Getting your preschooler excited about Chinese class isn’t always easy. For many Singaporean parents, helping kids connect with their mother tongue can feel like an uphill climb through tones, strokes, and endless worksheets. But what if learning Chinese wasn’t just about memorising characters… and instead, it was about chasing bubbles, tasting dumplings, and exploring dragon dances?
Well, here’s Li Huan, a senior preschool teacher at MindChamps PreSchool who’s been turning early childhood Chinese education into something magical and meaningful for nearly a decade.
theAsianparent had the pleasure of sitting down with her to hear how she weaves culture, curiosity, and creativity into every lesson, and why she believes Chinese is more than just a subject—it’s a window into who we are.
A Day in the Life of a Preschool Teacher
At 36, Li Huan is living a life that blends heart, heritage, and a whole lot of joy. As a senior Chinese preschool teacher at MindChamps, she doesn’t just teach vocabulary—she builds confidence, curiosity, and cultural appreciation in children as young as three.
“My focus is not only on language, but on helping children feel connected—to the words, to the stories, and to themselves,” she shares. From leading curriculum planning and mentoring other teachers, to turning Chinese idioms into vivid tales, Li’s classroom is full of imagination and play.
But when the school day ends, her second passion kicks in: cooking. “I love dishes that carry cultural stories,” she says. Think sweet-and-sour ribs, or Old Beijing Men Ding meat pies, all lovingly prepared while she tells stories about where each dish comes from.
And on weekends? She’s out in nature with her two “furkids,” soaking in quiet moments at neighborhood parks around Singapore. “Being with them brings the same kind of joy I find in teaching—simple, pure, and full of life.”
It’s a life that’s both grounded and inspiring. As Li puts it: “Whether it’s a child learning a new word or a walk in the park with my dogs, those little moments are what fill my days with meaning.”
How Li Huan Introduces Chinese with Heart
You might assume that learning Chinese starts with flashcards and choral recitations—but Li Huan flips the script.
“Early in my career, I noticed how children’s minds absorb language like sponges. Their natural associations with pictographic characters amazed me. Their ability to make intuitive connections — like associating the Chinese character for “rain” with its many dots resembling raindrops — truly amazed me.”
These “intuitive connections” underpin her method. Take a planting lesson: kids plant mung beans and learn Chinese words like “sprout”, “water”, and “grow up”—while singing nursery rhymes.
Suddenly, words come to life through touch and sound. And yes, rice porridge pinyin! That’s Li’s blend of sensory play and language immersion at its best.
Think Chinese Is ‘Too Hard’?
Busy parents juggling bilingual homes, enrichment classes, and school assessments often worry: “Is Chinese just too tough for my child?” According to preschool teacher Li Huan, the answer is a confident no.
“Children have a natural advantage, especially in their early years, to grasp tones, pronunciation, and new vocabulary.”
Backed by bilingual research, she believes early exposure to multiple languages actually boosts cognitive development. But here’s the real twist—Li says it’s not about drilling characters or memorising tones. It’s about shifting our mindset.
“If we treat Chinese as a creative, living language rather than just a school subject, children thrive.”
In her classroom, Chinese idioms and ancient poems aren’t dry recitations—they’re vivid stories. When kids understand the meaning behind the lines, they don’t just remember the words—they feel them. And honestly, wouldn’t you rather hear your child reenact a tale about a wise turtle than grumble through another spelling list?
When Little Voices Grow
For Li, nothing beats watching a once-shy child bloom.
“There’s always that magical ‘lightbulb’ moment when a child uses a new word in the right context… Seeing their pride… reminds me why I do what I do.”
She describes a touching success story: a timid student who loved drawing but froze during Chinese lessons. Li adapted with vocabulary prompts and drawing-based sentence-building. Slowly, the child found her voice—and confidence followed.
That’s the preschool teacher approach at its best: observing, adapting, and nurturing quietly—but powerfully.
From 18 Months to 6 Years, Every Stage Matters
Li Huan adapts her Chinese lessons to match each stage of a child’s development, blending play, creativity, and sensory learning.
