Yew Chung International School of Beijing places great emphasis on the acquisition of the Chinese language (Putonghua), an increasingly important world language. In order to foster a deeper understanding of the language, students are also required to study Chinese culture.
Students learn to read, write and speak fluently in Putonghua through curricula tailored for both native and non-native speakers. These courses run from Kindergarten all the way through to Secondary School and help students attain a strong command of the Chinese language after two to three years.
By integrating the study of Chinese culture into the language programme, we cultivate understanding of and respect for the local society and foster a global perspective in our students. Western and Chinese teachers work together to deliver topics such as Chinese geography, history, literature, art and traditional festivals. By studying Chinese culture, students better comprehend the complexities of local value systems and non-verbal signifiers, leading to improved communication skills.
Primary
Primary students have lots of chances to find out more about their host city through the Exploring Beijing field trips to famous and lesser known places of interest in Beijing. We also have several events every year including the Chinese Reading Challenge, Chinese New Year Celebration and Chinese Drama Week. All these activities make a dynamic and inspiring programme.
Secondary
Secondary students can pursue their language studies at IGCSE and IB level. YCIS Beijing offers the IB Diploma Programme for Chinese as first language speakers. Experiencing China provides each year level the chance to travel to an exciting Chinese destination. Moreover, annual events such as the Chinese Speech Contest make the programme interesting and keep students striving for excellence.
