WAB is excited to announce the pilot of a new Chinese-English Dual Language Program in Junior Grade 1 (Kindergarten, known as JG1 at WAB) beginning in the 2025-26 school year. This pilot will offer students the opportunity to learn in both English and Chinese in a joyful, inquiry-driven learning environment. We spoke with Yvonne Featherer, Elementary School Vice Principal, to learn more about this exciting initiative. 

1. Why is WAB introducing a Dual Language Program? 
Yvonne: We’ve had growing interest from families, especially international families, who want their children to gain deeper Chinese language skills while they are in China. Learning languages early opens doors, and we want to support that. 

We're also seeing a global trend. In both China and the US, bilingual and dual language programs have increased by more than 50% in the last decade. Research shows that multilingual learners often outperform their monolingual peers in areas like problem-solving, multitasking, and attention control. These programs also build cultural understanding and lead to higher academic performance. 

2. What are the goals of the program? 
Yvonne: The core goal is to develop biliteracy in both Mandarin Chinese and English. But just as importantly, we want to build cross-cultural understanding and foster a truly collaborative, inquiry-based learning environment, aligned with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). 

The long-term vision is to grow the program each year, so that by the time this cohort reaches Grade 5, we have a dual language class at every elementary grade level. This will help more students enter middle school and be ready to study language and literature in both Chinese and English. 

3. How many teachers will be in the classroom? 
Yvonne: There will be one bilingual teacher and one bilingual teaching assistant. We've chosen this model intentionally. It allows us to meet learners' needs while keeping the environment student-centered and inclusive. Learners will remain fully engaged in our broader learning community. 

4. What curriculum will the program follow? 

Yvonne: The program will follow the WAB Elementary Curriculum and IB PYP framework, just like all other classes. We'll use the ACARA standards to guide literacy development and supplement them with other resources to support Chinese language instruction where needed. 

This class will be integrated into our grade-level learning communities, exploring the same themes and units of inquiry, but in both languages. 

5. What kinds of resources will be used? 
Yvonne: We'll use a wide variety of authentic, inquiry-friendly resources that support both curriculum goals and bi-literacy development. These include books, digital tools, and hands-on learning materials in both English and Chinese. 

6. How will time in each language be balanced? 
Yvonne: There will be an intentional balance between English and Chinese throughout the week. Some days may focus more on one language to support student needs, take advantage of teachable moments, or personalize the learning based on student strengths. 

Students will also attend language classes with their wider learning community, which allows for additional growth, extension, and support. 

Fast Facts 

• Class Size: 20 students 

• Who is eligible? Any student entering JG1 who is eligible to attend WAB. In future years, additional language requirements may apply. 

• Student Profile: We're looking to create a diverse classroom with a balance of English, Chinese, and other home language speakers. 

Want to learn more? 
Join our final Elementary Open House on April 22, 4:00pm–5:30pm by clicking here to register. 

You can also reach out to our friendly Admissions Team for a personalized tour and more information.