Why I created the CARE Learning Pathway
When I was young, one of my dreams was to become a brain surgeon. Later on, I realised that while I loved biology, my deeper fascination was really with understanding how the brain works — why it is capable of learning and innovation, and at the same time of love and compassion. I wanted to study how we might use that understanding to help people maximise the potential of this remarkable organ.
That curiosity eventually led me to pursue a career and further studies in education.
Learning Is Not Just About Absorbing Information
Through my years of teaching, I came to realise that learning is not simply about absorbing information. There were students who were fantastic at reproducing model essays, yet grew up disliking Chinese. There were students who were conscientious in doing homework, but stumbled when answering questions or panicked during exams.
Learning, I came to uncover, is a reiterative cycle of accumulating skills and knowledge, applying and refining them deliberately, and developing inner confidence and self-efficacy in the process.
Especially without this final stage, knowledge often remains passive and transient. This was the guiding principle when I founded YouLe, and the realisation that planted the seeds for CARE.
From Observation to Framework
Over the years, as our teaching team reflected on these ideas, we began organising our lessons around a simple sequence of learning stages.
Eventually, this evolved into what we now call the CARE Learning Framework:
Connect – Absorb – Recall – Express
Each stage reflects an integral part of how learning takes place.
Students first connect new ideas to existing knowledge. They then absorb the material through engaging learning experiences. Through guided practice, they recall what they have learned and strengthen memory. Finally, they express their ideas through speaking and writing, turning knowledge into confidence.
What began as a teaching observation gradually developed into a structured approach that now guides how we design lessons at YouLe.
Why Expression Matters
One insight that has stayed with me is this: the final stage of learning is often the one that receives the least attention.
In many classrooms, students spend a great deal of time listening and memorising. But far fewer opportunities are given for them to organise their thoughts and communicate them clearly.
Yet expression is the moment when learning truly becomes visible.
When students can explain an idea, tell a story, or share their thoughts in Mandarin, something important happens. The language stops being something they merely study and becomes something they enjoy and are comfortable using.
This transformation is where confidence begins.
Why Relationships Matter in Learning
Importantly too, learning is not just a cognitive process, but also a deeply human one.
Students need stable relationships with mentors they trust. Teachers guide them through challenges, provide timely feedback, and help them see connections that they might not notice on their own.
In essence, teachers provide two critical ingredients: dedication and care.
Many of us can probably recall that teacher who once helped us see a boring subject in a completely new light, or whose warmth and encouragement made us want to do our very best for the subject, just so we can do him or her proud.
Preparing Students for a Changing World
Today we live in an age where information is abundant. Knowledge can be accessed instantly through technology.
What will matter more in the future is not simply knowing information, but being able to interpret it, organise it, and communicate it clearly.
Language learning therefore becomes more than an academic subject. It becomes a way for students to develop the confidence to think and express themselves.
At YouLe, the CARE learning pathway helps us guide students through this process step by step.
Our goal is not only to help students perform well in school, but also to help them feel comfortable using Mandarin in real life. Ultimately, we hope to nurture self-efficacious learners who carry the confidence, skills, and habits of learning into every stage of their lives.
Author
Raymond Cai, Founder