About Bear Cub Mandarin

Bear Cub Mandarin Immersion Preschool, Infant & Toddler Center in Arlington, MA is a boutique program offering a Mandarin immersion environment in all our classrooms through a Reggio Emilia-inspired, play-based, child-centered education.  

Bear Cub's children, ages 4 months to 6 years old, are given a space developmentally safe and appropriate to explore, collaborate, observe, and experiment guided by native Mandarin-speaking teachers. Outside of circle time meetings and class activities, teachers look for and create moments to enhance each child’s experience and to provide Mandarin language exposure in context and real-time.

Children are born with the ability to learn any language. Experts say that children should begin to learn a foreign language from a young age, and the younger, the better. Inspired by the profound Reggio Emilia’s "The Hundred Languages" - the belief that children are natural communicators - Mandarin is offered as one important means by which children may explore and experience the world. Whether you are looking to introduce Mandarin as a second or third language, or to reinforce the language spoken in your home, we encourage you to consider Bear Cub Mandarin as the place to facilitate your child’s world of learning and exploration.

Philosophy

We believe that young children are powerful, capable, and autonomous individuals. In our child-centered environment, teaching is both intentional and flexible, and children are recognized as unique people with their own feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Our Reggio Emilia-inspired Mandarin immersion program provides children the opportunity to hear, learn, and use complex language, and our curriculum supports diverse learning processes and a wide range of school-readiness goals. Our knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers come from diverse backgrounds and share a deep love for young children. Through careful observation, our teachers create the optimal learning habitat for each child, with just the right amount of coaching. We are devoted to forming sincere connections and building meaningful relationships with each of our preschoolers, and always seek opportunities to encourage and cultivate their social and emotional skills.  

Facilities

Our Story

Finding a calling that transcends passion and inspiration can take years, but in December of 2018, the vision struck. Puzzle pieces from our lives started to take formation and we realized our calling to offer a unique and important opportunity to our community. Realizing that such a lifestyle and immersion in language is greatly beneficial and advantageous for our own children, we have combined efforts to establish Bear Cub Mandarin Immersion Preschool Academy with a desire to offer the invaluable opportunity of a Mandarin immersion program to the children in our community, and to establish a legacy through language that may ultimately impact the global community. As parents, it is our hope to provide the best upbringing, training, and opportunities to our children as we prepare to launch them into the adult world that is waiting for them. We invite you to join us and co-create the legacy for our next generation.

Enrollment Policies

Please contact vicky@bearcubmandarin.org about tuition information, openings, arrange a tour in person or online, join the waitlist, and all other inquiries. Enrollment is open year-round and offered based on availability. There are currently no openings till Fall 2025, however we always encourage families to join the waitlist as openings can come up unexpectedly. We currently have active waitlists for 2025, 2026, and 2027.                                

Once an approximate start date is established, a place may be held by submitting a deposit. Being put on the waitlist does not secure a placement in any of our classrooms. A place may only be held by making a deposit.  

*Deposits are non-refundable under any circumstances but may be used towards the last month's tuition when the required 60 days notice is given*

*Tuition must be paid every month to maintain your enrollment. There are no refunds, discounts, or breaks in tuition fees during extended family vacation or travel.  

*Current students, please note, 60 Days notice is required for schedule changes.

Class Schedules

Preschool Programs 

Age 3 to 5 years old

Infant and Toddler Programs

Age 3 months to 35months

*Transition schedules to move up to the next classroom are arranged at the director's discretion as space is available. 

*Current students, please note, 60 Days notice is required for schedule changes.

Afterschool and School Break Programs

Age 5 - 8 years old

Enrollment is first come first served as space is available. 

Please check the calendar link for info about Bear Cub Mandarin breaks and holidays. 

*The deposit is one month's tuition fee which may be used towards the last month's tuition when the required 60 days' notice is given. Deposits are non-refundable under any circumstances. 

**Afterschool and school break program openings on a first-come-first-serve space-available basis. Schedule and tuition to be determined and paid in advance to confirm and hold the place.   

For the school calendar of events, holidays, and breaks, please go to the calendar page. 

Careers at Bear Cub Mandarin

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