CHA LIN, IS SECOND RUNNER-UP IN THE 22ND CHINESE-BRIDGE CHINESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY COMPETITION
UUM ONLINE: Kuala Lumpur – Ms. Nud Cha Lin d/o Verak has successfully brought honour to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) when she emerged as the second runner-up in the 22nd Chinese-Bridge Chinese Language Proficiency Competition for Malaysian Universities Students which was held at the Kong Zi Institute, Universiti Malaya.
The undergraduate student, majoring in International Business Management and Business Administration (Logistics and Transportation) said that this competition gave her the opportunity to demonstrate her talent and skills in Mandarin through a variety of aspects such as quizzes, speech contests and talent competition.
“This event allows participants to demonstrate their abilities in communicating, understanding and using Mandarin fluently and accurately.
“It enables participants from various universities to showcase their skills, expand their knowledge of Chinese culture, and foster relationships with friends from different backgrounds,” she said.
She mentioned that the difficulties associated with this competition includes mastering Mandarin language proficiency, dealing with pressure, and competing with other participants who appear to be more proficient in the language. The competition was crucial and impactful, testing participants in a variety of aspects.
“The learning experience during class time with Teacher Huang and interactions with Chinese friends helped me to become more fluent in Mandarin.
“This approach provides a good combination of formal teaching and practical application in daily life, which has allowed me to improve both my fluency and my Mandarin language skills,” she said.
The Siam-descent girl successfully advanced to the final round in a pool of 66 contestants and eventually secured the second position among the 20 participants who represented 11 different universities.
The competition, jointly organised by the Kong Zi Institute, Universiti Malaya and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, was open to non-native Mandarin speakers. The competition was divided into two main parts namely Mandarin language proficiency and Chinese cultural skills.
This achievement entitles her to receive cash price of RM350, a trophy, souvenirs and even more excitingly to have the opportunity to visit China to witness the final round of the 22nd Chinese-Bridge Chinese Language Proficiency Competition for Malaysian Universities Students which will be held in September at Hunan, China.
“This victory exceeds my expectations. I am very ecstatic, thanks to the dedication, tireless efforts, and the supports from the facilitators and fellow students in preparing for the competition.
“I am thrilled and hopeful about stepping foot in China and I hope the journey will provide new inspiration for expanding my knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture and Mandarin,” shared the native of Jitra, Kedah.
Having mastered Mandarin since childhood has given her an advantage, and it is undeniable that her communication and pronunciation skills in the language are exceptional.
“My language proficiency began in elementary school as my family emphasised the importance of mastering multiple languages. From there, I was motivated to learn this language, especially since it would be a further benefit to my daily life.
“I would like to express infinite dedication to my father, Mr. Verak s/o Prasid, for his unwavering support. With patience and endless encouragement, my father has become my source of inspiration, making every sacrifice to ensure my proficiency in Mandarin and academics,” she said.