OWIS stands out from other bilingual schools in Singapore because it offers students a truly bilingual environment in which students receive almost equal instruction in both English and Mandarin.
The programme is available to students in Grades 1 through to 5 and is taught by a bilingual teacher with the support of a bilingual teaching assistant in each class.
Students in the bilingual programme enjoy a personalised experience, as there is a 1:12 teacher-to-student ratio.
Students will receive in-depth instruction in these areas relative to their Mandarin and English language skill level. In addition, this programme supports the learning of Chinese culture and literature.
The bilingual programme at OWIS aligns with the IB PYP, and students also receive weekly instruction from our specialised teachers in Music, Art and Physical Education.
The bilingual programme at OWIS provides primary school students with the foundation they need to succeed in secondary school at OWIS.
The bilingual programme is ideal for any student who is interested in deepening their Chinese studies while maintaining and developing their English language proficiency. This includes:
Students who grew up in countries where Mandarin is the native language and they have age-appropriate fluency in Mandarin and English. They will benefit from this programme as it allows them to continue exploring their native language while simultaneously immersing themselves in the English language. It will enable them to have a deeper understanding of both languages.
Students who have been studying Mandarin and English for a while, and who have an advanced level of understanding, may enjoy the challenges of being in this immersive environment. This programme allows them to read, write and speak Mandarin fluently whilst maintaining their English skills.
The bilingual programme at OWIS is intentionally designed to provide students with an understanding of all concepts using both languages. The teachers in this programme are trained bilingual educators, which allows students to benefit from an immersive learning environment.
For instance, when teachers are presenting the 'Mind and Body' concept, they would create learning engagements that allow the students to explore different key concepts in both languages. Throughout the lesson, students are encouraged to discuss and ask questions in both English and Mandarin. The strategic design of this lesson allows students to expand their vocabulary in both languages while working toward linguistic fluency.
English Language
60% UOI
40% Maths
50% PSPE
50% Art in class
PE (Weekly Specialist)
Art (Weekly Specialist)
Music (Weekly Specialist)
Mandarin Language
40% UOI
60% Maths
50% PSPE
50% Art in class
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
UOI English
Maths Mandarin
English
Maths Mandarin
PSPE Assembly
Break (10 - 10:30 am)
English
PE
Art Specialist
Mandarin
English
Maths English
Mandarin
UOI English
Maths Mandarin
Music
Lunch (12:30 - 1:15 pm)
UOI Mandarin
UOI English
UOI Mandarin
Maths English
Art in Class
Art in Class
Mandarin
Mandarin
English
PSPE
Guided Reading English
Guided Reading Mandarin
Visit us from the comfort of your home and find out everything you need to know to make a well-informed decision about your child’s education.
All lessons in the Bilingual programme take place entirely in Mandarin and English and are taught at the native level. The classes focus on developing age-appropriate, mother-tongue skills in speaking, writing and reading. This ensures that children maintain and build the language skills that will give them the opportunity to work in both languages and cultures fluently.
Maths, Units of Inquiry and PSPE are delivered in both English and Mandarin, allowing students to enjoy the benefits of full cognitive bilingualism. Specialised subjects like Music, Art and PE are delivered in English by subject experts with the full support of bilingual assistant teachers. This allows students to access the whole curriculum and range of facilities at OWIS while also building relationships with other students within the school.
For students who are not yet fluent in English but would want to access our curriculum, we offer an EAL programme.
As a linguist myself, I’m aware of the challenges associated with programmes that are superficial and ultimately don’t help children access their learning. This programme is internationally designed to deepen the learning of students and enable them to be fluent in both languages.
Visit us from the comfort of your home and find out everything you need to know to make a well-informed decision about your child’s education.
We value and treat every child as a unique individual. To achieve optimal personal and academic growth, we personalise your child's learning journey based on their specific needs, interests and progress.
Your child has plenty of engaging co-curricular activities to choose from. That way, they can explore their passions, learn new skills and boost their confidence in areas such as sports, arts, music and languages.
In our small class sizes, your child benefits from greater personal care and attention. Being part of a small and nurturing classroom environment also helps students form more meaningful connections with their teachers and peers.
Aligned with the IB PYP, our bilingual programme provides students with an immersive experience in each language and culture. By expanding their proficiency in Mandarin and English, children gain an invaluable competitive edge for the future.
To ensure all 70+ nationalities are equally represented across our school body, we cap enrolment of students coming from a single nationality at 30%.
As a not-for-profit educational institution, we reinvest back into our school to continuously improve our quality of teaching. That way, we can deliver the highest quality of education without excessively high fees.
Bilingualism will allow students to be more successful in our interconnected global economy as there will be a greater need in the future for a multilingual workforce.
Research over the last few decades has indicated that students who had a bilingual education and spoke multiple languages had achieved more than their peers, especially in maths, reading and vocabulary ultimately leading to better university prospects.
Students who are bilingual have an appreciation for both cultures. Students are able to engage in both languages through stories, idioms and other primary sources of information without requiring translation which leads to deeper cultural exchanges.
Research has shown that bilingual students have improved brain function, which leads to an increased ability to problem solve, improved memory and recall, and multitask more efficiently.
Get a feel of our friendly and warm school environment. Learn more about the Chinese-English Bilingual Programme and our child-centred teaching methodology. Discover why our rigorous and holistic curriculum successfully prepares your child for secondary school and see how we raise internationally minded and confident lifelong learners.
