UCC Confucius Institute Students Achieve Remarkable Results at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (Ireland Region)

13 Apr 2025

UCC Confucius Institute is thrilled to announce the remarkable achievements of its students at the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (Ireland Region). The competition, hosted by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland and organized by the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, concluded successfully on April 13, 2025. The event brought together talented Chinese language learners from across the country, showcasing their linguistic prowess and diverse talents in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere that garnered significant attention from various sectors. His Excellency, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Ireland, Zhao Xiyuan, and Deputy President of University College Dublin, Professor Dolores O'Riordan, graced the occasion and attended the awards ceremony.

Four dedicated students from UCC Confucius Institute actively participated in the competition, demonstrating their strong abilities and enthusiastic passion on stage. Among them, final-year student Lin Peng stood out with his natural and fluent Chinese expression and captivating talent performance, securing the Second Prize; Maeve, a third-year student, also impressed with her composed and excellent performance, winning the Third Prize. Their achievements showcase the exceptional Chinese language skills cultivated at UCC Confucius Institute. Furthermore, our dedicated teachers, Chen Yan and Chen Ti, were honored with the "Excellent Instructor Award" in recognition of their hard work and professional guidance provided to the students during their preparation for the competition. Additionally, despite having studied Chinese for a short period, fellow participants Sarah and Lucy displayed remarkable confidence and a strong passion for learning Chinese on stage, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The competition comprised two closely linked and fast-paced stages: the preliminary round and the final. The preliminary round included self-introductions and talent shows, with eight outstanding contestants advancing to the final from a pool of fourteen. The final round revolved around the theme "One World, One Family," requiring participants to deliver a Chinese-themed speech and a talent show. Ultimately, the competition awarded one First Prize, two Second Prizes, three Third Prizes, and two "Outstanding Awards." The entire event served as both a platform for showcasing linguistic abilities and a comprehensive display of cultural understanding and individual expression.

In his closing remarks, Ambassador Zhao Xiyuan emphasized that language serves as a bridge to explore and appreciate the richness of culture. He highlighted that mastering Chinese is key to truly understanding China's past, present, and future. He also stressed that language is a vital link in promoting mutual understanding between Eastern and Western civilizations, and that by continuously overcoming language barriers, we can build consensus through understanding and enhance friendship through communication. He encouraged the young students to continue leveraging their language skills and actively contribute to the development of China-Ireland relations and cultural exchange in the future.

As a globally renowned Chinese language competition, "Chinese Bridge" provides a broad platform for overseas students to showcase their abilities and engage in mutual learning. UCC Confucius Institute has always placed great emphasis on the holistic development of students' language and comprehensive skills. During the competition preparation period, the dedicated teaching team provided comprehensive support in mobilization, selection, tutoring, and guidance, empowering students to shine on the competition stage. Looking ahead, UCC Confucius Institute will continue to strengthen its teaching foundations, encourage students to step outside the classroom and onto the stage, tell China's stories and convey China-Ireland friendship in multilingual environments, and inject more vitality into Chinese and foreign cultural exchange.

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