Students excel in Chinese language
Stawell Secondary College students have won recognition for their Mandarin Chinese language skills.
Last month year 10 student Melissa Sanders competed in the Chinese Bridge Competition, also known as Hanyu Qiao – an international Mandarin Chinese language proficiency competition.
The competition provides an opportunity for students to compete in China by demonstrating their language and cultural skills through speeches and talent demonstrations.
Entrants must be born outside of China and not speak a Chinese language as their first language.
The top students from preliminary rounds are selected to compete at a final in China.
Melissa was among 25 candidates from across Victoria and Tasmania to compete at a regional final in May, finishing third.
She was also among three Stawell Secondary College students to be presented with a HSK level two certificate, with peers Heather Hemley and Chelsea Peachy.
The certificate recognises Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers.
College Chinese teacher Ling Zhao said the students studied a HSK training course every Friday during afterschool classes for about a year before taking the test at Victoria University in Melbourne earlier this year.
Ms Ling said another student at the college, Elisha Baulch, had been shortlisted for a scholarship program to study Chinese language and literature at a Chinese university in 2020.
The college has a strong Chinese language program, and is preparing to send seven selected
year nine students overseas as part of a Victorian Young Leaders to China program.
The students will tour China in November for a six-week language and culture immersion program.
Ms Ling said 18 students from years seven to nine would also take part in a Jiangsu program that promotes reciprocal visits between Victorian and Chinese sister schools.
The students will experience a two-week trip to China in September, while as part of the reciprocal exchange arrangement, 19 Chinese students will arrive in Stawell in August.
Ms Ling said the Chinese students would have a short stay that would help them ‘enhance the sister school relationship and experience the Australian way of life’.