Visitors to The ISF Academy are often pleasantly surprised to hear Putonghua spoken in our playground and then see the same students giving a history presentation in fluent English.  This is a result of a unique immersion approach focused on dual language mastery.  Students are immersed in a bilingual learning environment where teachers are native speakers of either or both languages.  Students learn to read critically, write effectively, listen intently and speak fluently in Putonghua and English.  The aim of our language program is to have students to attain fluency in both Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese) and English on par with native speakers, and conversational ability in a third language, by the time they graduate from Grade 12.

In early primary, students are immersed in a predominantly Putonghua environment.  The medium of instruction is mainly Putonghua, except for English, Visual art and two of the Math classes.  The emphasis on written and spoken Chinese shifts towards a relative emphasis on English commencing in Grade 4.  By upper Middle School, when students are expected to have become proficient in both Putonghua and English, a third language will be introduced.

Though Hong Kong is a Cantonese-speaking society, students are expected to use only Putonghua and English at school, with the exception of the third language.  By upper secondary school, students will have achieved mastery in both languages and cultivated a deep appreciation for Chinese and other civilizations.

Language Mastery by Grade