Mandarin, the most widely spoken language in the world, is not an easy language to master. With its intricate writing system and unique tonal structure, learning Mandarin can be a daunting task, especially for young children. However, the founder of YouLe, a Mandarin enrichment centre in Singapore, has developed a unique approach to teaching Mandarin that combines whole-brain learning and enriching activities to help children master the language more easily.
YouLe was founded by Mr Raymond Cai who was looking for a good Mandarin enrichment program for his own child. He found that there were few programs that catered to infants and young children, even though research has shown that children learn language best when they are young. This motivated him to start his own Mandarin enrichment centre that focused on early childhood education.
Mr Raymond, who holds a Master of Education from the National Institute of Education, Singapore, believes that children learn best when they are engaged and having fun. That’s why they developed a whole-brain approach to teaching Mandarin which includes right-brain training to help children learn the language more easily. By engaging both hemispheres of the brain, YouLe’s multi- sensory teaching method makes learning Mandarin a fun and enjoyable experience for children.
One of the challenges that YouLe faced in the early days was getting parents to believe that children as young as one year old could start learning Mandarin. This was particularly difficult in a predominantly English-speaking environment like Singapore. However, YouLe overcame this obstacle by holding workshops, setting up booths at parenting fairs, and posting articles in parenting forums to educate and encourage parents to try the program. When parents saw their children speaking Mandarin after just one lesson, they were convinced.
YouLe’s mission is to help stimulate their students’ interest in Mandarin from an early age and provide them with the best foundation to bring their Mandarin learning to greater heights. The centre offers a diverse range of expertise in language milestones development, whole-brain training, and early childhood education to ensure that their students receive the best possible learning experience.
YouLe’s tireless group of teaching and support staff is what makes the whole learning experience enjoyable and seamless. They are a fun-loving and cohesive team who work hand-in- hand to provide the best learning experience and environment for every student who walks through their doors. The team at YouLe believes that there is no “I” in the team and that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. They work together to ensure that the sum is greater than the parts.
In just six years, YouLe has grown from one centre to four centres in Singapore, even in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a testament to the quality of their programs and the dedication of their staff. YouLe is the first centre in Singapore to incorporate a whole-brain methodology towards teaching Mandarin, starting from children as young as one year old. This sets them apart from their competitors and demonstrates their commitment to providing innovative and effective teaching methods.
YouLe’s programs stretch to 12 years old, as they believe that education is a journey. On this journey, their team aims to provide the best learning experience for the children and the best customer experience for the parents. Their customer-centric approach has earned them a loyal following of parents who are happy to recommend the centre to their friends and family.
YouLe’s directors, Mr Raymond Cai and Mr Lua Wee Kee have big plans for the future. They hope to expand their centres to other areas of Singapore to bring their beloved programs to even more children. They are also keen to explore overseas opportunities as they arise in the future.
With such a dedicated team and a commitment to providing a whole-brain approach to learning Mandarin, it’s no wonder that YouLe has enjoyed so much growth and success in such a short amount of time. Their focus on creating a supportive, fun-loving culture is a testament to the importance of building strong teams that work together towards a common goal. It’s clear that YouLe is not just a business, but a mission to help children develop a lifelong love of learning and mastery of Mandarin.
As YouLe continues to expand and reach more children in Singapore and beyond, there is no doubt that they will continue to make a significant impact on the lives of their students and the community as a whole.
