Teacher Amanda Price said it was a school policy to give children the opportunity to learn Mandarin and everyone had embraced the idea.

Ms Price said everyone in the school studied it for one hour a week, with everyone, including the teachers, learning together. “It’s an up-and-coming language,” she said.

“When they go to high school, we want them to feel comfortable to take a language as an elective.”

The school started the classes this year and use support items including the smart board, Education Department DVDs with Chinese language speakers and worksheets to learn the language.

They also use games and conversations to reinforce what they are learning.

Student Emily O’Connor said she enjoyed learning the second language.

“It’s fun and good for learning because you learn different things,” he said.

“It teaches you to speak a different language and the songs we learn are fun to sing with the teacher and classmates.”  Classmate Jorja Potts said she found it fun and useful.

“We are starting to learn how to have a conversation and how to speak on the phone,” she said.

“If we want to go another country, we could speak to them.”

The Mandarin classes are also a way to reinforce embrace Nundle’s Chinese heritage, celebrated each year at Easter with the Go For Gold Festival.