STORY: Chinese Bridge show attracts primary school students in Botswana
SHOOTING TIME: June 7, 2024
DATELINE: June 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:40
LOCATION: Gaborone
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1.various of Chinese Bridge show
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GUO ZHENGUANG, Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Botswana
3.various of Chinese Bridge show
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BONTLE KUHLMANN, Acting Director, Department of Basic Education, Ministry of Education

STORYLINE:

The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese language competition for primary school students was held in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, on Friday.
   
The event, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Botswana and organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana, featured three segments: a written test, a speech session and a talent show.
   
During the speech session, students introduced themselves and shared their experiences of learning Chinese. In the talent show, they showcased songs and dances, Chinese martial arts, paper-cutting and other performances.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GUO ZHENGUANG, Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Botswana
"Language is a bridge that connects us. Chinese people can speak English, so that we can understand each other here in Botswana. Botswana people can also learn some Chinese, so as to make us even closer."
   
Nine-year-old Paki Kebopetswe from the Confucius Institute Weekend Youth Class at the University of Botswana won the championship. She will have the opportunity to represent Botswana in the finals in China.
   
Having studied Chinese for nearly two years, Kebopetswe told Xinhua that after watching Chinese TV programs, she found the language fascinating and began learning it. "I like China very much. I hope to go to college in China when I grow up. I also want to visit China to see the Great Wall and the pandas, eat hot pot, make a snowman, and make friends with Chinese children," she said.
   
Bontle Kuhlmann, acting director of the Department of Basic Education from the Ministry of Education, praised the Confucius Institute for its contributions.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BONTLE KUHLMANN, Acting Director, Department of Basic Education, Ministry of Education
"We receive (help) very strongly from the Confucius Institute, because it is clearly building a future for our learners. Through learning foreign languages, like Chinese, they now help to advance further than or beyond Africa and beyond the world."
   
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaborone.
(XHTV)