Dehong Beijing International Chinese School (Dehong Beijing) is a well-connected and resourced bilingual Chinese international school where English is learned through inquiry, creativity, and discovery. Valuing a holistic education, the school uses Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), an approach whose philosophy is to teach English beyond basic English language skills. At Dehong Beijing, teachers have opportunities to work in an amazing indoor and outdoor setting where the possibilities for bringing learning to life are endless.
Beijing is an immensely varied and interesting city with a rich history. The school is located in the future City Council area, new and spacious, with tremendous development potential. Teachers can enjoy the best of both worlds by living in a big, vibrant city like Beijing while working on a quiet green campus. They may choose to live in the quieter suburb of Shunyi or the busier area of Sanlitun, both of which offer an enjoyable living experience in a dynamic, cosmopolitan city.
Located next to a river, the school’s campus features ample outdoor spaces for the children. Classrooms are state-of-the-art and very large, with easy circulation throughout the buildings. The campus also contains many break-out spaces for staff and children. Sustainability is taken seriously, and all furniture is sourced from globally aware and environmentally conscious companies.
Dehong Beijing first opened its doors to Chinese national students Grades 1–3 in September 2019 and currently enrolls 150 students. In September 2021, the school will offer classes from Kindergarten to Grade 7, and plans are underway for the day school to expand to Grade 12. The teaching staff of 16 consists of 10 Chinese educators, five from the U.K., and one from North America. Dehong Beijing is accredited by the Education Committee of Tongzhou District, Beijing Municipality.
Dehong International Chinese Schools—of which Dehong Beijing is the second—combine an academic program of the Chinese compulsory curriculum with the Dulwich College International (DCI) educational philosophy and instruction. DCI is a family of schools with eight International Schools, two International High Schools, and one sister school, all of which are located in Asia. Dulwich College U.K. was founded in 1619 and today is an academically selective boys’ school The school also uses inquiry-based learning to deliver the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) to younger students.
In addition to the core curriculum, and in line with DCI’s commitment to student well-being, performing arts, music, art and design, science, technology, and sports programs will be taught from both a Western and Chinese perspective. Community service and sustainability will be core themes in the curriculum, allowing all students to experience the benefits of a holistic education.
The school’s mission is for Dehong students to be able to communicate fluently in both Chinese and English, switching easily between the languages in daily communication as well as reading and writing. They will be able to understand and adapt to the cultural differences between the East and West with tolerance and openness. Dehong students will benefit from a curriculum that emphasizes the importance of developing global perspectives while maintaining pride in their own culture.
Regular extracurricular events are embedded into the schedule. Sustainability lessons are carried out in a more authentic and natural way outdoors. Along with DCI events such as the Dulwich games, Music Festival, and sustainability challenges, Dehong Beijing also offers a range of Chinese cultural extracurricular activities.
Dehong Beijing prefers to hire experienced, certified single teachers and couples with a non-teaching partner. Inquiry-based PYP and bilingual instruction experience would be of great benefit. The school will also consider certified teaching couples as well as outstanding newly-certified candidates. Teachers must hold an academic degree in the subject they will be teaching. Those up to the age of 55 may obtain a work visa.
The school understands the challenges for people working overseas. Dehong Beijing does its best to support expat teachers and their families with a caring and loving environment, a comprehensive orientation, and ongoing support regarding housing, commuting, medical care, and dependents’ schooling.
The benefits package includes a moving allowance and housing with basic furnishing in the first year, after which a teacher may opt to seek other housing, with an allowance provided based on family size. The school pays for one annual airfare home per adult along with a subsidy for the travel of dependent children. The tuition benefit is 100% for up to two children, but the teacher is responsible for all other fees. Worldwide health insurance—except the U.S.—is covered and includes dental, long-term disability, and emergency evacuation. If, however, a teacher is from U.S., the insurance coverage will include their home country. Other pluses include transport to and from the school as well as free lunch. The Dehong Beijing package amounts to enormous savings or the opportunity for a family of four to live on one salary. There are local employment opportunities for non-teaching partners.
For professional development, DCI’s internal training programme is available to Dehong Beijing educators through its online platform. The organization also encourages staff members at all levels of experience to propose and conduct action research or other projects and to submit the results for publication to The Dulwich Lab, the group’s online research and development platform.
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Please note: The information presented about this school was valid on the date published. This information may change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the school profile.
