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2021 NZ South Island 'Chinese Bridge' Chinese Proficiency Competition

Ms I Ding —

On Sunday the 13th of June, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury hosted the 2021 NZ South Island 'Chinese Bridge' Chinese Proficiency Competition (汉语桥) for foreign secondary school students.

Mr Zhijian Wang, Chinese Consul General in Christchurch and Mr Jimmy Chen, City Councillor, Christchurch City Council, were special guests.

Darcy Baldwin (Year 9), Emily Sharpe, Rebekah Sime and Kayla Smith (Year 10), Anise Maclean (Year 11) and Maya Bromby (Year 12), Ryan Williams (from South Otago High School), two parents and Ms Ding, went to Christchurch together. We had a very good trip on Sunday. The six Columba students and Ryan from South Otago High represented Otago and competed in the Chinese Speech Competition.

At the Chinese Proficiency Competition, our students presented a 1-2 minute Chinese speech and a cultural performance. Anise and Maya, as senior category students, had been challenged to answer a Chinese question from the judge. They both answered their questions well in Chinese. For a cultural performance, Rebekah performed “Taichi Fan” and won the Best Talent Performance award. Kayla sang the Chinese song “Dream it Possible”. Emily recited a popular Chinese poem. Darcy, Anise and Maya did calligraphy writing.

In the junior category speech, Kayla won 3rd place. Darcy, Emily and Rebekah each won a 'Distinguished award'. In the senior category speech, Anise and Maya also won a 'Distinguished award'.

Kayla will go on to represent the South Island and compete in the New Zealand National Final Speech Competition on Sunday the 8th of August in Christchurch. All the best for Kayla and well done, everyone!