Andy K. Represents Canada in China

By Samantha S., Grade 10 Student 

Last month, grade 10 student Andy K. represented Canada in the 5th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students held in Kunming, Yunnan province, China. He earned the opportunity to compete by placing first in the 2012 B.C. Chinese Speech Competition this past April. The competition consisted of 52 countries and 104 participants.

Andy represented Canada along with a contestant from the Toronto region. The global competition comprised three categories: a test on Chinese language, history, literature, and culture; a speech and talent show; and a series of tasks unique to Yunnan ethnic minorities at the Yunnan Nationalities Villages.

In addition to participating in the competition, Andy also had the chance to visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Headquarters of the Confucius Institute, Chinese high schools and other sites in Kunming.

He returned from China at the end of November with a 3rd place trophy for the team category. Along with his trophy, Andy was awarded a six-month scholarship to a Chinese university.

Congratulations, Andy, on this tremendous achievement!