Mandarin competition boosts enthusiasm among South Africa’s Chinese learners

The 16th Chinese Bridge Competition for Foreign College Students took place at Stellenbosch University near Cape Town on Saturday, giving a boost to enthusiasm of Chinese learning among South African students.

Twenty participants from six South African universities took part in the competition, co-hosted by the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Huba Boshoff, manager of the Centre for Partnerships & Internationalization at Stellenbosch University, said learning different languages and cultural communication become a social impact in the modern society.

He praised the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University for disseminating Chinese language and culture in the area “persistently and successfully”.

Ghaleeb Jeppie, Chief Director for International Relations at the South African Department of Higher Education and Training, stressed the importance of learning foreign languages to better understanding others’ culture.

Jeppie paid tribute to China for offering scholarships to South African students to promote technical and academic interaction between the two sides.

He expressed belief that the initiation of South Africa-China high-level people-to-people exchange mechanism will strengthen the mutual understanding and expansion of exchanging programs.

Song Bo, head of the Education Division at the Chinese Embassy to South Africa, voiced appreciation for all efforts devoted to holding this contest which he said would help enhance cultural exchanges between the two peoples.

The contest was divided into three parts — writing, oral presentation and talent show.

Masego Mothei from Stellenbosch University and Noxolo Ndara from Johannesburg University co-shared the 1st prize. They will go to China to compete in the semi-final competition.

This was the 8th time for students from Stellenbosch University to win this contest. In the past eight years, Stellenbosch University students have won the top prize in a row.

The Chinese Bridge contest is held annually in different countries for students whose native language is not Chinese. Enditem

Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh

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