Introduction
Singapore international schools have long been recognised for its commitment to providing a holistic and well-rounded education. One of the key components of this approach is the Bilingual Programme, designed to equip students with proficiency in both English and Mandarin. This programme is not just about learning a second language; it is about fostering cultural awareness, cognitive development, and global readiness. Through immersive language instruction and integrated cultural experiences, the bilingual programme at international schools prepares students to excel in a multilingual world.
The bilingual programme at Singapore International Schools is carefully structured to ensure that students develop strong language skills from an early age. Beginning in the early years, students are exposed to both English and Mandarin through a dual-language curriculum. This approach integrates language learning into all aspects of the school day, from core subjects like mathematics and science to arts and physical education.
In the lower grades, the focus is on building foundational language skills. Students spend equal time in English and Mandarin classes, allowing them to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in both languages. As students progress to higher grades, the programme becomes more advanced, incorporating complex language tasks, literature studies, and cultural projects that deepen their understanding and appreciation of both languages.
Bilingual education has been shown to improve cognitive functions such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and multitasking. Students who learn in two languages often develop greater mental flexibility, as they regularly switch between languages, which strengthens their brain’s executive functions. This cognitive boost extends to other areas of learning, helping bilingual students perform better academically across various subjects.
Dulwich College Singapore
At Dulwich College Kindergarten Singapore (ages 2-7), also known as DUCKS, where about 700 students are enrolled, instruction time is equally divided between English and Mandarin, providing a strong foundation in both languages from a young age. Classes are co-taught by a native English-speaking teacher and a native Mandarin-speaking teacher, maintaining a teacher-student ratio of 2:16. Students are exposed to both languages throughout the day in various contexts, not just during Mandarin lessons, enabling them to become adept at switching between the two languages. The bilingual programme emphasises communication, interaction, storytelling, and developmental activities. Additionally, students gain cultural insights by participating in school-organised celebrations such as Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival. As students advance through the school, English gradually becomes the primary language of instruction, while Mandarin remains a significant subject. This model allows students to develop advanced English skills while maintaining strong proficiency in Mandarin.
St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International)
In January 2024, SJI International Elementary School launched its bilingual programme for Prep 1, Prep 2, and Grade 1 classes, boasting a favourable teacher-student ratio of 4:23. The programme employs a two-way immersion model, where 50% of instruction is in Chinese and 50% in English, facilitated by one English teacher, one Chinese teacher, and two teaching assistants. The curriculum integrates the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), Singapore mathematics, and Chinese Language studies following the China National Curriculum (中国部编版 语文). A distinctive feature of the bilingual programme is the Culture & Language Centre, which offers an immersive experience in Chinese Studies. This includes lessons in Ancient Chinese poetry, Chinese Etiquette, Confucian Philosophy, Chinese Civilisation, Chinese Literature, and more, providing students with a deep understanding of Chinese culture and language.
Canadian International School (CIS)
Approximately 20% of students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6 at the Canadian International School (CIS) are enrolled in its bilingual programme, reflecting the growing demand for bilingual education. With a teacher-student ratio of 2:22 per class under the bilingual programme, CIS ensures that each student receives personalised attention, fostering an immersive language learning experience. Outside of classes, CIS offers bilingual storytelling and drama clubs where students can practice their language skills through creative expression, providing a fun and engaging way for students to practise both languages in a social context. During school breaks, CIS organizes bilingual language camps where students can further immerse themselves in Mandarin and English through various interactive activities, such as games, projects, and excursions. As students progress beyond Grade 6, they transition into the Middle Years Programme (MYP) where Mandarin continues to be offered as a second language option, though English becomes the primary language of instruction.
Stamford American International School (SAIS)
Stamford American International School (SAIS) features a unique bilingual programme with a 1:10 teacher-student ratio, where the same teacher conducts classes in both English and Mandarin, ensuring a seamless transition between languages and allowing for deeper exploration of content. Bilingual students cover the same curriculum as their peers in mainstream classes, with 50% of maths instruction and 50% of Units of Inquiry (UOI) delivered in Mandarin. Units of Inquiry are thematic, interdisciplinary learning units that integrate various subject areas around a central theme or inquiry question. In kindergarten, the focus is on building phonological awareness, understanding print concepts, and participating in readers and writers workshops to enhance writing and reading skills. Additionally, students learn numbers and maths concepts in both languages, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving and reasoning. For Grades 1 to 5, the programme emphasises developing listening, speaking, reading, writing, and presentation skills, maintaining the bilingual approach with half of the maths and UOI content delivered in Mandarin.
Singapore American School (SAS)
Established in 2017, the Singapore American School (SAS) Bilingual Programme, also known as the Chinese Immersion Programme, offers a comprehensive bilingual education from preschool through to Grade 5. Each class is staffed with two teachers—a native English speaker and a native Chinese speaker—maintaining a teacher-student ratio of 2:22. The programme uses an immersion model, allowing children to acquire both Chinese and English in the same way they learn their first language. The pronunciation, structure, intonation, and nuances of both languages are seamlessly integrated into a Reggio Emilia-inspired learning environment. In preschool and pre-kindergarten, 80% of instruction is conducted in Chinese and 20% in English. This shift in kindergarten and Year 1 to 75% instruction in Chinese and 25% in English. By Grade 2 and Grade 3, the balance is 60% instruction in Chinese and 40% in English. Finally, in Grade 4 and Grade 5, instruction is evenly split, with 50% in Chinese and 50% in English. This gradual transition from an 80/20 immersion model to a 50/50 bilingual programme allows students to build academic proficiency in both languages, ensuring students are well-prepared to navigate a bilingual world.
