On May 21, 2025, the 11th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition (Grenada Division) was held at the T.A. Marryshow Community College. Jointly organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Grenada and the Confucius Institute at TAMCC, the event attracted over 100 Chinese language learners and teachers from Grenadian primary schools, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions. The atmosphere was warm and enthusiastic, with constant rounds of applause.
The competition was co-hosted by Mrs. Norella Philip, the co-director of the Confucius Institute, and volunteer teacher Mr.Yao Xiong. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Andrew Abraham, Principal of TAMCC, and Mr. David Ambrose, Grenadian Director of the Confucius Institute, delivered speeches expressing their strong support and high expectations for the event.
The competition was divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and college levels. Contestants demonstrated solid Chinese language skills and a deep interest in Chinese culture through speech presentations and talent performances. Dressed in elegant traditional Hanfu, they told their own “China stories” in fluent and emotionally rich Chinese, winning the admiration of both judges and audience.
After intense competition, Aasia Scott, Hadassah King, and Rebecca Bennett emerged as the champions of the primary, secondary, and college categories respectively. In the award ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Wei Hongtian presented the first prize winners with their awards, while his wife, Madam Liang Bing, awarded the second prizes. Mr. Andrew Abraham presented the third prizes, and Dr. Jiang Fan, the resident Director of the Confucius Institute, awarded the Excellence Prizes.
The event also featured a variety of cultural performances, including a tai chi demonstration by Mr. Edison Worme, a song performance by Hosea Sylvester and Sarah Roberts, and a speech by Reeyana, the college champion of the 2024 Grenada “Chinese Bridge” competition—highlighting the local community’s love for the Chinese language and culture.
In their concluding remarks, Ambassador Wei and Dr. Jiang Fan highly praised the success of the event and encouraged more young students to pursue Chinese language learning, becoming bridges for cultural exchange between China and Grenada. Ambassador Wei also commended Ningbo University of Technology and the Confucius Institute for their positive contributions to the development of Chinese language education and people-to-people connectivity in Grenada. He also thanked TAMCC for the unwavering support to the Confucius Institute over the years.
With enthusiastic applause, the competition came to a successful close. This “Chinese Bridge” competition not only provided Grenadian students with a platform to showcase their talents, but also deepened mutual understanding between the people of China and Grenada, injecting new vitality into Chinese language education and bilateral cooperation. With the pen as a plow, we cultivate the fields of culture; with language as a foundation, we build bridges of communication. The Confucius Institute will continue its dedicated efforts to nurture more outstanding Chinese learners and strengthen the bridge of mutual learning and cultural exchange between China and Grenada.