For the seventh year in a row a student of Stellenbosch University (SU) has won the Chinese-Bridge Competition for South African College S​​tudents. Matie student Jasmine Rae Beaudry impressed judges with her knowledge of the Chinese language and culture clinching the top prize at the 15th Chinese Bridge South Africa region competition. The second-year BA student triumphed over peers, beating students from Durban University of Technology, University of Cape Town, Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg.

The Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students Program is a large-scale international competition organised by Confucius Institute headquarters (Hanban). Launched in 2002, the annual event attracts more than 1000 students from over 80 countries to participate in the semi-finals and finals in China.

Participants are tested on the following: Chinese language proficiency, knowledge of China, Chinese cultural skills and a comprehensive learning ability. The competitions aim to inspire students in various countries to continue learning Chinese and to promote understanding of the Chinese language and culture worldwide.

As winner of the South African competition, Jasmine will travel to China in July to participate in the global competition.

Jasmine was not the only Matie student who impressed judges at the competition held at the University of Johannesburg on 27 May 2016. Fellow second-year BA students, Bonnie Cape Shapcott and Leanne Robinson were placed third after the University of Cape Town's Sonya Cotton.

Staff from the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University (CISU), part of the Postgraduate & International Office (PGIO), helped the SU students prepare for the competition.

Read more about the activities of the CISU here.

Picture:

Huina Ma, Lecturer at the CISU; Jennifer Jian, Director:CISU,  Robert Kotzé, Senior Director of the PGIO and Co-director of the CISU; Bonnie Kaap Shapcott; Leanne Robinson and Jasmine Rae Beaudry