XCL World Academy (XCL)
XCL’s bilingual programme, designed for Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, aligns with the principles and philosophy of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), emphasising inquiry-based learning, conceptual understanding, and the cultivation of critical thinking skills. Students actively engage with both languages across various lessons throughout the school day. In 2023, XWA enhanced its Early Years Bilingual Programme by implementing a new teaching model. Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1 students are supported by a bilingual homeroom teacher and a teaching partner, both proficient in English and Mandarin. Instruction is delivered in both languages, allowing students to develop their language proficiency more effectively. Starting from August 2024, XCL’s Primary Years Bilingual Programme introduces two homeroom teachers in each classroom – one native English speaker and one native Mandarin speaker. This arrangement will ensure personalised, high-quality and seamless education for students.
Etonhouse Singapore
EtonHouse Singapore offers a highly regarded bilingual programme designed to immerse students in both English and Mandarin, fostering proficiency in both languages. This programme is available in Pre-schools (with the exception of the Zhonghua, Broadrick, and Newton campuses) and at the Primary level exclusively at the Broadrick campus. Each class is co-taught by two teachers—one English-speaking and one Mandarin-speaking—who work as partners to co-plan the curriculum. The teacher-student ratio is an impressive 1:7, ensuring personalised attention. The language of instruction is equally split between English and Mandarin, providing students with balanced exposure to both languages. The curriculum is inquiry-based, meaning lessons are tailored to students’ interests, promoting not just language fluency but also cultural understanding. This approach aligns with the IB PYP curriculum, making the programme academically rigorous as well as engaging. In 2024, 97 Year 6 students at the Broadrick campus demonstrated strong proficiency in Mandarin, with an average score of 84% on the Level 4 Youth Chinese Test—a standardised international test that evaluates young foreign students’ abilities to use Chinese in both daily and academic settings. Notably, 23 students achieved full marks, highlighting the effectiveness of the programme.
Brighton College
Brighton College offers a dual-language Mandarin programme from Pre-Nursery through to Reception year. In this programme, native Mandarin-speaking teaching assistants work alongside the English-speaking homeroom teacher to deliver the curriculum in both English and Mandarin. Pre-Nursery has a ratio of 1:5, Nursery has a ratio of 1:8, and Reception has a ratio of 1:10. In these classes, a bilingual English and Mandarin approach supports natural language acquisition by seamlessly integrating both languages throughout the day. This flexible and dynamic approach aligns with Early Years pedagogy and adapts to the child’s interests. From Year 1 to Year 6, Mandarin is taught by Brighton’s specialist teachers at least three times per week, enabling students to explore various themes and topics. The complexity and intensity of the learning activities are tailored to each age group, readiness, and language proficiency level.
The Perse School Singapore
Launched in August 2025, The Perse School Singapore’s Immersive English–Mandarin Bilingual Programme offers children aged 3 to 7 (Nursery to Year 2) a truly integrated bilingual education, with plans to expand to higher year levels in the years ahead.
The programme follows an Alternating Full-Day Model, where students receive instruction in English one day and Mandarin the next — ensuring equal exposure to both languages and meaningful immersion in each. Every classroom is supported by a dedicated English teacher, a Chinese teacher, and a teaching assistant. The curriculum is grounded in the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and brought to life through play-based learning, structured activities, and guided inquiry.
At the heart of the programme is a Two-Way Immersion model, which brings together students from English and Chinese-speaking backgrounds in a balanced, collaborative language environment. This approach builds not only academic proficiency but also genuine bilingual and biliterate capabilities. Bilingual students follow the same Cambridge International Curriculum as their peers in the English stream — the distinction lies in how it is delivered, with content taught across both languages.
Language development is tracked through regular assessments using internationally recognised benchmarks, including the Youth Chinese Test (YCT). The bilingual programme fee is $4,000 per annum (before GST) for Nursery to Year 2 — making it among the most competitively priced bilingual offerings within Singapore’s international school landscape.
SMTP Consult’s Experience
SMTP Consult is a family office concierge service firm that caters to our clients’ needs as they immigrate to Singapore. Our goal is to help our clients with their relocation needs as they settle in Singapore and provide bespoke services based on their specific requirements.
SMTP Consult has assisted numerous clients in developing comprehensive education plans for their children, facilitating successful enrolment in prestigious international schools in Singapore. Our team of education consultants and tutors plays a vital role in guiding students towards achieving their educational aspirations by offering personalised academic planning, school admissions guidance, subject-specific tutoring, and test preparation support. Additionally, SMTP Consult specialises in curating summer programmes for our clients. Our dedicated team collaborates closely with clients and private institutions, ensuring that the unique needs and objectives of each family are effectively addressed and met.
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