Mandarin Immersion Pathway
Want your child to become fluent bilingual speakers? Even if your child is not a native Mandarin speaker or comes from a home environment where Mandarin is not spoken often, it is possible for children to be effectively bilingual at the end of their primary years. EtonHouse International School Broadrick offers a well-established Mandarin Immersion Pathway that nurtures children to become truly bilingual, culturally competent and internationally-minded. This programme is aligned with the IB PYP framework and is accessible to children from non-Mandarin (Chinese) speaking families.
EtonHouse Broadrick was the first international school in Singapore to offer a bilingual education programme in English and Mandarin back in 2011. Today, it remains one of the most comprehensive and effective bilingual programmes in the country. Students consistently perform well in the annual Youth Chinese Test (YCT), while also maintaining strong standards in Maths and English comparable to their peers in the Integrated Curriculum Pathway. The programme has also been consistently recognised as the Best Bilingual Programme by both the HoneyKids Singapore Education Awards and the WhichSchoolAdvisor Singapore Best School Awards.
Continuing our tradition of excellence in Mandarin learning, we are proud to share that Mandarin Immersion Pathway students at EtonHouse International School Broadrick have once again achieved a 100% passing rate in the Youth Chinese Test (YCT).
In May 2026, 84 students sat the YCT examinations across Levels 1 to 4, with every student successfully passing. The YCT is an international standardised assessment of young foreign students’ ability to use Chinese in daily and academic contexts.
This year’s results reflect both strong Mandarin foundations and impressive progression into higher-level language learning.
YCT Levels 1 to 3:
Students achieved an average score of 98%, with nearly half scoring full marks.
YCT Level 4:
Taken by our upper primary students, YCT Level 4 is the highest level offered and includes listening, reading and writing components. Our students achieved an outstanding average score of 93%, with the top scorer achieving full marks.
Successfully completing Level 4 indicates the ability to communicate effectively in most situations during travel in China and in secondary education.
These exceptional results are a testament to our students’ dedication, the strength of our Mandarin Immersion Pathway, and the commitment of our teachers in nurturing confident, capable and globally minded bilingual learners.
The best part of being in the bilingual programme was that I could be an emcee to host the Mid-Autumn festival assembly in Chinese, and my parents were very impressed. Now I can communicate fluently with native Mandarin speakers. I can also write long letters in Chinese and successfully pass the YCT 4 test! Thank you for your support and help!
“I have nearly eight years of experience in EtonHouse’s bilingual programme, and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Learning about the culture and making new friends along the way are, in my opinion, the best aspects of studying Chinese.”
“I really like mandarin UOI because we learn about Chinese culture and traditions. Even though Chinese is the hardest language in the world to learn, the teachers here at EtonHouse are incredible at teaching Chinese as they will guide you through your difficulties when you learn Chinese.”
“The best part about being in the Bilingual Immersion Programme is that you can sing Chinese songs together, you can learn a different language, everyone supports you, and you can be a part of so many interesting celebrations.”
“In my experience as a bilingual student, I have progressed from easy Mandarin characters and copying different characters, to being able to write a whole Mandarin book and write complicated Mandarin words. I can even read complicated Chinese idiom books by myself.”
“I remember that a few years ago, I travelled to China with my dad and we went to a restaurant. I spoke Chinese in front of a man and he was very impressed. He asked me where I was from and he was surprised and he praised me that an Indian who could speak a totally different language so fluently.”
“When I was younger I used to watch Chinese cartoons but I couldn’t understand an amount of words, but as I grew up I learnt more and more words in Mandarin and now I can understand all the things my favourite character says.”
Mandarin Immersion or Integrated Curriculum Pathway
At EtonHouse International School Broadrick, we offer two learning pathways: Mandarin Immersion and Integrated Curriculum. Both pathways, aligned to the IB Primary Years Programme, emphasise inquiry-based learning, enabling students to explore languages through study, collaboration, conversation, and application.
Features of our Mandarin Immersion Pathway
- Aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and accessible to children from non-Mandarin speaking families
- Two qualified teachers—Mandarin and English-speaking—work together to plan and engage with the students
- Intensive Mandarin exposure in Year 1 to build a strong Mandarin foundation, followed by a balanced 50:50 bilingual immersion from Year 2 to 6.
- Immersive Mandarin language practice through conversations, inquiry, and collaboration throughout the day
- Transdisciplinary approach encouraging contextual Mandarin learning across different subjects, not just in language lessons
- Chinese culture incorporated into the curriculum to foster a deeper appreciation and love for the language
- Extensive opportunities for Mandarin immersion beyond the classroom, including ECAs conducted in Mandarin, play and lunch breaks, interactions with Mandarin teachers, and participation in Chinese cultural events
- Students can pursue Mandarin further as an IGCSE and A-Level subject at EtonHouse International School Orchard campus
The Structure
| Mandarin Immersion Pathway | Integrated Curriculum Pathway | |
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| Mandarin Immersion Pathway | Integrated Curriculum Pathway |
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Admission Criteria
- The Mandarin Immersion Pathway is open to students applying to the school, including existing Integrated Curriculum Pathway students who wish to transfer.
- The school’s standard admission requirements apply to enrolment in the Mandarin Immersion Pathway.
- No Mandarin language assessment is required for entry, as students will be supported within the programme in developing their Mandarin proficiency.
Glimpses
Parent Testimonial
Ioanna Nicolaou, Mother of Daphne, Broadrick
We really loved the facilities, the outdoor space the school offers and the super friendly and approachable staff. EtonHouse Broadrick gives students and parents a “family feeling”. Everyone is keen to help, they are so polite and happy. Our daughter joined the bilingual programme and her Mandarin has improved so much. Read more here
Erin and Alexander Phillips, Parents of Penelope and Kai, Broadrick
The school has a lovely “at home” feel while offering a vast and green outdoor area for the kids to play and explore. Classes are sometimes taken outside, which our son enjoys in particular. Another big pull for us was the Japanese language programme, which the school offers as part of the Mainstream Learning curriculum. With familial ties to Japan, we wanted to continue to support their Japanese learning in terms of language and its cultural nuances too. Our children really enjoy their time in this class. Read more here
Amanda Barclay, Mother of Benjamin and Gemma, Broadrick
What we valued the most about the school was the diversity of teachers and their passion for teaching the children. The staff are always around in the morning to greet the children by their names and assist with their arrivals with big smiles on their faces. Our children have formed friendships with children from all over the world. They also love the individual specialist classes, which give children access to a curriculum that’s more than just academic. Read more here
360 Virtual Tour
Take a Virtual Tour of EtonHouse Broadrick
The school is housed in a traditional 4 storey classroom block that accommodates a wide array of facilities to support the holistic development for your child.
