Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong shakes hands with students after observing a class at the Confucius Institute at the University of Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. Chen Weihua/China Daily

"Our belief is that at a young age, if they're exposed to native-speaking Chinese speakers as well as non-native-speaking English speakers, they're getting culturally enhanced," she said. "The parents just wish we can do more and more and more."

Dai Qing, a 24-year-old student from Wuhan University who is teaching a class of 18 fourth graders at the school, said that she loves the experience. "I love the school and it's really a lot of fun with the kids," she said.