-
Toddlers (18–36 months)
-
Focus on sensory exploration, rhythm, and repetition
-
Use of visual tools, songs, and hands-on activities
-
Example: planting mung beans to learn words like “sprout,” “water,” and “grow up”
-
Paired with nursery rhymes to reinforce vocabulary through melody and movement
-
Preschoolers (3–6 years)
-
Shift to inquiry-based learning through drama, role-play, and art
-
Activities include open-ended questions and scenario-based play
-
Example: exploring the sound of water by tapping bottles filled at different levels, creating homemade instruments, and learning related Chinese terms organically
-
Across all ages
-
Lessons are tailored to each child’s learning style—whether tactile, visual, or verbal
-
Flexibility and creativity ensure that every child stays engaged, curious, and confident in learning Chinese
Festivals, Opera, Food: Why Culture is the Secret Ingredient
For Li Huan, teaching Chinese isn’t just about vocabulary or sentence structure. It’s about shaping identity and fostering emotional connection. She believes language is most powerful when it’s rooted in lived experiences, especially those tied to culture.
That belief comes to life in her classroom, where cultural immersion is at the heart of how she teaches. Traditional food, Chinese opera, festive rituals—these aren’t occasional add-ons, but essential tools she uses to help children feel the language, not just learn it. Through sights, sounds, and even flavours, her students begin to understand that Mandarin is more than a school subject. It’s a living, breathing expression of who they are and where they come from.
Based on Experience
One of Li’s favourite teaching moments was a Lunar New Year Garden Party she helped organise for the Year of the Snake. The school came alive with twelve interactive stations—shadow puppetry, fan painting, lion dances, tea offerings, and more—each tied to a zodiac animal. Children collected stickers, played, and soaked in tradition without even realising they were learning.
Parents joined the fun too, turning it into a day of shared discovery and cultural pride.
For Li, it was proof: when language and culture come together in motion, music, and meaning, kids don’t just learn Chinese. They live it.
A Teacher with Vision and Tech
What’s next on Li’s wish list? She dreams of an immersive cultural program combining Chinese opera, storytelling, and cooking with AR-enhanced, gamified learning. Picture mini opera performers narrating idioms—or parents and kids cooking dumplings while discussing recipes in Mandarin.
This is learning as experience, memory, and family time—all rolled into one.
Here’s What Teacher Li Wants You to Know
Li hopes parents see her role as a partner, not just a “Chinese teacher.” She says:
“I’m helping shape how children see themselves and the world… we build their confidence, creativity, and emotional awareness.”
That shared mindset sets the stage for lifelong learning and lifelong bonds.
Championing the Unsung Heroes
At the core of her philosophy is grit and heart.
“To me, being a Champion Teacher is not about perfection—it’s about persistence… To those who feel unseen: your light matters.”
Parents, take note: the dedication behind that carefully planned activity or heartwarming breakthrough is real—and it changes lives.
With the city’s fast-paced lifestyle and a bilingual education system that often prioritises English, Li’s class brings back cultural richness in a playful, emotionally intelligent way. Her methods:
-
Strengthen Mandarin skills naturally
-
Support global citizenship via cultural literacy
-
Boost social–emotional development (confidence, empathy)
-
Invite parent involvement—and deepen family bonds
Ready to Let Play and Culture Boost Your Child’s Chinese?
If you’re a parent in Singapore wishing your child could enjoy and understand Chinese with excitement, Li Huan’s methods are a blueprint for success. Talk to your child’s preschool about weaving in sensory activities, cultural festivals, and creative exploration. Or share this article with your child’s teacher.
Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh idea to inspire a cultural shift. Because when young learners treat Chinese as a living, creative, rich part of life, they don’t just learn a language. They grow into confident, curious, and caring individuals—ready for a multilingual world.
So the next time your child groans at Chinese homework or fumbles their tones, don’t panic. Hand them a dumpling. Sing a rhyme. Act out a festival.
And maybe—just maybe—channel your inner Teacher Li Huan. Because with the right preschool teacher, even the trickiest characters start to look like child’s play.
