25/11/2021
19th November saw nine candidates have their “China and Me” Speech Contest video entries broadcast live for assessment by a panel of judges at our ZOOM event. The candidates included one staff member, six UoN students and two local residents studying with NCI. Established in 2009 by Nottingham Confucius Institute (NCI), the “China and Me” Speech Contest is an annual event that offers Mandarin learners an opportunity to test and showcase their language skills. Winners of the contest are to be selected and trained to attend the following year’s Chinese Bridge Competition, representing the University of Nottingham.
The contest was divided into two groups: intermediate and advanced levels. Candidates were asked to video and submit a three-minute speech with the option of adding a talent show-style performance at the end. The nine contestants used their speeches to bring a wide range of interesting topics to life, including the experience of learning Mandarin, Chinese high speed rail and the importance of promoting cultural exchange between the UK and China. They also dazzled the audience with some impressive talents such as Chinese singing, Chinese-style painting and Tai Chi, all performed with infectious enthusiasm.
The event was attended by over 20 students and staff who shared plenty of applause and praise throughout. One again we were delighted to have our friend and local musician Mandy Zhang perform live during the event. The instrument Mandy played is called the Pipa, also known as the ‘Chinese lute/guitar’. It is a traditional Chinese string instrument with a history of over 2,000 years. Mandy’s wonderful performance provided another great highlight for the event and was very warmly received.
Results of the competition are as below:
First prize winner: Laura Bonsaver at Advanced Level; Emily Butchart at Intermediate Level
Second prize winner: Samuel Jones at Advanced Level, Abigail Turner at Intermediate Level
Third prize winner: Jasmine Jahor and Iain Bower at Intermediate Level
Posted on Friday 26th November 2021