Shekou's Day & Night Schools: unlocking the '24/7' life for expats!

This week, the Shekou Foreign Personnel Management Service Center in Shenzhen introduced an upgraded version of the "Shekou Expats' Night School" and launched the new project "Shekou Expats' Morning School".

Poster for the Night School

Since its launch in September last year, the Night School project has received widespread acclaim for its diverse curriculum and practical content.  
This year, it continues to offer a variety of courses covering language training, sports, and Chinese culture.

The language training series in Mandarin and Cantonese is designed to enhance the linguistic proficiency of foreign residents. The sports series features activities such as badminton, table tennis, and tennis, while the Chinese culture series offers classes like seal carving, bamboo weaving, and cooking, providing foreign residents with a distinctive nightlife experience.
 

The foreign residents are taking their first class.

On the evening of February 26, the Shekou Night School welcomed its first Chinese language class of the semester. Over 30 foreign residents from various countries gathered to embark on their journey of learning Chinese.

During the class, the rich and engaging teaching content, ranging from basic greetings to practical everyday expressions, captured the full attention of every student. Following the teacher's guidance, they diligently imitated the pronunciation and actively participated in interactions, fully immersed in the joy of learning Chinese.
 

An English teacher from the UK shared, "I really enjoy my time living in Shekou. It's so vibrant; there are lots of things to do, more than I had when I lived before. Everyone is really friendly."

A football coach from Brazil, who has lived in Shekou for just three weeks, described it as a wonderful place. "I used to live in São Paulo, which is also a big city. There are many similarities between the two places, and that makes me feel at home here," he said.

A woman who has lived in Shenzhen for ten years expressed her excitement, saying, "I don't know how to say it, but Shenzhen is the best! The city offers a wide range of activities and services for foreigners, something that no other city can match."

In addition, the newly launched Morning School project will focus on daytime hours during weekdays, offering equally exciting learning opportunities for foreign friends who are unable to attend the Night School.

The Morning School offers three series: light exercise, cultural perception, and practical skills. Each one is designed to help foreign residents improve themselves, experience culture, and master practical skills.
 

Foreigners are having the Baduanjin lesson.

Light Exercise series includes Baduanjin and Yoga, aiming to help foreign residents start the day with energy and vitality while experiencing the charm of traditional Chinese health cultivation. The Cultural Perception series includes traditional Chinese treatments and city walks in Shekou. Foreign residents will gain deeper insights into Chinese traditional culture and local customs. The Practical Skills series includes guidance for commonly used apps in Shenzhen, video editing, and makeup tips, all designed to help foreign residents better integrate into local life and improve their practical skills.
 

Participants experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture through the Baduanjin.

The dual launch of the Night School and Morning School has created more platforms for interaction and exchange between Chinese and foreign residents. The classic courses of the Night School and the innovative content of the Morning School complement each other, catering to the diverse schedules and varied interests of foreigners.

The Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats has expressed its hope that the dual-track operation of the Night School and Morning School will provide expats with more flexible and diversified learning opportunities. It aims to help them find a sense of belonging in Shekou and experience the warmth and inclusiveness of the city.

Reporter |  Zhang Siyu

Editor |  Wei Shen, James, Shen He

Photo |  The Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats