100 Days of Hanqing Bilingual Pathway: A Reflection on Learning and Growth
Hanqing Bilingual Pathway HQP Highlights SHC Article SHC StoryAs the Hanqing Bilingual Pathway (HQP) completes its first 100 days, we reflect on the learning, relationships, and bilingual foundations that have taken shape since our HQP founding year of 2025–26 and with our founding students. The HQP EY1 and EY2 classes led by Ms Belle Yu – HQP Mandarin Teacher, and Ms Laura Hales – HQP English Teacher – share their vision guiding the Hanqing Pathway and the joyful experiences unfolding in their classrooms.
A Connected Approach to Bilingual Learning
Ms Laura describes this period as “100 days of curiosity, growth, and shared purpose.”
She highlights the way HQP teachers and teaching assistants, as well as specialist teachers, work closely together to ensure that learning is seamless across both languages. Guided by the UK Early Years Foundation Stage and inspired by Reggio Emilia principles, children learn through play, inquiry, and meaningful exploration.
A significant achievement of these early months has been the confidence children now show when expressing themselves in English and Mandarin at such an early age. Feeling safe, seen, and supported has helped them use language with joy and purpose.
The Joy of Discovering a New Language
For Ms Belle, the first 100 days represent a journey filled with bright beginnings. Many children entered the HQP Pathway with no Mandarin experience, and she has witnessed the “linguistic magic” of their earliest words, songs, and conversations.
Children now use Mandarin to name objects, share feelings, describe favourite things, and interact confidently with teachers and friends. Families have also played a special role, helping to extend language learning at home and embracing parent Mandarin classes with enthusiasm.
Ms Belle beautifully describes this growth using an image from Chinese poetry:
“草木蔓发，春山可望。When the grass begins to grow and the hills turn green, we know that spring is near.”
This sense of hope, energy, and possibility reflects the development children have shown across these first 100 days.
A Poem to Mark the Journey
To capture the spirit of this early chapter, the HQP teaching team wrote a bilingual poem titled Through the Eyes of One Hundred Days, reflecting the voices, friendships, play, and learning that characterise the Hanqing Bilingual Pathway.
Through the Eyes of One Hundred Days
透过一百天的眼睛，
百天的好奇与探索，
百天的关怀与温暖，
一百种声音，一百个梦想，
那些美妙的时光，我们一同分享。
百天的友谊，百天的嬉戏，
百天的进步和力量，
我们日复一日，茁壮成长。
100 days of curiosity,
100 days of care,
100 different voices,
dreams and moments that we’ve shared.
100 days of friendship,
100 days of play,
100 days of growth and strength,
flourishing day by day.
These reflections highlight the commitment of our teachers and the joy our children bring to the classroom every day.
As we look ahead, we remain guided by the same vision: a bilingual community where children flourish through play, purpose, and meaningful connection.
Hanqing Bilingual Pathway at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok City Campus