Bilingual preschool in Singapore: English every day, plus German, Russian or Mandarin
Your child learns in English, and spends 90 minutes every morning except Tuesday in a second language with a native-speaking teacher. For children aged 18 months to 6 years, a few minutes' walk from Hillview MRT.
How our bilingual programme works
English is the language of the day: play, meals, outdoor time and instructions. Alongside it, each child takes one second language that you choose. It is not an enrichment class tacked on at the end of term. It is a scheduled part of the morning, with a teacher who speaks only that language during the session.
German, Russian or Mandarin
All three take complete beginners as well as children who already speak the language at home. Mixed ability is normal here, and the beginners are often the ones who move fastest.
German
DeutschOur German teacher speaks only German in the session, from the first word to the last. For children arriving from Germany, Austria or Switzerland, this is often the only part of the week where German isn't a conversation with their parents. Sessions go beyond the classroom too, including supermarket outings to name things in German.
- Families relocating from a German-speaking country who want the language to hold
- Mixed families where one parent speaks German
- Children starting from nothing
Russian
РусскийSessions cover speech development, early reading and writing, and preparation for primary school. These are the parts of Russian that are hard to keep up at home once a child's school day runs in English.
- Russian-speaking families from any country, not one nationality
- Children who understand Russian but answer in English
- Children starting from nothing
Mandarin
中文Our Mandarin teacher is a native speaker and runs every session in Mandarin. For families staying in Singapore, this is the language your child will meet again in primary school. Starting early makes that move ordinary rather than daunting.
- Families planning to stay in Singapore long term
- Children with one Mandarin-speaking parent
- Non-Chinese-speaking families who want a head start
Bilingual or trilingual?
In Singapore, “bilingual preschool” usually means English and Mandarin. We offer that, and also German and Russian, which are much harder to find in a Singapore preschool. You can stop at two languages or go to three.
English plus one language
English all day, plus German, Russian or Mandarin four mornings a week. This is what most families choose, and it is part of the standard fee.
English plus two languages
Most often the home language plus Mandarin: German or Russian keeps the family language strong, Mandarin gives a head start for Singapore. A second language costs extra, and depends on the timetable for your child's group. We'll go through it on the tour.
English isn't assumed
Plenty of children arrive with no English at all. That's expected, and it's planned for.
English Language Support
A structured programme for children who aren't yet confident in English. It runs alongside the normal day rather than separating them from it.
Phonics and reading
We use Jolly Phonics and Oxford Reading Tree. Both are UK programmes, so a child moving on to a British or international school arrives on familiar ground.
One-to-one before primary
K1 and K2 children read individually with a teacher every week, so nobody reaches primary school hiding at the back of a group.
Which language should we choose?
The question we're asked most on tours. There's no universal answer, but three patterns cover nearly everyone.
You'll move on in a few years
Choose the home language. Once the school day runs entirely in English, the home language is the one that fades, and it's the one that has to survive the move to wherever you go next.
Singapore is the long-term plan
Choose Mandarin. Your child meets it in primary school regardless, and arriving with a few years of it behind them changes how that feels.
You're genuinely undecided
Come and watch a session before you choose. Fifteen minutes at the back of a room tells you more than any page can, and we'd rather you decided that way.
Relocating? Read our guide to the best areas to live in Singapore with young children.
Questions we get asked
What makes a preschool bilingual?
A bilingual preschool teaches children in two languages as part of the normal day, not as an occasional class. Here, English is the everyday language and the second language (German, Russian or Mandarin) runs for 90 minutes every morning except Tuesday, taught by a native speaker.
Can my child take two languages?
Yes. One language is included in the fee. A second one can be added for an extra charge, most often Mandarin alongside German or Russian, for families who want to keep the home language and get a head start on Singapore. Ask us on the tour and we'll tell you what it costs and whether the timetable works for your child's group.
Is this full immersion?
No, and we'd rather say so. English is the everyday language of the school. The second language has real, scheduled time with a native speaker four mornings a week, but your child is not in a German-only or Russian-only environment.
My child speaks no English. Will they cope?
Yes. Children join us with no English regularly. They get English Language Support, and the rest of the day is play, meals and outdoor time, which needs less language than people expect.
Does my child need to speak the language already?
No. Every language group takes complete beginners alongside children who speak it at home.
Can we switch languages later?
Yes, and some families do, usually when plans change, like deciding to stay in Singapore. Talk to us and we'll work out the timing.
Which ages can start?
18 months to 6 years, from Playgroup through Kindergarten 2. Language sessions run for all age groups, pitched to what each group can handle.
Where are you, and what are the hours?
1 Jalan Siap, Upper Bukit Timah, a few minutes' walk from Hillview MRT. We're open Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm.
How much does it cost?
One language is part of the programme, not an add-on. A second language costs extra. We'll email the current fee schedule straight away if you fill in the short fee form, or ask us on WhatsApp.
Come and watch a language session
In person, or by WhatsApp video call if you're not in Singapore yet. We usually reply the same day.