Rhodes University Wins the Third Prize at the Chinese Bridge Competition

Rhodes University students have once again showcased their abilities at the 22nd Chinese Language Proficiency Bridge Competition hosted by Durban University of Technology on 26 May 2023. According to Ms Zou Hanyang, the competition held this year marked a remarkable comeback, as it was the first in-person event since the 2020 pandemic. The outcome of the competition was successful, highlighting the students' good achievements and resilience.

Notably, Amy Louisa Brandon from Chinese 3 at Rhodes University was awarded the Third Prize. Moamokelene Simnikiwe Kuali and Ruth Anne Akisa Kakia were awarded the Honorary Prize. Congratulations to the talented girls for their achievements! Amy expressed her joy upon winning, as it boosted her confidence in speaking Chinese stating, "I learned not to fear speaking in front of others."

A month before the competition the students had been diligently preparing for this event with the help of their lecturers, Ms Zou Hanyang and Ms Zhu Jingjing.

In the weeks leading up to the competition, these aspiring students had dedicated countless hours to practicing and refining their performances.

Amy devoted extra hours at her apartment, diligently practicing a challenging piece, refining her speech, and preparing for the quiz.

The First Prize of this year’s competition was won by the University of Cape Town, while the 2^nd Prize went to Stellenbosch and Johannesburg.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated lecturers, Ms Zou Hanyang and Ms Zhu Jingjing, who provided invaluable assistance with the Chinese speeches, and the artistic aspects of the competition; without their invaluable assistance, this achievement would not have been possible. Prof Patrice Mwepu, Director of the Confucius Institute at Rhodes University, commends the 22nd Chinese Bridge Competition for meeting expectations, acknowledging our students' good performance and receiving accolades from colleagues from other institutions; “we hope to continue on this trajectory, and the future looks bright for  Rhodes University” he added.