EDUCATION CENTRE

MANDARIN FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

Courses for Children 6½-12 years old

A Founding Member Of HONG KONG FEDERATION OF PRIVATE EDUCATORS

HK Kidz @ Central: 3/F, Wellington Plaza, 56-58 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong HK Kidz @ One Island South : Units 306-307, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong Enquiry Hotline: 2877 6160 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.hkkidz.com

More about HK Kidz Founded in 1985, and a pioneer in Hong Kong in the field of teaching foreign languages to children, including very young children, at HK Kidz we have earned a reputation for our first class service and high quality tuition. We only employ qualified, experienced native teachers.

Our Methodology It has long been recognised that children make more rapid progress in their studies when they enjoy what they are doing, and our Mandarin language courses for young learners have been devised with this in mind. Our lively, interactive learning approach means that children are presented with a wide variety of ageappropriate activities, designed to bring the Mandarin language to life, cultivate creativity, encourage interaction, build confidence, and effortlessly develop effective comprehension and communication skills. Our ‘spiral learning’ method enables each child to constantly reuse and reinforce what he/she has learnt, thus naturally laying solid foundations on which to build overall competence. Classes focus on developing the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing – though special emphasis is put on spoken language to help each child develop strong communicative language skills, and build his/her confidence, right from the start. Each lesson is designed to be pertinent to the children’s needs, as well as interesting, varied, lively and fun. Fun activities, songs, stories, role-plays, language development games and exercises, audio visual aids and multimedia tools form an integral part of our programme. Applied in the appropriate context, these tools provide an excellent medium through which each child can interact with his/her classmates, practise and consolidate what he/she has learnt before, and further develop his/her comprehension and communication skills naturally and effectively. FUN is the key to each successful class, as children will respond more positively in a relaxed, happy atmosphere. Our aim is therefore to make the lessons as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, so as to cultivate a positive attitude towards the learning of the language. An invaluable asset that will benefit every child throughout his/her life!

What makes HK Kidz so different? 

A proven 29-year track record in helping students achieve excellent results and greater success



An excellent reputation in providing the highest standards of quality tuition, under the expert guidance of qualified, experienced, native teachers



Small class size to guarantee plenty of interaction with the teacher and the other students, and greater attention to each child

 A flexible schedule that fits with your child’s needs (we also offer private tuition)  A comfortable, well-equipped language centre with a wealth of teaching resources  A lively, interactive teaching approach that opens doors to new learning opportunities

Our school is registered with EDB 2|Page

Mandarin Language Courses for Children 6½-12 Enrolment is open all year round

We offer a variety of courses in Mandarin language to suit all levels, needs, and objectives:

Age Group

Course

General Mandarin Courses 6½ - 12 years old

Mandarin In Action - Beginner, Improver, Intermediate, Advanced Levels

6½ - 12 years old

Mandarin School Support

6½ - 12 years old

Homework Assistance

6½ - 12 years old

Chinese Reading & Writing (for non-Chinese speakers)

6½ - 12 years old

Chinese Reading & Writing Skills Enhancement

6½ - 12 years old

Creative Arts Workshop

6½ - 12 years old

Little Chef Workshop

6½ - 12 years old

Drama Workshop

6½ - 12 years old

Nature & Discovery Workshop

6½ - 12 years old

Science & Discovery Workshop

6½ - 12 years old

Holiday Workshops

Notes: 1. All courses are suitable for children of Local, ESF or International Schools. 2. Students are grouped by age and level of ability. 3. Classes are available weekdays after school (usually 1.5 hours once or twice weekly) and on Saturday (for 1.5 or 3 hours). Private or semi-private lessons are also available on demand, including at your home.

✈ TRAVEL IN CHINA & LEARN MANDARIN ! To increase your child’s language skills even further, we highly recommend our immersion summer camps to China available each July & August ~ please ask for more details.

