Mandarin
Learning Mandarin
Alongside English and Thai, Mandarin will be introduced as a world language at Dulwich College International School Bangkok. Learning a third language from a young age can support cognitive flexibility, cultural awareness, and curiosity about the wider world, aligning with our mission to nurture global citizens who are prepared to thrive in an interconnected society.
The Mandarin learning programme offers benefits that extend far beyond language proficiency—it provides a gateway to understanding a distinctive cultural mindset while equipping students with essential communicative and analytical skills. Designed to help students navigate a culturally diverse world, the programme fosters an appreciation of both language and culture through multiple learning pathways tailored for native speakers, heritage learners, and non-native learners alike.
Dual Language Learning in DUCKS
In DUCKS (Dulwich College Kindergarten School), dual language learning is a fundamental pillar of our educational approach. Grounded in recognised language acquisition theory and informed by extensive academic and action research conducted by Dulwich educators, our model reflects best practice in early years education.
Children are immersed in both English and Mandarin throughout the school day within authentic learning contexts, rather than solely through discrete language lessons. With one teacher focusing on English and another on Mandarin, young learners are encouraged to use language meaningfully and confidently. This rich linguistic environment enables children to develop strong communication skills, cultural awareness, and a natural confidence in using more than one language from an early age.
The Wohui Mandarin Programme
From Years 1, our goal is to offer Mandarin as a Modern Foreign Language (MFL) through the Wohui Mandarin programme, meaning “I Can.” Developed within the Dulwich family of schools, Wohui encourages active language use and engagement with real-world contexts. Spoken and written Mandarin are introduced in parallel, allowing students to focus on one new element at a time and to develop confidence as they build their language skills.