At Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre, we love seeing how language learning opens doors not just academically, but culturally and personally. Today, we’re excited to share the story of Ryan, a young learner who began his Mandarin journey with us at the beginner foundation level. While his time with us paused due to soccer commitments, the impact of those early lessons has stayed with him and his family.
We spoke to Ryan’s mum, Francie, about Ryan’s experience with Pistachio, what inspired them to start Mandarin lessons, and the moments of progress that stood out.
Q1: How has learning Mandarin made a difference in your (or your child’s) life so far? Can you share a moment of progress?
Ryan learnt the foundation of Mandarin. He can bring up different words which he could never do before. Overall the highlight of learning Mandarin is that it has given him the foundation of the language / a good base level knowledge for his age.
With Yatchun’s teaching, I loved how she incorporated all the festivals. There were lots of activities based on festivals and related back to the Mandarin language, and I thought that was really amazing. I am from NZ and Ryan’s dad is Chinese Malaysian, so it was good that it brought the kids back to that side. They could relate to the food and different craft activities, relate to the cultural stories, and Ryan would come back and tell us all about it, which was nice.
Q2: How did you hear about Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre?
Through the internet—Google. I emailed Pistachio, and they called me back. Yatchun was very thorough and took a long time to explore options and make sure it was a good fit for my son Ryan. She gave me options for my other son as well which was great!
Q3: What were the main reasons you / your children wanted to learn Mandarin?
Mainly it was that cultural connection with Ryan’s Chinese Malaysian background. But also I read somewhere that it is easier for children to learn languages from a young age. So I wanted them to have a grounding in Mandarin early on so that if they want to pick it up later, they can easily go back to it.
Q4: What Mandarin classes do you/your child attend?
Ryan attended the Beginner Foundation class.
Q5: What do you (or your child) enjoy most in the Mandarin lessons?
Ryan really enjoyed the stories, craft activities, singing and dancing, and the fun songs.
Q6: Would you recommend Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre?
Definitely. The only reason we stopped is timing with Ryan’s soccer lessons, but I definitely would recommend it to other parents.
Q7: For parents: Did the location of KTS suit you? Any feedback?
Initially it was a 20-minute drive for us each way. A closer location would be better. When researching, there wasn’t any option that was closer. Pistachio was the obvious choice since it seemed like a good fit. But it would be nice to have it closer.
Keeping Culture Alive Through Language
Ryan’s story is a reminder of how language learning at a young age can plant lasting seeds: not just for communication, but for cultural identity and family connection. We’re so thrilled to have been a part of Ryan’s Mandarin journey and hope to welcome him back in the future.
If you’re considering enrolling your child in Mandarin lessons, we’d love to chat and help you find the right class. Every child’s journey is unique, and at Pistachio, we’re here to support it every step of the way. Contact us today or reach out to Yatchun at 021 184 6993.