On June 9th, the final of the third Chinese Bridge Chinese Show for Primary School students in the UK was held online, and the Confucius Institute for Northern Ireland at Ulster University (CINIUU) won 6 awards including the first prize in the children's group, ranking first among the Confucius Institutes in the UK.
The competition is aimed at UK primary school students aged 5-14, who are not of Chinese nationality, born and raised abroad, and who are not native Chinese of the mother tongue of themselves and their parents. The competition is divided into three groups: children group (5-7 years old), children group (8-11 years old), and youth group (12-14 years old), and each group is divided into two categories: individual show and group show. In the preliminary round, 34 schools across the UK submitted more than 90 entries, with more than 400 students participating. In the final stage, a total of 44 entries were shortlisted, of which 2 individuals and 8 groups from the CINIUU entered the final.
The final includes two parts: part 1: playing the contestant's competition video; part 2: Chinese Q&A. After intense competition, the collaborative school, St Thérèse of Lisieux Primary School of CINIUU won first prize with its short drama Dot, Horizontal, Vertical, Left-falling and Right-falling (directed by Xu Dan) in the children's group for its creative plot design and accurate and fluent Chinese expression.
Also from St Thérèse of Lisieux Primary School's Chinese Talent Show(also directed by Xu Dan) China’s Youth (《少年中国说》written by Liang Qichao) won the second prize in the Children's Group.
Our other collaborative school Stranmillis Primary School won the second prize and the Best Creativity Award in the Early Childhood Group for its Twelve Zodiac Finger Dance (directed by Chen Mingyuan).
The recitation of Second Hometown by Lian Ali from Holy Rosary Primary School (directed by Chen Mingyuan)) won the third prize in the Children's Group Individual Award.
St. Catherine's Primary School’s self-compiled song Listen to Me Rap YCT 1 (directed by Deng Xingmei) won the Best Creative Award for Children's Group.
The Chinese choir Little Swallow by Millburn Primary School (directed by Wang Xiaotong) won the Best Pronunciation Award in the Children's Group.
After the competition, contestant Lian Ali said: I was a little nervous today, but I persevered. I am very happy to win the prize. I like learning Chinese. Xu Dan, a teacher of CINIUU, said: Primary school children in Northern Ireland love Chinese very much. Both the children and I have fun in class and in preparing for the competition. I didn't expect to get the first prize. This honor belongs to every student who is studying Chinese conscientiously at St. Therese of Lisieux Primary School, and to all the teachers of CINIUU.
Chinese Bridge is a Chinese brand activity for primary school students around the world sponsored by the Center For Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education. The Chinese Language Show, with the theme of Chinese, Joy & Fun!, aims to provide a stage for primary school students from all over the world to demonstrate their Chinese language skills, stimulate the motivation to learn Chinese, and lay a solid foundation for learning Chinese continuously. The contest will be held in the United Kingdom as a selection for the Chinese Bridge Chinese Show for the world's primary school students. The finalists will be invited to China for the global semi-finals and finals.