Bilingual students more China-ready
Schools believe immersion in second language and culture will benefit their students, writes Linda Yeung
Wilson Chan, who worked in Shanghai for several years, had always wanted to send his three children to a bilingual school. That opportunity eluded his two sons, now studying in Britain, but was possible for his youngest child, Jenny, now in Year Eight at the YK Pao School.
Founded in 2007 by Anna Sohmen, daughter of the late shipping tycoon after whom it is named, the Shanghai-based school provides an opportunity for professionals working on the mainland who want their children to be well versed in both English and Putonghua. Jenny, who joined the school in 2007, has developed a keen interest in languages and sports.
YK Pao has 800 students - 500 of whom are in its primary section and the rest at secondary level - in a boarding school that opened in 2011. About 25 Hongkongers attend its primary school and 15 are enrolled in secondary education. It is dubbed an international Chinese school.
Chan allowed Jenny to remain in Shanghai, at her wish, after the family returned to Hong Kong last year. "The school has given her a lot of exposure and leadership development opportunities. I had always wanted my children to receive a bilingual education; China is the future of the world's economy. Students in Hong Kong are not immersed in a real Putonghua environment," he says.
Year 10 is when adolescents are most...adaptable and responsive to positive influence
There are increasing opportunities to receive schooling on the mainland. The Chinese International School is taking the bold step of transferring its Year 10 students to its new campus in Hangzhou in the coming academic year. Spending an entire school year in China's emerging cultural capital, they will continue to pursue the International Baccalaureate Middle Years programme while acquainting themselves with the local culture.