An oral Chinese speaking competition, a component of the Ninth Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, took place on Oct 19 with 181 students in furious competition.

The contestants first did a self-introduction and then made speeches. All of them showcased their language skill by telling interesting stories of themselves or other people.

Two US contestants were appreciated for the funny body language they added to their humorous speech content about a famous ancient Chinese story, Peach Blossom Spring.

The story depicts people’s free, peaceful and happy life in an isolated village hidden in a dense peach forest.

“I was under pressure before going on stage. But when we began talking I felt relieved cause the audience laughed a lot,” one of the US competitor said.

Xiao Yue, a Mongolian contestant, also received high-volume cheers by singing the theme song of a well-known Chinese TV opera called Princess Huanzhu.

“I felt in love with China after I watched the Chinese TV operas Journey to the West and Princess Huanzhu,” the girl said.

She added that she started learning Chinese in the first grade and was thereafter interested in everything about China including the food,literature and songs. When asked the reason she took part in the competition she said that she wants to make more friends and learn from them.

All of the participants will now compete in other contests in China including the Chinese talent competition.

Mongolian contestants show great Chinese learning skill on Oct 19 in the oral contest of the Ninth Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. [Photo/ynci.cn]

Edited by Peter Nordinger