On October 28, the 17th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students concluded successfully. Mauritian student Jalila Isma HUSAUNNDEE received the Global Excellence Award and was awarded an International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship to study Chinese in China for one semester.
Held from October 14 to October 28 in Beijing and Tianjin, this year’s "Chinese Bridge" brought together 113 contestants from 96 countries. With the theme "Fly High with Chinese", the competition highlighted "Bridging China, Enjoying Tianjin," using small themes to explore larger topics. The city of Tianjin served as an immersive Chinese stage, where contestants engaged in activities that combined scenic study tours, fun games, interactive experiences, and Chinese language competition.
The competition included four rounds: the Preliminary Round (113 contestants down to 30), the Advancement Round (30 to 15), the Continental Finals (15 to 5), and the Global Finals. Jalila achieved a perfect score in the written test, shared her journey and experiences learning Chinese during the speech segment, and demonstrated her love for the language by using a brush to write the seal-script Chinese characters for "Pursuing Dreams in Chinese" during the talent showcase. Through the competition, she displayed the charm of Mauritian students, deepened her understanding of the Chinese language and culture, and made friends from around the world. From her initial nervousness and shyness upon leaving Mauritius to the fond farewells upon leaving China, Jalila gained greater independence, confidence, and personal growth.
Jalila during the written test
Jalila giving her speech
Jalila holding high the Mauritian flag