According to the statistic data of the public security department and education bureau, in 2002, the number of inhabitant foreigners was 4,583 including 234 little ones from 27 countries studying in Nanjing. At present, the total number of foreigners has reached 11,321 with 2,149 little ones from 41 countries.

Nanjing attracts more and more foreigners. Many foreigners choose to work in Nanjing, at the same time, the fine living conditions in Nanjing also make them bring the family.

Foreign classmates are not rare any more

"Today, on the class, Imil cried. I said a few words to comfort him, but I think he couldn't understand me", said Lu Youdao to his mother, Li Min, as soon as he came home from the kindergarten.

"We played 'Protecting Tamara' again. Tamara felt very happy", said Li Wenhan to his mother with pride.

"An Nin Ha Sai Yo!" (means "Hello" in English) All students in Grade Three Class Five of Ruijin Road Middle School can speak in simple Korean. They learn Korean with their Korean classmate.

All children mentioned above are little foreigners studying in Nanjing. Imil comes from France, Tamara is a typical Indian beauty and Zheng Dongrui who teaches classmates Korean is a young boy from Korea.

The number of little foreigners studying in Nanjing has been rising rapidly. "Now, studying with foreign classmates is not rare any more", said Mr. Wu. Mr. Wu has a lovely daughter of Grade One at Youfuxi Street Primary School. When he saw a German boy with yellow hair in the same classroom with his daughter, he was very surprise. His daughter said: "Dad! You're so surprised! There are many foreign children studying in Nanjing!"

Foreign children have many choices of studying in China

Before 10 years, there were just a few foreign children studying in China, so they had a few choices of schools. But now, foreign children have more choices.

They can choose Nanjing International School. This school was set up 10 years ago. Via only 10 years, this school has developed to a full-time institution including primary school to senior high school. It has a very beautiful big campus at Xianling University City. Over 400 foreign students from 25 countries study there.

They can also choose the international department of ordinary schools. At present, foreign students mainly converge at Nanjing International Experiment School, the Experiment School of Nanjing Normal University, Hexi Branch of Jinling Senior High School, Nanjing 21st Century Bilingual School and Nanjing Zhenghe Foreign Language School.

Youfuxi Street Primary School set up an international department in this September. It is the first Chinese Promotion Class in Jiangsu Province. As introduced by Lin Huimin, president of this primary school, this class mainly to promoted Chinese and culture to foreign children. At present, most foreign children study at primary and middle schools around universities and residential areas for foreign people. They accept the same courses with Chinese children.

Zhongshan Primary School accepted the first foreign student in 2000. After that, it once had over 50 foreign students from Korea, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, France, Britain and USA, like a "Little UN".

The procedure of entering into school for foreign children becomes simple

As introduced by a related staff of Nanjing Municipal Educational Bureau, before 2004, there were totally 31 kindergartens, primary and middle schools having the quality of taking in foreign students. At that time, if a school wanted to accept a foreign student, its educational conditions should be approved by the educational department. But now, with the educational conditions of schools advancing rapidly, if a school wanted to accept a foreign student, filling an application form is enough. As informed, foreign students can take part in the college entrance examination in Jiangsu Province.

As said by this staff, except necessary Chinese courses, schools won't set up a single class for foreign students. After graduating, foreign students can get certificates and report cards. And these certificates and report cards are recognized all over the world.