【Article by Chinese Language Center】

Two American students from the Chinese Language Center (CLC) distinguished themselves at the "2025 Foreign Students’ Chinese Speaking Contest" organized by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, with Joseph Donald Woodcock II (溫柯橋) winning first place and Brendan Bakker (貝庭笙) securing third place.

Now in its 52nd year, the annual competition, hosted by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under the Ministry of Culture, is the institution’s longest-running and most iconic event for Mandarin learners in Taiwan. It serves not only as a Mandarin proficiency contest for international learners but also as an important platform for intercultural exchange.

This year’s contest brought together 54 students from 20 universities across 16 countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Poland, Mozambique, Myanmar, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Australia. Most contestant was selected as an outstanding representative of their institution.

Joseph, the newly crowned champion, is currently enrolled in the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS). His speech, titled “Keeping Silently or Speaking Straightly,” highlighted themes of identity, courage, and self-expression. Despite his outgoing personality, Joseph struggled with stage fright during rehearsals. His instructor, Ms. Ke-Hsin Wang, therefore provided intensive one-on-one training, carefully refining his pronunciation, tone, gestures, and stage presence to ensure a more vivid and confident performance.

One of the greatest challenges in the coaching process was helping Joseph overcome a series of “psychological barriers.” Though expressive in daily life, he often froze on stage, particularly when managing body language. To help him adapt, Ms. Wang had him rehearse repeatedly- sometimes even leading him through multiple classes to simulate performing in unfamiliar spaces. Amusingly, Joseph would occasionally make the different mistakes upon returning to each original practice spot. Nevertheless, his persistence, coupled with Ms. Wang’s dedicated instruction, ultimately led him to a well-earned victory.

Third-place winner Brendan arrived in Taiwan in September through a selection process at Brigham Young University. During his time in Taiwan, he has immersed himself in Taiwanese society and culture. In addition to his advanced Mandarin coursework at the CLC, he also enrolled in Electrical Engineering classes at National Taiwan University as a visiting student. As a result, he frequently commutes between NCCU and NTU. Even on the day of the competition, he continued to assist with lab work.

Brendan, who came to Taiwan in September through a selection process at Brigham Young University, immersed himself deeply in local society and academic life. His training program in Taiwan required him not only to take advanced Mandarin courses at the CLC but also to enroll in Chinese-speaking courses at local universities. At the CLC, his coursework included discussions on contemporary Taiwanese social issues. By combining his STEM background with these Mandarin-based explorations of social topics, Brendan was able to organize information with clarity and develop his own distinct perspective. Despite his naturally reserved personality, he demonstrated a steady stage presence and clear logic during his performance. After discussing with his instructor, Ms. Wang, he ultimately changed his speech topic to “My Perspective on Artificial Intelligence,” a subject aligned with his professional strengths, resulting in a more fluent and compelling final presentation.

The judging panel emphasized that an impactful speech hinges on three essential elements: delivery, vocal expression, and content depth. CLC contestants excelled across all categories, earning considerable praise during the post-event review. Judges remarked that “language rewards those who devote themselves to it,” noting that pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation are what allow speakers to convey true meaning beyond mere sound.

Judges commended Joseph’s speech for being “grounded in real-life experience, thoughtfully articulated, and emotionally sincere.” Brendan’s presentation was praised for its “substantive content and clear communication of professional concepts while reflecting on broader social issues.” Both demonstrated precise vocabulary, natural pacing, and strong comprehension of their chosen topics. Their accomplishments also reflect the dedication of their instructors, who invested significant time and effort into guiding them.

For those interested in watching Joseph’s and Brendan’s performances, please subscribe the Chinese Language Center’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@mandarinnccu), or follow us on social media, facebook fan page or instagram. Their videos will be uploaded once subtitles have been completed.