Two students from the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Sinegugu Nyaka and Aphile Ngcobo, excelled at the 23rd ‘Chinese Bridge’ Chinese Proficiency Competition which was held in Cape Town, recently.
Ngcobo, a Mechanical Engineering student, delivered an outstanding performance, where she achieved an impressive Top 4 finish in South Africa. Nyaka, who is a Language Practice student, earned unanimous praise from the judges during the talent show segment.
Her performance stood out with its innovative form, graceful movements, and professional narration. Both students competed against constants from the University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University, University of the Western Cape, and Rhodes University.
According to Frank Lin Wu, co-dean of the DUT Confucius Institute, the finals consisted of three segments: a written test, a themed speech, and a talent show, assessing the contestants’ Chinese language proficiency from various aspects, including knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. All the contestants showcased their Chinese skills and love for the Chinese culture.
“Aphile Ngcobo captivated the audience with a heartfelt and powerful rendition of the song Thousands of Miles, a Common Dream (Wan Li Meng Tong Xin), receiving enthusiastic applause from the entire hall. In the speech segment, Aphile shared moving stories from his experience at the Understanding Chinese Modernisation-themed winter camp hosted by Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University last year. He expressed his desire to improve his Chinese proficiency and serve as a bridge of friendship between South Africa and China,” shared Lin Wu.
Among the distinguished guests present in the competition was Mokgadi Tene, Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Higher Education, who witnessed the development and success of the ‘Chinese Bridge’ competition in South Africa for eight consecutive years. She noted that the competition reflected the enthusiasm of the South African youth for learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture.
Tene also indicated that the ‘Chinese Bridge’ demonstrated the increasingly close educational and cultural exchanges between South Africa and China. She hoped that young people from both countries would use Chinese as a medium to build a bridge of friendship between the people of South Africa and China.
It was not the first time that the DUT students excelled in this competition. Last year (2023), two students, Nonjabuliso Kunene and Sinegugu Nyaka scooped third prize after showcasing their excellent Chinese language skills.