3|Page

Mandarin Speaking Courses MANDARIN IN ACTION ~ Beginner level An activity-based programme designed for non-Chinese speakers who wish to develop their oral communication skills. According to his/her age and level, your child will: 

discover Pin Yin, learn to pronounce the basic sounds of Mandarin Chinese and distinguish the different tones;



become familiar with the uniqueness of Mandarin sentence structure;



develop his/her listening comprehension skills;



increase his/her oral speaking skills and confidence;



cultivate an interest in the language and Chinese culture.

Your child will love this programme which unlocks the secrets of the spoken language and makes learning how to speak Mandarin easier and therefore more fun! This course also includes an introduction to Chinese characters.

MANDARIN IN ACTION ~ Intermediate to Advanced levels Our Mandarin in Action programme is aimed at children who already have a foundation in Mandarin, and need more speaking practice so as to improve their oral fluency and increase their self-confidence in spoken Mandarin. According to his/her school background (Local, ESF, International) and level, your child will: 

develop his/her listening comprehension skills;



practise his/her speaking skills and learn to communicate with others using the appropriate language, tone and style, in various contexts and for different purposes;



learn to be more confident when speaking in a group or in front of an audience, becoming equipped with the skills to hold a proper conversation.

Emphasis is on developing competence, fluency in conversational skills and confidence. This course also includes the study of Chinese characters.

4|Page

Mandarin School Support MANDARIN SCHOOL SUPPORT A comprehensive programme specifically designed to complement school studies and to provide your child with the additional support he/she needs to make really significant progress at school, and improve his/her overall Mandarin performance. The small group setting provides plenty of opportunities for each child to practise his/her Mandarin skills and receive feedback from the teacher - a far more practical and effective arrangement than the large class setting your child may experience at school. According to his/her school background (Local, ESF, International) and level, your child will: 

reinforce what he is learning at school;



reinforce his/her listening comprehension and oral communication skills, including proper pronunciation, tones, and sentence structures;



practise his/her speaking skills in various contexts through interesting and enjoyable activities;



develop his/her reading comprehension and writing skills (with activities tailored to the appropriate level for either non-Chinese or Chinese students);



receive supportive guidance to keep up with his/her regular schoolwork / homework

Emphasis is on developing competence as well as boosting self-confidence.

Homework Assistance HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE For children who need help with their homework assignments. A special class setting where your child can: 

complete his/her homework assignments under the supervision of a qualified teacher;



study in a focused environment without distraction;



receive professional assistance as needed and improve his/her study skills;



learn new strategies and methods for homework success.

The ideal setting to ensure that your child does the best they possibly can in his/her homework assignments and fully comprehends what he/she studies at school.

5|Page

Chinese Reading & Writing CHINESE READING & WRITING ~ For non-Chinese speakers A lively, fun-filled introduction to reading and writing Chinese characters, designed for non-Chinese children who are starting to learn Mandarin and need help to recognise, read, write, and memorise simplified Chinese characters. The ultimate goal is to draw on children’s inner curiosity and fascination for anything new and different to teach them to read and write Chinese characters through fun activities. These are specially devised to grab their attention, while arousing their interest in Chinese characters and culture. According to his/her age and level, your child will: 

learn more about Chinese characters (origin, stroke order, common radicals...);



learn strategic ways to memorise them effectively;



practise recognising and reading Chinese characters relevant to his/her age, level and areas of interest.



enlarge his/her range of characters (and the words formed with them).

To add yet more fun and excitement to the course, your child will be provided with a special Chinese writing brush, and introduced to the art of Chinese calligraphy.

