Confucius Institute in Sofia Organized Bulgarian National Round of “Chinese Bridge” International Competition for College and Middle School Students

On May 13 and 14, 2023, the preliminary round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Bulgaria and the 16th preliminary round of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Bulgaria were successfully held at the Confucius Institute in Sofia. The event was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, hosted by the Confucius Institute in Sofia, and co-organized by the Confucius Institute at Veliko Tarnovo University. The special guests who attended the opening ceremony included Dong Xiaojun, Chinese Ambassador in Bulgaria, Yang Tian, Head of the Educational Department at the Embassy, Ma Qi translator at the Embassy, Antonia Tsankova, head of the Chinese Department at Sofia University, Nako Stefanov, member of the Board of Directors and Honorary Director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Dong Yuanxing, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Veliko Tarnovo University, Iskra Mandova, Bulgarian Director of the same Institute, Zhang Liyan, general manager of the business department at Bank of China (Central and Eastern Europe) - Bucharest, Wang Pujian, president of the Bulgaria-China Chamber of Commerce, as well as coordinators and principals of the Confucius Classrooms and teaching sites of the Confucius Institute in Sofia. The Chinese Ambassador Dong Xiaojun, as well as Aksiniya Koleva and Liu Xiuming, directors of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, delivered speeches. More than 600 guests attended the event.

There were 10 judges for the competition, including Sinology experts, principals and teachers from Sofia University (1 person), Confucius Institute in Sofia (4 people), Veliko Tarnovo University (1 person) and Confucius Institute in Veliko Tarnovo (4 people). A total of 9 college students and 20 middle school students participated in the competition. There was one first prize, one second prize, two third prizes and one best-talent award.

The preliminary round of the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Bulgaria consisted of three parts: a speech in Chinese, a Q&A session on China, and a talent show connected to Chinese culture. The theme of the competition was "One World, One Family". Betizhe Akova from Veliko Tarnovo University won the first prize, Kalina Gerginova from Sofia University won the second prize, Tanya Stankova from Veliko Tarnovo University and Vanessa Terzieva from Sofia University won the third prizes and, lastly, Kristiana Doneva from Veliko Tarnovo University won the best talent award. Ms Su Chang from Veliko Tarnovo University and Ms Zhang Jiamei from Sofia University won the Outstanding Teacher Awards.

The preliminary round of the 16th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Bulgaria consisted of three parts: Chinese language written exam, speech in Chinese and Chinese culture talent show. The theme was "Fly High with Chinese". Following fierce competition,

Zhana Todorova from the Confucius Classroom at No.18 Middle School “Willian Gladstone” in Sofia won the competition. Vasco Vascov from the Confucius Classroom at No.138 Middle School “Prof. Vassil Zlatarski” in Sofia won the second place, while Leda Kyulhanova from the same school and Raya Popova from “Vasil Levsky” Middle School in Ruse won the third places. Zhana Todorova, the overall champion, won the Best Talent Award as well. Outstanding Teacher Awards were granted to Mrs Liu Ruiling from No.18 Middle School, as well as Mrs Yana Shishkova, Mrs Latchezara Pravcheva and Miss Li Mengxia from No.138 Middle School.

The champions of the two competitions will represent Bulgarian college students and middle school students at the global finals in China and will also be granted the International Chinese Teachers Scholarship. All contestants received a certificate of participation and a beautiful souvenir presented by the Confucius Institute in Sofia.  

The preliminary rounds of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College and Middle School Students in Bulgaria held by the Confucius Institute in Sofia were meticulously prepared, properly organized, rigorous in procedure and outstanding in effect. The excellent results achieved by the students effectively prove the training purpose of the Confucius Institute in Sofia based on language and culture teaching, taking students as the focus of the learning process, and striving to improve their ability to use language and culture in real time. The results in this competition also showed the concerted efforts of native Chinese language teachers and local Chinese language teachers, hard work, mutual trust between teachers and students, and tacid cooperation. The exemplary role of the contestants will surely further stimulate students' enthusiasm for Chinese learning and strengthen their confidence in Chinese learning.  

Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text: Liu Ruiling

Pictures: Petya Shukerska, Liu Ruiling

Editors: Liu Xiuming, Aksiniya Koleva, Liu Tianchao

English translation: Dima Pironkova

 

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Picture 1 A poster for the Bulgarian National Round of “Chinese Bridge” International Competition for College and Middle School Students

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Picture 2 Chinese Ambassador Dong Xiaojun is delivering a speech

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Picture 3 Liu Xiuming and Aksiniya Koleva, Chinese and Bulgarian directors of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, are delivering a speech

4Picture 4 Guests at the opening ceremony

5Picture 5 The judges

6Picture 6 A scene from the Bulgarian National Round of “Chinese Bridge” International Competition for college students

7Picture 7 Chinese Ambassador Dong Xiaojun is presenting the first-prize award to the winner of the college students’ competition Betizhe Akova

8Picture 8 A group photo of the winners and the guests at the "Chinese Bridge" International Competition for foreign college students

9Picture 9 A scene from the Bulgarian National Round of “Chinese Bridge” International Competition for Middle School Students

10Picture 10 Yang Tian, head of the education department at the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, presented the first-prize award to Zhana Todorova, the winner of the competition for middle school students

11Picture 11 A group photo of the winners and the guests at the "Chinese Bridge" International Competition for foreign middle school students