To let the world have a better understanding of China and promote
international cultural and educational exchanges, the China
National Leading Group for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language
will hold the First "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency
Competition for Foreign College Students. Contestants will come
from 21 countries including the United States, Britain, France,
Germany, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore,
Australia, and Egypt.
With the sustainable development of China's economy and the steady
growth of its prestige in the world, especially after its accession
to WTO and Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games,
Chinese language has drawn world-wide attention. More and more
people in Europe, America, and Asia want to learn Chinese.
Sponsored by the State Leading Group for Teaching Chinese as a
Foreign Language, the competition will be organized by the Chinese
National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOCFL)
and be conducted in cooperation with educational or cultural
divisions of Chinese embassies in foreign countries, consulates
general, and Chinese teachers assigned abroad by NOCFL.
Eligible participants include overseas Chinese nationals aged below
30 and Chinese students studying abroad who were born in foreign
countries and whose first language is not Chinese.
Contestants will be examined on Chinese language abilities, basic
knowledge about China, performance of skills such as singing
Chinese songs, playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, and
performing Chinese calligraphy, painting, paper-cuts and martial
arts.
The competition is divided into preliminary, semi-final, and final
rounds. Competitors with the best records in the preliminary round
will be invited to participate in the semi-finals and finals in
Beijing from August 10 to 18. First-prize winners will receive a
full scholarship to study for a bachelor's degree in China.
Meanwhile, they will also receive the honorary title of "Ambassador
of Chinese Language and Culture." Second-prize winners will get a
scholarship for a four-six week study program in China during
winter or summer vacation. Third-prize winners will get a chance
for a 15-day Chinese cultural tour. All participants in the
semi-finals will be presented souvenirs.
Panels of language, cultural and artistic judges will make
on-the-spot judgments during the semi-finals and finals.
It
is the first time for China to hold such a worldwide competition
for students learning Chinese. The competition is expected to
encourage foreign students to make more efforts in learning Chinese
language and culture, thus encouraging the understanding of Chinese
culture in the world.
(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong and Sara Grimes on May 30, 2002)