CHINA: “Fun with Chinese, Hope of Success”, The 8th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students is going to open in Changsha on July 16.

This contest is sponsored by China HANBAN, undertaken by Hunan Provincial Department of Education and Hunan Broadcasting & Television Bureau, and is assisted by Hunan TV and Hunan Educational TV. Taking “Fun with Chinese, Hope of Success” as its theme, 112 foreign college students from more than 60 countries, standing out from around 80 preliminary competition area, will have the opportunity to participate in the semi-finals and finals in Changsha  on July 9 to August 7, 2009,  further displaying their Chinese proficiency and understanding to Chinese culture in a more competitive stage.

The competition sets 1 Special Prize, 5 First Prizes, 6 Second Prizes, 18 Third Prizes and 10 Individual Awards. All the winners will be granted the title “Chinese Language Envoy” and a scholarship will be provided to them for their study in China.

As it is understood, in order to stimulate foreign college students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese，and enhance their understanding of Chinese culture, since the year 2002, China HANBAN has already held seven sessions of “Chinese Bridge”-Chinese Proficiency Language Competition for Foreign College Students. The competition has received a positive response from all sides and wined favorable impact. The former seven sessions took “Bridge of Heart ”、“China in the New Century”、“China，a Country with a splendid Culture”、“China, a land of Spectacular Beauty”、“An Ethnically Diverse China”、“China Welcomes the Olympics”、“ Fervor with the Olympics, Fun with Chinese” as the theme respectively. A total of 593 competitors from 55 countries participated in the preliminaries and the final contest. It becomes an important platform for international college students to learn the Chinese language and more about this country, helping young people in the world to better communicate with one another. (Liu Jia)