How MANDO SCHOOL Teaches Mandarin Chinese to 2 to 7-Year-Olds

At MANDO SCHOOL, we believe that learning Mandarin should be an exciting adventure – full of fun, laughter, and imagination. For children aged 2 to 7, we know that the best way to learn is through play and exploration. That’s why our classes are designed to be immersive, interactive, and story-led, making Mandarin come to life in the most magical way possible.

Here’s how we do it!

1. Story-Led Adventures: Bringing Mandarin to Life

Children love stories. They spark curiosity, inspire imagination, and keep little minds engaged. At MANDO SCHOOL, we use story-led adventures as the heart of our Mandarin lessons. Each story is carefully crafted to include Mandarin vocabulary and phrases, seamlessly woven into exciting plots that capture children’s imaginations.

How It Works:

• Exciting Plots and Adventures: Our stories are filled with adventure, suspense, twists, and challenges. Whether it’s exploring a magical forest, meeting talking animals, or going on a treasure hunt, each story keeps children on the edge of their seats.
• Repetitive Vocabulary: Key Mandarin words and phrases are repeated throughout the story, helping children remember them naturally.
• Active Participation: Children don’t just listen – they become part of the story. They act out characters, mimic movements, and respond to cues in Mandarin, making the learning experience immersive and fun.

Why It Works:

• Learning Without Realising: Children get so absorbed in the story that they don’t even realise they’re learning Mandarin!
• Emotional Connection: Stories create an emotional connection, making it easier for children to remember new words and phrases.
• Engagement and Focus: Story-led learning keeps children focused and engaged, as they are curious to know what happens next.

In one of our adventures, children help a little dragon find its way home by solving riddles and overcoming obstacles, all while using Mandarin words for directions, numbers, and animals. They don’t just learn Mandarin – they live it!

2. Roleplay and Imaginative Play: Learning Through Experience

Children are natural actors. They love pretending to be animals, superheroes, or even magical creatures. We use roleplay and imaginative play to bring Mandarin to life, allowing children to learn by doing and experiencing.

How It Works:

• Becoming the Characters: Children take on different roles from the story, using Mandarin words and phrases as they act out scenes.
• Expressive Movement and Gestures: Roleplay involves lots of movement, facial expressions, and gestures, helping children understand the meaning of words through action.
• Real-Life Situations: We recreate real-life scenarios, like shopping at a market or visiting the zoo, where children practise Mandarin in a fun and playful context.

Why It Works:

• Building Confidence: Roleplay allows children to practise speaking Mandarin without fear of making mistakes.
• Contextual Learning: By acting out scenes, children learn words in context, which enhances understanding and memory retention.
• Imagination and Creativity: Imaginative play encourages children to think creatively, building their storytelling and language skills.

In a roleplay activity, children become explorers in a jungle, encountering different animals. They learn to greet the animals, ask for directions, and even negotiate with a mischievous monkey – all in Mandarin!

3. Games and Activities: Fun and Active Learning

At MANDO SCHOOL, learning Mandarin is never boring. We incorporate a variety of games and activities that keep children active, engaged, and excited to learn.

Types of Games We Use:

• Action Games: Games like ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Follow the Leader’ are adapted with Mandarin commands, helping children learn action words and verbs through movement.
• Matching and Memory Games: Using picture cards and objects, children match Mandarin words with visuals, reinforcing vocabulary in a playful way.
• Song and Dance Games: Catchy songs and dances make learning new words fun and memorable, using rhythm and music to enhance memory retention.

Why It Works:

• Active Engagement: Games encourage children to participate actively, keeping them focused and energised.
• Social Interaction: Team games build social skills, teaching children to communicate and collaborate using Mandarin.
• Repetition and Reinforcement: Repetitive games help reinforce vocabulary and phrases, making them easier to remember.

We play a game called ‘Animal Hunt’ where children listen to Mandarin animal names and then move like that animal. They hop like rabbits, slither like snakes, and roar like lions – all while learning Mandarin!

4. Warm-Ups and Relaxation: Setting the Mood for Learning

Every class at MANDO SCHOOL starts with a fun warm-up to get children excited and ready to learn. We also end each session with relaxation exercises, helping children wind down and process what they’ve learnt.

Warm-Ups:

• Action Songs and Rhymes: Fun, energetic songs in Mandarin get children moving and singing along.
• Interactive Greetings: Using Mandarin greetings like “Ni Hao” (Hello) and “Zai Jian” (Goodbye), children practise simple phrases from the moment they arrive.
• Movement Games: Simple movement games like jumping, stretching, and dancing are integrated with Mandarin action words.

Relaxation:

• Calm Down Techniques: At the end of each session, we use simple breathing exercises or gentle stretches to calm children down.
• Reflective Moments: Children reflect on the story and the words they’ve learnt, reinforcing the vocabulary in a relaxed state.

Why It Works:

• Focus and Attention: Starting with a fun warm-up grabs children’s attention, preparing them to learn.
• Calming Routine: Ending with relaxation helps children leave the class feeling happy and calm, positively reinforcing their learning experience.

5. The Power of Imagination: Sparking Curiosity and Creativity

Imagination is at the heart of everything we do at MANDO SCHOOL. By encouraging children to dream, imagine, and create, we make learning Mandarin a magical experience.

How We Use Imagination:

• Magical Worlds and Characters: Our stories feature magical lands, talking animals, and friendly dragons, capturing children’s imaginations and transporting them to another world.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Children use Mandarin to solve problems, make decisions, and overcome challenges within the story.
• Open-Ended Play: Activities encourage children to use their imagination to create their own adventures, using Mandarin words to describe their ideas.

Why It Works:

• Intrinsic Motivation: When learning is fun and imaginative, children are motivated to participate and engage.
• Emotional Connection: Imaginative play creates emotional experiences, making words and phrases more memorable.
• Creativity and Expression: Imagination allows children to express themselves freely, building confidence and language skills.

In one class, children travel to a magical underwater world, meeting colourful fish and playful dolphins. They learn Mandarin words for colours, sea animals, and directions – all while exploring the ocean through their imagination.

At MANDO SCHOOL, we believe that the best way to learn Mandarin is by having fun. Our approach is centred around story-led adventures, roleplay, games, movement, and imagination. We create an environment where children learn without realising they’re learning, absorbing Mandarin naturally and effortlessly.

By combining imaginative storytelling, interactive games, and playful activities, we make Mandarin exciting, memorable, and full of joy. Our method not only teaches a language but also builds confidence, social skills, and creativity – setting the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Are you ready to take your child on an unforgettable Mandarin adventure?
Discover more at www.mandoschool.com and let the magic of Mandarin begin!