Demand grows in UK for baby Chinese classes  

One classroom saw the teacher singing a Chinese song while infants are crawling around, with parents sitting in a circle participating.

(ECNS) -- Small classes for infants at Chinese language schools are becoming more popular among Chinese British in London, the British edition of Nouvelles D'Europe reported.

Ding Huici, head of Huaxia Chinese Language School, said they opened classes last year for babies age six months to 3 years old, to meet the demands of Chinese British parents. The number of students doubled this year, Ding said.

Some parents applied to get on the waiting list when their baby was only four months old, in case no spots are available two months later, he added.

Hu Yuying, a teacher at Yuhua Chinese Language School, said some parents who are second generation Chinese British disagree with the way they had been taught -- no Chinese in childhood to assimilate with the mainstream -- and insist that their children should study Chinese as early as possible.

One classroom saw the teacher singing a Chinese song while infants are crawling around, with parents sitting in a circle participating.

Hu said that in addition to patience, teachers should accumulate experience, as no quick feedback can be expected from infants.

Ding said they edited a textbook urging parents to speak Chinese or play Chinese songs at home for the babies.