Maya's Winning Chinese Bridge Story!

I am delighted that I was afforded the opportunity to participate in the Chinese Bridge competition （漢語橋比賽）, and was proud to receive the "Most Creative Award"

The competition consisted of several rounds designed to test different Chinese language abilities: a three-minute speech on a chosen topic—which had to be memorised in advance; a quick-fire Q&A round—with a wide range of questions covering language comprehension, history, and more; a segment of impromptu questions—where two judges asked us anything at random; and a cultural performance—for which I recited a poem that I had written myself.

The lead-up to the competition was quite manic, as it coincided with exam season. I had to carefully balance my preparation for 漢語橋 with studying for my end-of-year exams (which included assessments in Chinese, Japanese, and Cantonese). It’s safe to say I was overwhelmed with language input. My tutor, Junyi Chen, really helped me manage my time by setting goals for when certain tasks should be completed (which I admittedly didn’t always follow—君儀姊姊，我很抱歉 🙂). Together, we refined my speech and poem and brainstormed ways to make the performance unique and engaging—perhaps one of the reasons I was awarded the prize for most creative performance, which came with a free trip to China 😎.

You can watch a video interview of Maya just after her winning performance here - An Exclusive Interview with Maya, Winner of the Most Creative Award Chinese Bridge Competition 2025

On the day of the competition, I woke up to pouring rain and unexpected road closures near my house. The combination of both meant I arrived at the venue just before the competition began. I was very stressed, having had no time for last-minute preparation (QQ). While waiting for my turn, nervous about forgetting my lines or misunderstanding the judges' questions, I found myself pacing anxiously and taking deep breaths. Once on stage, although I was trembling at first, I gradually became more comfortable. By the time I reached the Q&A section, I was able to respond more naturally and express my thoughts freely.

Overall, the competition was incredibly enjoyable. I met many like-minded people and had the chance to witness others' appreciation for Chinese culture. Participating this year helped me gain confidence in myself, and I’m now interested in taking on similar challenges in the future. For anyone considering applying, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it—it truly is a rewarding experience. 

You can watch a video of the Maya's performance on the Chinese Bridge Content here from 2:56:00 onwards- https://www.youtube.com/live/bw4DYPawYA8