Foreign teaching starts young in Qingdao

Second-grader Pan Siyue always looks forward eagerly to Thursdays, as that is the day for lessons in international understanding.

But last week was special. Christmas was coming, and Siyue's teacher, Marina Alekseera from the United States, had promised to teach the students about holiday traditions and sing Christmas carols.

"Foreign teachers are different from Chinese in teaching style," said Pan, a student at Wenchanglu Primary School in the Licang district of Qingdao, Shandong province. "I feel more at ease during Marina's classes, and I can also learn interesting things about foreign countries."