READING & WRITING SKILLS ENHANCEMENT This course is designed for children who already have a foundation in reading & writing and wish to further develop their ability. The overall objective is to guide children from being able to read the words, to fully understanding their meaning through to grasping the fundamentals of written language and developing appropriate expressiveness in writing. According to his/her school background (Local, ESF, International) and level, your child will: 

review the different types of characters (origin, stroke order, individual components, compound characters and common radicals);



study how compounds are formed and the way that different ideas and concepts are expressed;



enlarge his/her range of characters (and the words formed with them);



increase his/her reading and comprehension skills - from reading short passages to more complex texts;



develop his/her ability to write his/her own short passages, poems and stories, following the basic rules and conventions such as paragraph indentation and punctuation.

Through this course, your child will not only increase his/her ability to read and write but also acquire a better appreciation of the richness of Chinese language and literature, and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and traditions.

6|Page

Mandarin Language Workshops A fun alternative or addition to language courses CREATIVE ARTS WORKSHOP Arts activities enable the child to make connections between the imaginative life and the world and to organise and express ideas, feelings and experiences in a visual, tangible form. In drawing, painting, constructing and inventing, the child assimilates and responds to experience and tries to make sense of it. Our Creative Arts workshop is set out to encourage your child to develop his/her creativity in a fun hands-on and educational way. In this workshop, your child will be able to give free rein to his/her imagination and experience different materials, tools, techniques and processes... all the while practising his/her Mandarin language skills. This new, fun-filled programme will open your child’s mind and imagination, stimulate his/her creativity, improve his/her concentration and encourage him/her to develop his/her Mandarin skills in a fun, hands on and educational way - building up his/her self-confidence in the process. During this enjoyable, innovative programme, your child will: 

practise his/her Mandarin in a fun and dynamic way;



discover different forms of arts through drawing, painting, moulding, constructing, collage, pottery ...;



explore new concepts, ideas and sensation;



extend his/her fine motor skills;



refine his/her perception and develop a better awareness of concepts like colors, shapes, patterns, textures and volume;



enjoy fun hands-on creative arts & crafts activities;



challenge his/her imagination and stimulate his/her creativity;



build up his/her self-confidence.

During this workshop your child will create pieces to gift or keep, to entertain others with or appreciate visually (e.g. drawing, painting, collage, pottery, art construction / creation ...).

LITTLE CHEF WORKSHOP This popular workshop capitalises on every child's eagerness for learning and experimenting to teach them about healthy eating and the joy of cooking. During this enjoyable, innovative programme, your child will: 

practise his/her Mandarin in a fun, dynamic way;



discover new tastes and flavours;



cook simple healthy, savoury and sweet recipes;



become aware of the importance of a balanced diet;



learn the pleasure of cooking.

All ingredients, utensils, aprons, etc. are provided. We play, we experiment, we create, and we enjoy ! A fantastic course offering your child the opportunity to develop his/her Mandarin language skills while also having lots of fun discovering basic kitchen techniques and an appreciation of good food.

7|Page

DRAMA WORKSHOP Drama is a fantastic tool to enhance learning and language development. Participation in drama has the potential to develop language and communication abilities, problem-solving skills, to stimulate creativity and to promote a positive self-esteem. By combining Mandarin language with drama, this programme aims to boost your child’s desire to communicate in more expressive ways, enhancing your child’s Mandarin skills in the process. Depending on the age group of the class, this particular course incorporates different forms of drama: acting out a simple story, using puppetry, role-plays, reciting and dramatising poetry, improvisation, or actually acting out plays. During this enjoyable, innovative programme, your child will: 

practise his/her Mandarin in different contexts and learn correct pronunciation, rhythm, stress and intonation;



develop the use of his/her voice;



develop body and personal expression;



stimulate his/her imagination and creativity;



develop his/her interaction and communication skills;



get used to speaking and performing in front of others;



build self-esteem and confidence;



enhance his/her concentration and memory - skills which will become very helpful with his/her regular school studies.

Your child will also learn how to create dialogues; dramatise a story; create stage scenery; design costumes; build props; and much, more… The programme also includes regular performances in front of parents building up to an end of term / end of year show. A fantastic course offering your child the opportunity to develop his/her language skills while also discovering the exciting world of theatre!

