STORY: Tanzanian university students show prowess in Chinese language competition
DATELINE: June 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:28
LOCATION: DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 22nd Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition at the University of Dar es Salaam
2. various of the performance at the competition
3. various of the awards ceremony
4. SOUNDBITE (English): EVERIUS GOZIBETH RWABANGI, Student at the University of Dar es Salaam

STORYLINE:

Twelve students from Tanzania's three higher learning institutions showed their skills in the Chinese language during the 22nd Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition held here Friday.

At the competition organized by Confucius Institute (CI) at the University of Dar es Salaam, in collaboration with the CI at the University of Dodoma and Confucius Classroom at the State University of Zanzibar, the contestants were assessed by a panel of judges in their skills in the Chinese language, including Chinese oral speech, knowledge about China and a talent show that was aimed at understanding the Chinese culture.

Pendo Malangwa, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, praised the Confucius Institute for working hard to ensure that Tanzanian youth can learn the Chinese language to improve their competitiveness in future career development. "Learning the Chinese language is an effective approach in further developing the Sino-African ties," she said.

Herbert Ndomba, the coordinator for Post-graduate Studies at the College of Humanities of the University of Dar es Salaam, said the competition has enriched the students with the Chinese culture. "The competition helps the students to strengthen their language proficiency skills and communication skills. These skills are important in our daily lives and in the labor market," said Ndomba.

Wang Siping, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, urged the Tanzanian youth to be committed to the friendship between China and Tanzania, and inspire them to live up to the times.

Zhang Xiaozhen, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam, said the purpose of organizing the competition was to improve Tanzanian Chinese language learners' proficiency and level, actively promote cultural exchanges with language as the medium and culture as the bridge, and contribute to the cause of China-Tanzania friendship and cooperation.

Everius Gozibeth Rwabangi, 23, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education (Chinese & English), emerged as the overall winner.

SOUNDBITE (English): EVERIUS GOZIBETH RWABANGI, Student, University of Dar es Salaam
"Actually, the benefits of learning Chinese are many, including employment, that is to say, since the number of Chinese in Tanzania is increasing day to day, there is a possibility of an increase of the number of opportunities for us. So that's why I'm pursuing Bachelor of Arts with Education in Chinese. We can be translators, we can work together, business managers of the Chinese, and those things alike."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
(XHTV)