On November 20, 2024, the “Foreign Students Mandarin Speech Competition” organized by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China was held in Taiwan. A total of 17 universities and 60 foreign students participated in the competition. The champions, runners-up and third-place winners of this year are Qian Zhiching, Ke Jingwei, and Bo Aili from the United States.
The “2024 Foreign Students Mandarin Speech Competition” organized by the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall concluded successfully. Director Wang Lansheng stated that speeches do not have a specific form of performance but are a comprehensive display that combines the speaker’s understanding of the subject matter, interaction with the audience, and control of the atmosphere.
According to the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, after a heated discussion by the judging panel, student Qian Zhiching from the United States won the championship with his speech on “Persistence and Sacrifice.” Following the competition, an award ceremony was held to announce the top four winners and outstanding participants, who were presented with certificates and cash prizes. The prize amounts were as follows: NT$20,000 for the first place, NT$16,000 for the second place, NT$12,000 for the third place, NT$8,000 for the fourth place, and NT$6,000 for outstanding participants, aimed at encouraging foreign students to continue their diligent Mandarin learning efforts.
Hu from Vietnam delivered a speech titled “Taboos in Taiwan Through My Eyes,” highlighting how Taiwanese people avoid pointing at the moon due to the folk belief that it will cause their ears to be cut. He also created a QR Code listing the top ten taboos in Taiwan. Zhu Aili spoke about her concerns regarding cultural differences in Taiwan, mentioning that in Russia, presenting a sword plant as a gift to a teacher signifies respect, while in Taiwan, such a gesture is a funeral decoration.
Professor Penny, the head judge, praised the exceptional delivery of speeches on the competition day. She noted that participants showcased outstanding pronunciation skills, adjusting tone and inflections based on the speech content. Despite many languages not having tonal variations like Mandarin, the contestants excelled in their pronunciation. Additionally, the participants’ posture and gestures stood out as a key feature, making their speeches more engaging and natural. The professors unanimously agreed that even though there was only one winner, all students who persevered until the end were viewed as champions in the eyes of the teachers, encouraging those dedicated to Mandarin learning to continue striving to become next year’s champion.
After a tense competition lasting for seven hours, the judging panel consisting of Professor Chen Liyuan, Professor Zhang Meiling, Professor Zhang Jinlan, Professor Penny, and Professor Jian Yingying carefully evaluated the performances and announced the winners as follows: 1st place – Qian Zhiching (United States); 2nd place – Ke Jingwei (United States); 3rd place – Bo Aili (United States); 4th place – Ou Bingge (Netherlands); and six honorable mentions: Farida Van (Indonesia), Bu Huaijia (United States), Zhang Kun (United States), Lei Yisheng (United States), Chen Ninghe (Thailand), Yuuwa Sotoda (Japan).