Intrinsic motivation
school, founded in 2005, has its curricula mainly based on the research of experts from Michigan State University and Beijing Normal University, and it is said to be a pioneer in the bilingual immersion program when it comes to international schools in Beijing.
The attempt is a result of work by its founder Jonathan Choi Koonshum on how to blend the best of Chinese and Western preschool and elementary education systems.
“We decorate the classrooms separately according to Chinese and Western cultures to ensure that the students fully experience the cultural heritage behind the language while learning it.
“We hope our students become biliterate,” Choi says.
Gary Bradshaw, the principal of the school, says at 3e, languages are taught through the medium of instruction, rather than as a subject itself.
Bradshaw says of the method: need the language in order to access the materials of different subjects. And in accessing the materials, they are learning the language.”
Bradshaw, who has spent 16 years in the international education system, says the interest in Chinese is seeing a great increase, and as a result, more international schools are starting to run such bilingual programs.
Currently, Beijing-based international schools, including Keystone Academy and the International School of Beijing run dual-language programs.
The balanced bilingual education at 3e has also tempted Joanne O’Connor to send her two children to the school as the Australian family plans to stay in China for a while.
“Learning Chinese helps them to get a full experience to live in ChiThe na,” says O’Connor, who is proud that her elder daughter in Grade 2 can recite Chinese poems and sing Chinese songs just like a native speaker.
And what really surprised her was that even during holidays, the daughter would get up before 6 am to do her homework.
“The high teacher-student ratio helps my child, and instills self-discipline,” she says.
Shi agrees with this assessment and says the teachers at 3e encourage students to learn by exploration instead of driving them to acquire the knowledge of a certain field quickly using rewards, which gives the children a chance to explore the world on their own.
“They learn it, because they like it,” says Shi.
“At 3e, the motivation that prompts the children to learn actually arises from within themselves.”
Cheng Liyuan, who teaches Chinese, arts, science and mathemat“Students
Over the past 40 years, Choi, founder of 3e school, also chairman of the Hong Kong-based Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Sunwah Group, has made continuous efforts to support the development of China’s education sector, such as by establishing culture centers, setting up scholarships for universities and donating to scientific and technological institutes.
Gilbert Choy, CEO of Sunwah Education Foundation which runs 3e, says they aim to “educate a new generation of global citizens, diplomats and peacemakers” through providing them high-quality bilingual education in their early years.
“For instance, our Chinese graduates can explain what happens in China within the English cultural context and vice versa,” says Choy.
“That will promote mutual respect and understanding and reduce inefficient communication and even conflict.”
Shi, whose son enjoys studying at 3e, adds that in today’s world, being a global citizen who travels freely between countries is becoming common.
The key is for her son not to get lost or frustrated when living in diverse cultures.
She says she hopes her son will be comfortable with multicultural exposure later.