Plan for the 9th Chinese Bridge--Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students

1. Name

Chinese name: 第九届"汉语桥"世界大学生中文比赛

English name: The 9th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students

2. Theme

Chinese theme: 魅力汉语，精彩世博

English theme: Charming Chinese, Splendid EXPO

3. Purpose

To provide a platform for young students to show their Chinese proficiency, learn from one another and conduct exchanges in order to stimulate their enthusiasm for and interest in learning Chinese, as well as enhance their understanding of Chinese language and culture.

4. Sponsor

The Office of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban)

5. Host for semi-finals and finals

The Department of Education of Hunan Province

Hunan Radio and Television stations

The Hunan Base for International Promotion of Chinese

6. Organizer

An organizing committee for the 9th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (organizing committee for short) will be set up by the sponsor and hosts. It will be responsible for making decisions and assessment of matters of significance.

7. Participants

Participants are foreign college students under the age of 30, who were born and grown up abroad and whose first language is not Chinese.

In principle winners of the previous finals are not permitted to participate in two consecutive competitions.

8. Contents

●Chinese language proficiency

Communication, reading and writing abilities;

●Knowledge of China

Test questions will be released on the official website www.chinesebridge.org, Hanban's website www.hanban.org and online Confucius Institute www.chinese.cn. Reference questions can be found on www.china.org.cn, www.news.cn, www.people.com.cn, www.cri.com.cn and www.cri.com.cn.

●Chinese cultural skills:

Chinese song, dance, folk arts, acrobatics, musical instruments, calligraphy, Chinese paintings, paper-cutting, martial arts, traditional sports etc.

●Comprehensive learning ability:

Chiefly to examine students' comprehensive learning abilities and practical application of ability through training.

9. Arrangement

The competition is divided into preliminaries, semi-finals and finals. Preliminaries will be held abroad, semi-finals and finals will be held in China. The cost of lodgings, meals and transportation for contestants coming to China to participate in the finals will be met by the organizing committee. After the competition participants will be sent back in groups by the committee.

1) Preliminary (from early March to late May)

Two methods are employed for selection of participants for the semi-finals:

a. Selected and recommended by the educational or cultural office (section) of a Chinese Embassy (Consulate), Confucius Institute or relevant educational institution;

b. Recommended by a university or college offering Chinese courses.

Participants selected based on either of the two methods mentioned above are asked to send their personal videos and related materials in line with the requirements of the competition to the committee. The committee will conduct a unified selection process before June 10th and 110-120 students will be selected for the semi-finals.

2) Semi-finals and finals (from early July to early August)

The semi-finals consist of a series of examinations on students' Chinese proficiency, knowledge of China and Chinese cultural skills. Winners will be selected to enter the finals.

A method based on promotion will be used to select special, first, second and third place prizes, as well as single awards.

10. Prizes and Awarding Methods

1) Prizes:

1 special prize, 5 first place prizes, 6 second place prizes and 18 third place prizes;

10 single awards;

10 outstanding organization prizes for excellent preliminary organizers

Contestants other than those receiving the above mentioned awards will be given prizes for excellence.

2) Awarding Methods

●Special prize: The special prize winner will receive a full scholarship to study in China, offered by Hanban (valid for a 3-year period from 2011 to 2014). The winner will also be awarded the title "Outstanding Chinese Language Envoy".

●First prize: First prize winners will receive a full scholarship to study in China offered by Hanban (valid for a 3-year period from 2011 to 2014). They will also be awarded the title "Chinese Language Envoy".

●Second prize: The Second prize winners will receive a scholarship for a one-year study period in China during 2011 plus a return trip air ticket offered by Hanban.

●Third prize: Third prize winners will receive a scholarship for a half-year study period in China during 2011 plus a return trip air ticket offered by Hanban.

●Single prize: Winners will receive a scholarship for a half-year study period in China in 2011 offered by Hunan Province Education Department plus a return trip air ticket offered by Hanban.

●Prize of excellence: Winners will receive a scholarship for a half-year study period in China in 2011 offered by Hanban.

11. Judges

The organizing committee will invite experts in language, culture and the arts to serve as judges in the semi-finals and finals.

12. Contact Details

Official website of the competition: http://www.chinesebridge.org

Email address: chinesebridge@hanban.org