In an increasingly globalised era, Chinese reading in bilingual schools has gained unprecedented importance. The Chinese Department at Hiba Primary School understands that the essence of language teaching lies not just in strengthening language skills but also in nurturing cognitive potential and advanced thinking abilities. At Hiba, we are dedicated to fostering an immersive Chinese reading environment for our pupils, encouraging lifelong reading habits, and inspiring creative expression in their mother tongue. Our goal is to support pupils as they grow confidently in a world enriched by bilingualism.
Paris Pang
Chinese Language and Literature Teacher
Grade 1
Integrated Approach of Intensive Reading + Fun Enrichment + Cultural Awareness
To help grade 1 pupils develop an interest in and foundational skills for reading in their native language, as well as a sense of joy in exploring words, the Chinese teaching team has innovatively designed a three-dimensional reading model, i.e., ‘Intensive Reading + Fun Enrichment + Cultural Awareness’.
Our step-by-step training system of ‘finger tracking, comprehension and expression’ for the lessons is complemented by engaging games that stimulate pupils' cognitive enthusiasm. For example, while studying The Little Artists in the Snow, we introduced a Picture-Word Matching game to enhance their ability to connect images with text. When learning The Crow and the Pitcher, we used a Story Cube to help pupils build their storytelling skills.
Building on our school-based Cultural Sessions, grade 1 pupils have studied selected passages from the Three Character Classic, simple ancient poems and the Dynasty Song. Through recitation, they have gained a deeper appreciation for the charm of Chinese culture.
Grade 2
Find Joy in Reading and Chase Dream Boldly
Grade 2 pupils embarked on a whole-book reading project with The Little Carp Jumps Over the Dragon Gate. While reading, they used Reading Journals to follow the plot, collect well-written phrases, and jot down their reflections.
In the reading presentation lesson, we held a variety of engaging activities where pupils and parents participated together, creating a warm and lively atmosphere:
Dragon Gate Art Exhibition: Through vivid and engaging artwork, pupils showcased their understanding and creativity inspired by the story.
Dragon Gate Storytelling Session: The pupils organised the story's plot in their own words and shared exciting excerpts with their parents.
Fun Dubbing Activity: The children dubbed voices for selected story scenes, using their voices to bring to life the encounter between the little carp and the big crab.
Action Mini-Theatre: The pupils invited their parents to join them in acting out key movements from the story, such as ‘waving’ and ‘acting fiercely.’
Grade 3
A Fairy Tale Journey
A Magical Chapter of Self-Discovery
Mr Woodpecker has opened a forest supermarket, but why is no one visiting?
The rose and jasmine are arguing over who is the fairest flower in the world. Guess who is the winner?
Outside the classroom, a fairy tale-inspired fantasy corridor created by the pupils awaits; inside, they delve into Grimm's Fairy Tales, exploring themes of morality, truth, kindness, beauty and self-worth.
In learning the fairy tale unit, the pupils launched a ‘21-Day Reading Plan.’ They adopted intensive reading methods such as plot exploration, language appreciation and character analysis, and deepened their understanding of the texts while honing their logical and critical thinking skills.
They then worked in groups to reflect on their reading experiences in diverse ways: some created summary cards to outline the content, extract quotes and write reflections; others designed character cards; and some recited moving passages aloud. These comprehension-based outputs enhanced their literary and aesthetic appreciation.
The children also brought the story The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats to life through their adorable class play. They studied the text repeatedly and acted the story out to deepen their reading experience.
The most exciting part was the knowledge competition, where pupils teamed up to battle it out on iPads, with parents joining in too. One parent was surprised, "I haven't released how much my child has read!" This fairy tale journey has been a testament to the pupils' growth in reading, creativity and teamwork.
Grade 4
When Myths Meet Reality
Shadow Puppetry Awakens Millennia of Charm
A copy of Chinese Mythology Stories, a group of imaginative ten-year-olds, and a shadow puppetry performance blending tradition with modernity—in this reading journey across time and space, grade 4 pupils have breathed new life into ancient myths through a unique form of art and critical thinking.
They staged an extraordinary shadow puppetry performance, masterfully capturing the rolling waves of Jingwei Fills the Sea and the moment from Nüwa Mends the Sky when the five-coloured stones scatter into a sky of stars, bringing ancient myths back to life in a truly captivating way. From in-depth reading to creative inspiration, from textual understanding to artistic reinterpretation, this thousand-year dialogue carries the pupils' most sincere tribute to Chinese civilisation.
Finally, parents explored the ‘Chinese Mythology Story Corridor,’ which highlighted the pupils' critical thinking and creative insights gained from the reading activities. Their character analyses stood out for their depth—they not only understood the figures as they were but also linked them to real-life contexts, uncovering the cultural significance embedded in the texts. Additionally, they infused their writing with the imaginative richness of myths, crafting characters and plots with remarkable creativity. What impressed the teachers most was how the pupils wove the spiritual essence of the myths into their own compositions.
What appeared on the screen were no longer mere silhouettes of mythical figures, but a heartfelt connection between modern young creators and ancient civilisation. Here, myths have transformed into fertile soil for cultivating innovative thinking, while traditional craftsmanship has become a set of creative building blocks for children to deconstruct, reimagine and engage in dialogue with.
Grade 5
Activity based on the book
Chinese Folktales
In grade 5, a whole-book reading activity based on the book Chinese Folktales was launched. Pupils began by creating reading plans and developed an initial understanding of the unique features of folktales. Through structured lessons, they honed their ability to summarise stories and experimented with creative retellings. Ultimately, they brought these folktales to life by adapting them into scripts and crafting imaginative summaries, making the stories both vivid and captivating.
Pupils explored the historical background, cultural importance and artistic value of folktales. By creatively retelling stories and adapting them into scripts, they sharpened their language skills and logical thinking. What stood out most was their ability to analyse and evaluate folktales, showcasing impressive critical thinking and creativity. They developed the ability to think independently and analyse from various angles—a skill that will significantly benefit their future academic and personal lives.
Exciting competition results
Beyond Chinese reading, our primary pupils have shone brightly across all areas of language learning. On campus, they've embraced activities like the school-wide Vocabulary Challenge and the Grade 1-2 Calligraphy Competition with enthusiasm. Off campus, they've made their mark in competitions at Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou city and even global levels.
For instance, 37 pupils have been selected to join the Young Journalists Club for Dushi Kuaibao (one of the major newspapers in Hangzhou), with essays by five grade 3 pupils, namely, Zheyu, Shengbo, Ziyi, Luoyi and Yichen, featured in the publication, and Beilin, a grade 4 pupil, claimed the First Prize in the Young Writers’ Journal contest.
Additionally, 47 pupils participated in the Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers, over 20 joined the Wellington College China Chinese Writing Competition, and eight competed in the ‘I am from Zhejiang’ Speech Competition hosted by the Qianjiang area, where grade 5 pupil Xirong earned third place.
Through a wide range of language-learning experiences, Hiba pupils are expanding their knowledge and skills by leveraging their native language and culture. They learn to think critically, approach the future with creativity, and embrace diversity with open minds. As learners, connectors and changemakers who are proficient in both languages, they are committed to bridging Eastern and Western cultures in the years to come.
