway | Integrated Curriculum Pathway | |
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From Year 2 to Year 6, learners in the Mandarin Immersion Pathway benefit from shared learning experiences in both Mandarin and English, supported by two Homeroom teachers. The subjects and learning expectations are similar to those in the Integrated Curriculum Pathway, with the exception of additional daily Mandarin engagement.
Mandarin Immersion Pathway | Integrated Curriculum Pathway | |
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Admission Criteria
- Students should show both aptitude for and a positive attitude toward learning Mandarin
- Students joining after Semester 2 of Year 2 will be assessed by the Mandarin Language team to ensure they have the necessary skills. No assessment is required for students joining earlier
- Students must maintain a high level of understanding in both English and Mandarin to engage effectively with the curriculum
- Existing Integrated Curriculum Pathway students with strong Mandarin skills may be invited to join the Mandarin Immersion Pathway based on their teacher’s recommendation.
Glimpses
Parent Testimonial
Elizabeth Aherne, Parents of Mary, Beatrice, Florence and Frederick, Broadrick
The school is friendly and has a warm, family feel. The children are strongly encouraged to be caring and considerate towards one another, and we often see the older children helping the little ones. Because my children are spread throughout the school, they know every teacher and almost every child. They feel secure and totally at home. Read more here
Mary and James Whittred, Parents of Genevieve and Xavier, Broadrick
We have been very happy with the levels of support that have been offered by the dedicated staff and love the close community feel that pervades the school’s many celebrations of learning and living. Read more here
Ms Pochat-Cottilloux, Parent of Beatrice, Louis and Oscar, Broadrick
I believe very strongly that the shaping of young characters, and young citizens, is taken very seriously at EtonHouse Broadrick, and in conjunction with my efforts at home, I'm proud of the confident, happy, and caring children returning to me after each school day. Read more here
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The school is housed in a traditional 4 storey classroom block that accommodates a wide array of facilities to support the holistic development for your child.
