Greetings & Kind Words
Nǐ hǎo at arrival, zàijiàn at pick-up, and xièxie practiced during snack and clean-up.
- nǐ hǎo
- zàijiàn
- xièxie
- qǐng
Back to Meet Gigi
Gigi's Language Adventures
Mandarin Adventures with Gigi
Nǐ hǎo, xiǎo tàn xiǎn jiā!
Mandarin Adventures focus on spoken Mandarin: greetings, counting, colors and family words, with playful attention to the rising and falling tones young ears pick up so easily. Gigi models each phrase, educators repeat it in daily routines, and children join in through song and movement.
First Words
Mandarin words our explorers learn first
Educators introduce a small set of words each week, then revisit them daily through greetings, songs, movement and play.
| Mandarin | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 Nǐ hǎo | nee HOW | Hello |
| 再见 Zàijiàn | dzye-JYEN | Goodbye |
| 谢谢 Xièxie | SHYEH-shyeh | Thank you |
| 请 Qǐng | ching | Please |
| 朋友 Péngyǒu | PUNG-yoh | Friend |
| 妈妈 Māma | MAH-mah | Mom |
| 红色 Hóngsè | HONG-suh | Red |
| 蓝色 Lánsè | LAHN-suh | Blue |
| 一，二，三 Yī, èr, sān | ee, arr, sahn | One, two, three |
| 小狗 Xiǎogǒu | SHYOW-goh | Puppy / dog |
Adventure Units
What each adventure covers
Units are revisited in cycles so children build confidence through repetition rather than pressure.
Listening for Tones
Playful tone games — voices going up, down and level — that train the ear without any formal drilling.
- mā
- má
- mǎ
- mà
Colors & Sorting
Color words practiced with blocks, ribbons and sorting trays.
- hóngsè
- lánsè
- huángsè
- lǜsè
Numbers & Counting
Counting one to ten in Mandarin during stacking, serving snack and finger-counting games.
- yī
- èr
- sān
- sì
- wǔ
- shí
Family & Home
Naming the people children love, supporting the Developing Hearts pillar.
- māma
- bàba
- bǎobao
- jiā
Cultural Discovery
Respectful, child-friendly looks at music, lanterns, celebrations and daily life in Mandarin-speaking families.
- yīnyuè
- dēnglong
- chá
- wǔdǎo
Songs & Movement
Music is how the words stick
Every session includes singing, clapping and movement — the fastest, gentlest route to new sounds for young children.
Nǐ Hǎo Song
A greeting song that welcomes each child by name in Mandarin to open the session.
Yī, Èr, Sān
Counting to ten with finger play, drumming and clapping.
Tone Play
A call-and-response game where children copy Gigi's voice rising, falling and holding steady.
In the classroom
How a session flows
- 1
Connect
Gigi opens with Nǐ hǎo and children answer together.
- 2
Invite
The educator introduces the week's words with picture cards or real objects.
- 3
Teach
Each phrase is modeled slowly with its tone, repeated as a group, then used in a short exchange.
- 4
Explore
Children practice through song, drumming, movement and sorting play.
- 5
Observe & Reflect
Educators note which sounds and words children begin offering on their own.
- 6
Share
Families receive the week's Mandarin words and photos through Brightwheel when authorized.
At home
Practice together
- Say nǐ hǎo in the morning and zàijiàn at drop-off.
- Count fingers or snack pieces together: yī, èr, sān.
- Play the up-and-down voice game — children love exaggerated tones.
- Celebrate approximations; sounding close is exactly right at this age.
Infants & young toddlers
For infants and young toddlers, Mandarin exposure means auditory experience: songs, rhythm, repetition, tones, sounds, gestures and warm interaction. It is not formal language instruction and fluency is never the goal at this stage.
Part of the G.R.A.D.E. Learning Framework™
Mandarin Adventures support the pillars we teach daily
Gigi is an animated educational companion — every adventure is introduced, guided and extended by a Grade Club educator.
- Expression & Language
- Exploring Our World
- Growing Minds
- Communication
- Music and movement
- Cultural awareness
- Curiosity and discovery
- Developing Hearts
The Grade Club World Languages Academy™ is optional premium enrichment, separate from core tuition. Enrollment at Grade Club does not automatically include paid World Languages Academy classes.
Questions? Call 480-389-6357