On the scorching morning of July 18th, joyful cheers and applause filled the Yulan Community Service Center in Xinqi Subdistrict, Beilun District, as local children participated in an engaging English class led by Eddie, a British expatriate and English teacher in Ningbo.

The introductory foreign language class marked its third session in the community since this May. Previous classes have received enthusiastic responses from local residents, providing kids the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of English.

Enveloped in an interactive and lively atmosphere, the children eagerly embraced English language learning while exploring British culture. The excitement peaked during the game session, where the children showcased teamwork in groups and applied their newfound knowledge.

A highlight of the event occurred with the introduction of the "Pancake Day" activity. Amidst peals of laughter and joy, the children engaged in an immersive exploration of the British “pancake culture” by learning about its traditions and gaining hands-on experience in the pancake making.

The event wrapped up in a heartwarming scene of cultural exchange and shared happiness: everyone sitting together to enjoy the pancakes the British expat brought.

In the after-class interview, Eddie, the teacher of today’s English class, shared his feelings and experience of living in China and of being a voluntary English teacher at his residential community － Yulan Community.

With over 6 years in China, he has been living in Ningbo four years. During his free time, Eddie seeks great pleasure in travelling across China and taking photos to capture the breathtaking landscapes and diverse culture of the country.

According to this amicable young man, his voluntary commitment at Yulan Community is motivated by his enthusiasm for teaching children. “I really enjoy interacting with kids. They never fail to put a smile on your face. Kids like making jokes and laughing, always in a good mood. And they're quick to shake off sadness and cheer up again. Being around kids is always a blast.”

Meanwhile, Eddie gave a thumbs-up to the life and atmosphere of Yulan Community. “It looks like a good place for the kids during their summer holidays,” he added, “the resources and items for the kids, such as the books and the headphones boost their interests and heighten the activeness of learning.”

Yulan Community is home to hundreds of expatriates from over 20 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and South Korea. Throughout the year, the community organizes a diverse array of international events to enrich the local experience and foster cross-cultural connections among its international residents.

This summer, the community has actively sought out foreign English instructors to offer engaging and child-friendly activities such as parent-child English corners and expat-led introductory English classes.

These endeavors prove to be mutually beneficial to residents and expatriates.

“By connecting international resources with our community, we aim to broaden our children’s global perspectives and help expatriates integrate into the local community,” Zhang Aina, leader of the community explained, “It’s a win-win scenario here.”

By Pan Wenjie,

Ye Ke, Jin Hanlin (intern)

Correspondent: Chen Hong

Proofreaders: Fan Yeping,

Fan Naxi, Jason Mowbray