NATURE & DISCOVERY WORKSHOP This special workshop allows your child to develop his/her Mandarin while also learning more about nature. During this enjoyable, innovative programme, your child will: 

practise his/her Mandarin in a fun, dynamic way;



learn more about the earth, plants, insects, water, seasons, renewable energies... and uncover answers to such questions as "where is it coming from ?", "how and why ?"...



enjoy fun, hands-on experiences such as planting, butterfly breeding, using solar or other energy...



learn how to make environmentally friendly arts & crafts and keep the earth green;



broaden his/her inquisitive mind and encourage curiosity.

A fantastic course offering your child the opportunity to develop his/her language skills while also having lots of fun discovering the mysteries of nature.

8|Page

SCIENCE & DISCOVERY WORKSHOP This popular workshop capitalises on every child's eagerness for learning and experimenting to teach him/her about the wonders of science. During this enjoyable, innovative programme, your child will: 

practise his/her Mandarin in a fun, dynamic way;



discover simple concepts of physics and chemistry;



carry out fun, safe and simple experiments;



broaden his/her inquisitive mind and encourage curiosity.

A captivating course offering your child the opportunity to develop his/her Mandarin language skills while also having lots of fun discovering the world of science.

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS (available during Half-Term, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter, Summer) These workshops are specially designed to promote the spontaneous and natural use of Mandarin, and boost your child’s Mandarin skills in an exciting and enjoyable setting! Themes vary according to the holiday period so as to draw upon each child's natural curiosity and capture his/her interest. The aim is to engage your child in pertinent stimulating him/here-based activities and exciting team-projects so that the practise of Mandarin becomes natural and something fun. During these courses, your child will: 

engage in different projects and activities around different themes;



use Mandarin naturally in a relaxed, friendly environment;



reinforce what he/she has learnt in class;



enhance his/her listening and speaking skills;



explore his/her imagination, develop his/her creativity and discover new interests.

Valuable complements to any general language studies, these workshops are a great way for your child to re-use and consolidate what he/she has learnt in class, in a friendly and relaxed environment, further developing his/her oral or written communication skills while having great fun.

9|Page

HK KIDZ PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION CENTRE



Classes are organised in small groups of 4-8 students according to age and level of ability. This small group setting guarantees plenty of interaction with the teacher and the other students, ensures greater attention to each individual student, and maximises each student’s participation and progress.



Private or Semi-Private Tuition are also available. Lessons are scheduled according to your availability (subject also to teacher’s availability), either at our premises in Central or One Island South, or in the comfort of your home.



We provide a pleasant, inspiring learning environment: our comfortable, spacious premises offer large, bright classrooms, bursting with a wealth of teaching materials, and each featuring multimedia facilities with an interactive whiteboard to make your child's learning even more enjoyable and effective.



We only employ highly qualified and experienced native teachers who hold internationally recognised teaching qualifications.



For all our Mandarin language courses, we provide end of course progress reports and certificates.



All our courses are designed to encourage your child to participate actively in class, and to put his/her language skills to practical use in a fun, refreshing environment. The various stimulating activities provide an excellent medium through which your child can reinforce what he/she is learning in class, enlarge vocabulary, improve pronunciation, develop strong comprehension and communication skills, and build confidence.



We have a 29-year proven track record in helping students achieve excellent results at school and greater success in their exams!



All of our courses are available from Monday to Friday after regular school hours, and all day on Saturdays. Please ask for a detailed schedule. Classes are also available on Sundays upon request.



Our comprehensive language programme is available throughout the academic year, with special intensive classes during the half-term, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter, and Summer Holidays.



Enrolment is open all year round and your child may join at any time. A free evaluation will be carried out when joining an on-going group class so as to ensure that your child is registered in the correct class level.

To discuss your child’s specific requirements, or to register, contact us:

Direct line: 2526 9008 E-mail: [email protected] 

10 | P a g e