Students enjoy an overseas experience

By Fei Lai  |   2008-7-3  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Dujiangyan Wanchuan Central School in Sichuan Province is not your average school, as a team of overseas students and American teachers from Shanghai's Fudan International School discovered yesterday.

The school is one of several set up quickly to continue education for young people in the quake zone.

The temporary school has 7,000 students from seven schools from kindergarten to high school level and it has been open for just 10 days.

The visitors were divided into two groups and joined local and middle school students in lessons given by American teachers.

For some of the local children it was a new experience.

"It is interesting and lively. This is the first time I have been in a class taught by a foreign teacher," said Hu Jie, a local 11th grade student. "I'm surprised at how they use different games to teach English."

More than games the visitors brought gifts prepared specially for the local students, including English text books, fans and stationery made by FIS students and volunteers.

For the local students it was a tonic. The American teachers became so popular they were practically mobbed with pupils from neighboring classes surrounding them and asking for their autographs.

"I feel the contrast today with the emotions that were evident after the quake," said Li Yuxuan, an English teacher at the central school. "The international concern for the children and their education inspires these students."

One of the visitors is Chen Taiyang, who is studying graphic design in America. "I had been thinking of visiting Sichuan. It's good to see the students speaking good English and it's fun to play with them."