Nothing lost in translation

Cao is one of the most popular teachers at the kindergarten. She combines games and songs in her teaching method, and the kids appear to like her immensely and understand perfectly when she speaks to them in English.

They sit in line and sing with the loudest voices they can muster, react as fast as they can to requests and some even hold up both hands to attract the teacher's attention and get the chance to answer her questions.

"Our kindergarten pays great attention to the overall development of the child and some parents choose us specifically because of that. But to be honest, most parents are attracted by our record in bilingual tuition," said Mao.

An advantageous time

Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Beijing, attributed the growing popularity of English among preschoolers to the rise in the standard of living in China and the increasingly important role of English in school entrance examinations and in employment.

Zhu Huanliang, 5, learns piano at the Golden Cradle.

"Early childhood is an advantageous time to learn a second language, so if the parents' aim for their kid's future is to study or work overseas, or the family has plans to emigrate and the parents can afford the fees, this type of kindergarten is the best choice for them," said Xiong.

"Chinese parents are more knowledgeable now they travel overseas frequently. I think they realize that allowing children to learn English at a young age is good for them," said Kung.

"Most of the children attend Chinese-language schools when they finish at the kindergarten. Having a solid foundation in English, with good pronunciation, will help them progress easily," he added.

Golden Cradle provides positive proof of that assertion. The last page of its prospectus boasts a long list of former students who have gained admittance to Beijing's top primary schools or have won awards in English-language competitions.

"Better English and the cultural environment and atmosphere are the main reasons I chose this kindergarten," said Zhang Shuang, a sales manager at a Beijing travel agency. Her son, who is 4, studies at the private, high-end Eton Kids.

"I plan to send him abroad for further education. When it comes to learning English, I think it's a case of 'the younger, the better'. Although my son has only been at the kindergarten for 12 months, he speaks better English than most of the kids in our community," she said.

Parental aspirations

"Part of my job is to interact with parents. I would say that most of our parents are upper-middle class. Most of them have their own businesses or are senior managers and are well-educated," said Kung.

Every morning from 7 am to 8:30 am, the roads outside Golden Cradle are like an automobile fair and the cars carrying the kids often block nearby roads.

"Most of the parents who send their kids to our kindergarten are managers or white-collar workers. Many of them have traveled or studied overseas," said Mao.