YCIS Beijing creates a strong educational environment for its youngest international students. Photo: Courtesy of YCIS Beijing

As a mainstay in the international school scene in Beijing for 20 years, YCIS Beijing has had a hand in educating multiple generations of children ages 2 to 18. One of the school's most lauded programs is the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program that specializes in teaching kindergarten students using a unique education philosophy and a wholly bilingual learning environment.

To further develop this program, YCIS Beijing has recently completed renovations of the ECE classrooms and play areas, guaranteeing an exceptionally creative and active space for young children to learn and play. YCIS's ECE Superintendent Elizabeth Randal spoke with the Global Times about the international school's underlying education philosophy as well as the exceptional learning experience provided to YCIS Beijing's ECE students.

Foundational learning for future achievement

Central to YCIS Beijing's ECE philosophy is setting up children for high achievement in both life and academics. As Randal explains, "Whether children become self-motivated learners who face the world with confidence depends to a degree on the stimulation, guidance, and nurturing they receive early in life. The influence of the early childhood educator therefore plays a critical role. The child, who develops an excitement about learning and interacts easily with others in two world languages, will have a head start in life."

YCIS Beijing's ECE program prepares students for the challenging academic environment presented by the school's primary and secondary levels as well as general life skills.

A bilingual environment for a global mindset

YCIS Beijing believes that a key component of this foundation for success is the mastery of multiple languages at a young age. "This factor creates an extra dimension for learning," Randal said. "It enables children to learn and grow in additional ways through intercultural understanding, have appreciation of languages and language differences, learn to respect other cultures and other languages, and have respect for their own mother tongue."

Therefore, the learning goes beyond simply acquiring a bilingual skillset, but also influences each student's cultural attitude. "The children form positive attachments with both the Chinese and Western teachers and learn to accept and feel comfortable in this environment," Randal said.

Early exposure to this kind of multilingual and multicultural learning environment is a critical building block for imparting in students a global mindset.

A community to match YCIS Beijing's ECE philosophy

With the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, young kindergarten students will have access to newly renovated ECE classrooms and play areas. Designed by a team of architects from the renowned architecture firm FNI, the new center features flexible learning spaces with removable walls that allow individual classrooms to connect with "The Common." This transparency between classrooms creates a more responsive and engaging learning community. More subtle aspects of the overall area, including color, texture, shape and lighting, have been redesigned as well to provide an area which is even more conducive to stimulating student learning. Finally, the entire area is equipped with the same air filtration system, advised by environmental solution consultant PureLivingChina, present throughout the school, allowing students to enjoy active play during smoggy days.

Now equipped with the same high-quality educational facilities to complement its exceptional teaching model, YCIS Beijing is ready to continue providing the same excellent education to its students in the future.

YCIS Beijing will be holding a Kindergarten Information Session on October 14 for parents interested in touring the new facilities and learning more about the ECE program firsthand. For more immediate information online, visit the school's website at http://www.ycis-bj.com/.