CRI:"Chinese Bridge" Starts in UK

The annual "Chinese Bridge"- Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students in the UK is held in the British Museum on March 16. Finalists pose for a group picture. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Tu Yun]

The annual global "Chinese Bridge"- Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students has kicked off in London. Twenty eight Chinese language learners from universities across the country competed in the UK final, held in the British Museum over the weekend.

Anna Brunner from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, won the Grand Prize, and Meghan Ghent from the University of Edinburgh, grabbed First Prize.

They will now join winners from other countries to compete in the semi-finals, and later the finals, to be held in China this summer, for chances to win scholarships to further their Chinese studies.

The "Chinese Bridge"- Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students is an international contest organized by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters). The competition allows foreign students the chance to showcase their Chinese language proficiency and consists of an oral presentation, random questions regarding Chinese culture, and a talent show.

Since its launch in 2002, the annual event has attracted more than 100,000 college students from over 70 countries; of which nearly 1,000 have been invited to China to compete in the finals.