Our German Primary School Programme: realising the benefits of Multilingualism

“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”

Chinese proverb

The international school environment in Beijing provides some amazing opportunities for students to learn in multiple languages. But is it possible to learn and be confident in more than one curriculum?


The bespoke German Primary Programme at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is a unique opportunity for native German-speaking Primary school students in that it follows both the German Thuringia Curriculum and the English National Curriculum.
This programme offers the choice for German-speaking parents in Beijing to choose the best of both worlds for their child - keeping up with a solid foundation in the German curriculum and also developing a strong base in an English-speaking international learning environment.

For our German-speaking families, while their work contracts have brought their families the wonderful opportunity to live and learn in different countries, some may eventually move back to their home town. The German Primary Programme at BSB Shunyi provides them with flexibility going forward as their children can still keep up-to-date with the German Curriculum, and staying in touch with their own culture and German speaking community.

Our German Primary Programme

In our German Primary Programme, native German speaking students in Klasse 1 to 4 follow the German Thuringia Curriculum - the curriculum used by German schools in the Northern hemisphere. Core subjects including German, Maths, Topic (Humanities and Science), Art and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) are taught in their native language German.

Students simultaneously develop their English skills in subjects like Music and PE, which are taught through the English National Curriculum. They attend weekly assemblies, participate in school drama productions, and go on school trips, all in English.  They also have Chinese lessons and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support.  Integrating the programme into wider school activities also ensures students mix and make friends. All our primary students have their lunch and break times together too. 

The students’ progress is being looked after by their dedicated German class teachers, who are qualified with a degree certificate to match German standards and typical German textbooks are used to support the lessons. 

Parents are confident that their children could easily transition back into the German education system. They also celebrate special German events such as the German Christmas market, Einschulungsfeier, Osterbräuchen, Karneval among many others, and enjoying special food and traditions with the German community. This is important and they are happy that BSB’s German Primary programme provides these opportunities.

The benefits of learning languages

At BSB Shunyi, we love studying different languages, because they open the doors to fresh experiences and exciting opportunities around the world. By speaking and writing in another language, our students are challenged to express themselves in new ways and can better understand different people and cultures.

Learning in two languages enables students to become proficient in both. Our German Primary students develop comprehensive listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in both English and German, while ensuring complete fluency in their German mother tongue too.

Bilingualism is a superpower. It enriches learning and enhances academic performance. It can even positively change the structure of the human brain. What’s more, research shows that the benefits of a bilingual education last a lifetime. These are particularly true among younger age children, like those following our German Primary Programme. 

The research shows, for example, that children who learn a second or third language in the early years develop enhanced communication skills and a higher degree of literacy. Students who grow up and learn in bilingual environments also develop a keener awareness of how language works and have a stronger foundation for learning additional languages in the future.

Here is a list of some of the most significant benefits of studying in different languages:

1.Increased cognitive development

Learning a second language is one of the most effective ways to boost brain capacity. A review of relevant studies by the National Education Association (NEA) found a sweeping range of cognitive benefits to young children, including enhanced creative thinking, problem solving, and pattern recognition.

The research shows that bilingual students tend to have higher self-esteem and a greater sense of purpose, too.

2.Better academic achievement

A 32-year study by Thomas and Collier from George Mason University found that students who had a bilingual education (and who spoke multiple languages) achieved more than their monolingual peers, especially in maths, reading, and vocabulary.

The same review from the NEA also discovered that bilingual children do better at standardised tests than those who only know a single language.

3.Improved memory

Children who learn multiple languages have stronger memories and are more cognitively creative.

Research in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology (2013) indicated that bilingual people are better at remembering names, directions, and items than those who speak just one language.

4.Increased opportunities

In our increasingly interconnected world, there’s a growing need for a multilingual workforce.

Having the ability to communicate in more than one language is always going to be attractive to employers. It also opens doors for those who wish to move and work abroad. Bilingual people often hold higher positions and earn more than monolinguals in the same industry, too.

5.Cross-cultural appreciation

Being exposed to more than one language helps students develop an appreciation for differences in cultures. At BSB Shunyi, we believe that exposure to cultural differences in childhood fosters tolerance and kindness. Language lessons are a great opportunity to teach children about diversity, as bilingual education programmes tend to have a balance of different ethnicities and backgrounds.

6.Improvements in the brain’s executive function

The executive function is a command system that directs the processes we use for planning, solving problems, and performing other demanding tasks. Bilingual people are better able to sort out relevant from irrelevant information. They also tend to perform better on tasks that require multi-tasking, complex decision-making, and problem-solving.

Setting our students up for success

In an increasingly borderless world, speaking more than one language brings so many benefits.

The fact that our school is home to students, staff, and families from more than 60 countries means that multilingualism is vital to our connectivity as a community too.

Learning in two different languages simultaneously such as our bespoke German Primary School Programme can improve brain function, increase cross-cultural understanding, and open doors to better opportunities in the future. This programme provides excellent exposure to both curriculums.  It gives a unique choice for expat German-speaking parents to choose the best of both worlds for their child - to keep up with a solid foundation in the German curriculum, and also develop a strong base in an English-speaking international learning environment. 

For more information on our German Primary School Programme and the different languages we offer at BSB, please get in touch with us at: admissions@bsbshunyi.com

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