Foreign teachers working in Shanghai gather for a meeting held in Changing district on Feb 24, 2022. [Photo by Tao Lei/Xinmin Evening News]

During a workshop on urban soft power held in Changning district on Feb 24, foreign teachers working in Shanghai praised the city's improved educational environment.

They also shared their views on improving students' soft power in an era of educational internalization at the meeting.

The eight foreign teachers who attended the meeting are from primary and secondary schools in Shanghai. Most of them are working as English teachers and some of them have been living and working in Shanghai for about a decade.

Ian Fraser from the United States said that the biggest change is that government departments now have better interaction with foreign teachers. "In the past, they would ask foreign teachers to teach certain things. But now the government departments and schools will listen more to the teachers' advice and we work together to give children the best education."

American teacher Max Duroseau said that he chose to come to Shanghai because of the openness and inclusiveness here. He added that he hopes to have more opportunities to learn about Shanghai's culture, history and development process, which will also be very helpful to his professional development as a foreign teacher.

Andrew Mcgillivray, a Canadian teacher, claimed he would focus on developing students' abilities such as critical thinking and expressing themselves rather than assigning homework. To improve the city's soft power, he believes that special emphasis should be directed to the soft power of children.