Learning together
Similar ages and starting points create more opportunities to talk and try.
About us
Why we started classes in Mechelen
Some families in Mechelen travel to Antwerp or Leuven for Chinese lessons. Conversations with local parents inspired us to bring learning closer, with small classes in Mechelen that pay attention to each child.
Our approach
Chinese in context
Chinese conversation, pictures, gestures and objects make meaning accessible.
Curiosity first
Stories, games, drawing and crafts lead into characters and manageable writing practice.
Teaching and coordination team
Teacher Lin
- Bachelor’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages; Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
- Around 6–7 years of teaching, including about 2 years in Belgium.
- Leads lessons and adapts materials and activities to each group.
Song · Teaching assistant
- Former university English teacher in China, with many years of teaching experience.
- Long-term resident of Belgium; certified to teach Chinese to speakers of other languages.
- Supports every class, with individual help during writing and activities.
Gu · Coordination and family liaison
- Professional Chinese–English bilingual host and mother of a primary-school child.
- Her child’s learning needs inspired her to help organise the classes and provide the venue.
- Coordinates families, enrolment, the venue and everyone supporting the classes.
Every class has one lead teacher and one teaching assistant. They assess progress together, adapt materials and give individual writing guidance.
Materials and teaching approach
Different starting points
- When Chinese is newListening and speaking come first, in situations children understand; characters follow gradually
- When children already speak ChineseCharacter recognition builds on spoken Chinese, using early character forms, pictures and stories, then leads into reading and writing
Materials and practice
- Published resources, adapted to children’s language backgrounds in Belgium
- Our own character cards, stories and hands-on materials
- A website and interactive exercises designed by our team for practice at home
