Submitted by urci on
~On March 14th ，2018，the University of Regina’s Confucius Institute and the University of Regina’s Chinese Language Program co-hosted the annual “Chinese Bridge”（Chinese Speech）Contest. At three-thirty in the afternoon, over 40 people gathered in the university’s Global Learning Center anxiously waiting for the contest to start.
Ten students took part in the beginner and intermediate level category’s competition. Each contestant presented their own original speech.Some contestants confidently shared their own humorous and unforgettable experiences in visiting China and studying Chinese, some recited poetry to express their love for their homeland, and others spoke about their personal life and their families.Each contestant showcased their skills and competency in the Chinese language, and shared with the audience their own understanding of Chinese culture, and expressed their passion for continuing their Chinese language studies.
Chinese professors from the Confucius Institute and the University of Regina formed the judging panel and evaluated contestants’ performance based on the content, pronunciation, fluency, expression, and performance. Andrew McLaughlin and Thomas Hartley, who both presented speeches titled “My Chinese Tour”, tied for first place in the intermediate level; the speech “My Favorite Trip”, by Erin Kwong, took first place in the beginner level.
The “Chinese Bridge” Speech Contest provides a valuable opportunity for Chinese language learners to build their confidence in communicating in Chinese, showcase their talents, network with other Chinese language students, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of the Chinese language and Chinese rich culture.
