Contestants from the Confucius Institute in Sofia Achieved Outstanding Results of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College and Middle School Students in the Preliminary Round in Bulgaria

On 14 and 15 May, 2022, the preliminary rounds in Bulgaria of two "Chinese Bridge" competitions were held at the Confucius Institute at Veliko Tarnovo University: the 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Middle School Students and the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. The events were hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, held at the building of Veliko Tarnovo University, and co-organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia (CIS). The Chinese Ambassador in Bulgaria Mr Dong Xiaojun, the Deputy Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Mr Neiko Genchev, the Vice-Rector of Veliko Tarnovo University Mr Dimitar Dimitrov, as well as the Dean of Slavic languages Department at Veliko Tarnovo University Ms. Tsenka Ivanova all delivered a speech. Aksiniya Koleva and Professor Liu Xiuming, directors of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Dima Pironkova, secretary of education, and Yang Jiali, a Chinese teacher at CIS, attended the competition and worked as judges. There were a total of 10 judges, including sinology experts, directors and teachers from the Confucius Institute at Veliko Tarnovo University (5), Sofia University (1) and the Confucius Institute in Sofia (4). 12 middle school students and 6 college students participated in the competition, with one first prize, one second prize, two third prizes, one eloquence prize and one best talent prize.

The preliminary round in Bulgaria of the 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students consisted of three parts: written test, speech in Chinese and Chinese cultural skills performance. Kristina Ivanova, a student from the Confucius Classroom at 138 Middle School in Sofia, won the first prize and Monica Pezhgorska won the second prize. The local teachers Yana Shishkova and Latchezara Pravtcheva from the same Confucius Classroom as well as the Chinese teacher from the Confucius Institute in Sofia Li Mengxia, won "Excellent Instructor" awards.

The preliminary round in Bulgaria of the 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students included three parts: speech in Chinese, China knowledge Q&A and Chinese cultural skills performance. Vanessa Terzieva, a contestant from Sofia University, won the second prize, and her instructor Zhang Kaiyue won the "Excellent Instructor" award.

Students from schools which belong to the Confucius Institute in Sofia won one first prize and two second prizes in the preliminary rounds of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College and Middle School Students. The outstanding performance of the students is a concrete manifestation of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, which is based on language and culture teaching, focusing on the needs of the students, and striving to improve their ability to practise real language and culture. Students’ excellent performance was also an example of the concerted efforts of Chinese and local teachers, diligent work, mutual trust between teachers and students, and tacit cooperation. The exemplary role of the contestants will surely further stimulate other students' enthusiasm for learning Chinese and strengthen their confidence in the process.