Dialect-oriented nurseries in Shanghai arouse interest, discussion

A number of nursery schools using Shanghai dialect as their standard instructional language have emerged, becoming a new option for many Shanghai parents.

This is happening as Shanghai dialect is on the decline while Mandarin, China’s official language, is becoming more widely used.

“Many parents are beginning to realize their children are not the only ones that cannot speak Shanghai dialect,” said Hu Yun, principal of the Xiaoning Nursery Center.

The center, located in the city’s Xuhui district, is one of the places making an effort to help Shanghai dialect take root among children, despite difficulty finding suitable teachers.

“Teachers from the nursery center are using the dialect to communicate with children, whether they are from Shanghai or not,” the principal said.

Although it’s difficult for children to understand at first, most get used to it soon under the patient care of teachers.

“When some children first came here, they could not speak or comprehend the dialect. But after a short period of time, they get familiar with it,” said Hu Jianshu, a teacher from the center.

The aim of the nursery center is to spread the dialect and bring it to children’s lives, which coincides with the anticipation of many Shanghai parents, Hu said.

Qian Jing is one parent who sends her child here. Born and raised in Shanghai, she insisted children should speak their own dialect.

According to Qian, her son Tim feels very comfortable at the center because teachers all speak the dialect. “As a local Shanghai resident, the last thing I want is to see people in Shanghai no longer speaking the dialect,” she added.

Others who are newcomers consider it essential for their children learn the dialect as early as possible.

Zhang Yi, who was not a native but later moved to Shanghai, said the exact reason she sent her daughter here is because it uses Shanghai dialect as the language of instruction.

For Zhang, learning the dialect can also heighten a sense of belonging. “When you get familiar with the dialect, you will feel more involved as part of the city,” she said.

Disputes have been aroused on social media platforms like Weibo. Although some are opposed to the idea, thinking it is a waste of time since it is limited to Shanghai, most are in favor because it will protect local culture and let the dialect last for future generations.