Swift, powerful martial arts movements and lively Peking Opera performances graced the intriguing speeches delivered by international students at the final of the "Panda Talk - My Story in China" International Students' Chinese Speech Contest on Oct 26.
A total of 17 students from 10 countries made it to the final, presenting their stories about China from a diverse array of perspectives, including Chinese language, martial arts, transportation, as well as their life experiences.
Chuah Yiyin from Malaysia, the runner-up of the contest, narrated her life-changing journey of learning and growth in China; Tang Truc Mai from Vietnam shared her observations on the widespread use of QR codes in China, underscoring the convenience and efficiency brought by technological advances; Heriniaina Cedric from Madagascar, who is passionate about China's intangible cultural heritage, narrated his story about learning and practicing Chinese traditional skills.
Rasolofoharitiana Annie from Madagascar won the contest for her speech in fluent Mandarin regarding her learning experience with Chinese language followed by an impassioned performance.
Since its launch in May, the contest, hosted by the International School of Tongji University, has attracted participation from nearly 100 international students who shared their personal experiences and insights gained from their life and studies in China, serving as a platform to cultivate cross-cultural understanding among international students.
The day before the final, the organizers arranged for the 17 participants to visit Shanghai's Jiading district, in a bid to enhance their understanding of China's industrial progress and food culture. The students viewed the manufacturing process of automobiles at SAIC Volkswagen in Anting town and engaged in making steamed buns.
"International students play a key role in telling China's story to the rest of the world, as bilinguals often find it easier to connect people from diverse cultural backgrounds," said Professor Sun Yixue, dean of the International School of Tongji University. "They know much better how to introduce Chinese culture to their own people. Therefore, we encourage all the participants to give full play to their role as envoys of Chinese culture."
Zhang Zile contributed to this story.
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