【Article by Chinese Language Center】

The "Foreign Students Mandarin Speech Contest," organized by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under the Ministry of Culture, has entered its 51st year. It is not only the hall's longest-running and most iconic competition, but also a grand event for foreign students learning Mandarin in Taiwan. The contest serves as both a language proficiency competition and a platform for cultural exchange and interaction. Due to ongoing renovations at the Memorial Hall, the 2024 competition was held at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center for the first time, and successfully concluded on November 19.

This year, the competition had limited slots, with 60 foreign students from 17 countries—including the UK, the US, France, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Italy, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Russia, India, New Zealand, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho—participating. They came from 17 universities, including National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Chengchi University, Tzu Chi University, and Tunghai University. Contestants selected one of five topics: "Perseverance and Giving Up," "What is the Best Age in Life?" "How to Make Good Use of Social Media," "What Concerns Me Most in Taiwan," and "Taboos in Taiwan." They then delivered a five-minute speech. The participants demonstrated not only fluent Mandarin but also a deep understanding of Taiwanese culture and societal issues.

This year, the Chinese Language Center was represented by four students: Camille Byrne (USA) and Fathiya Adiba (Indonesia) from the intermediate-high level, as well as Amane Matsuo and Sakine Matsuo (Japan), twin sisters from the intermediate level. Since confirming their participation in September, they engaged in intensive training during their spare time, refining their pronunciation, grammar, and content delivery.

Among the participants, the youngest contestant, Sakine Matsuo, delivered her speech on the topic "What is the Best Age in Life?" She vividly shared the significance of being 18, describing it as a stage full of infinite possibilities, a critical time for making major life decisions and personal growth. Drawing from her own experience, she encouraged others to pursue their dreams and embrace adventure. Fathiya Adiba from Indonesia chose the same topic and interpreted the value of life from different age perspectives, emphasizing that maintaining passion and a positive attitude is key at any stage.

Amane Matsuo chose the topic "Perseverance and Giving Up," using martial arts training and her study-abroad experience to discuss the wisdom of perseverance and letting go. She argued that giving up is not failure but a new beginning, while perseverance is a commitment to one's dreams. Camille Byrne likened life to mountain climbing, stressing the importance of persistence, and quoted: "There is no mountain higher than a person, and no road longer than one's feet," encouraging everyone to persist and believe that perseverance can turn the impossible into possible.

After seven hours of intense competition and careful evaluation by five judges, Camille Byrne earned third place, while Fathiya Adiba won the merit award. The participants' excellent performances demonstrated the results of their month-long preparation and brought this cross-cultural language event to a perfect conclusion.