Students win Chinese experience
06 July 2009
The winners of this year's Shanghai Cup Chinese Language Competition, Bond University's Thomas Harrison, Brisbane Grammar School's Alex Prior, ASJ Group's Anna Llambias and Queensland Academy for Science, Maths and Technology's Adam Spottiswood.
More than 60 Queensland students of Chinese have vied for top honours in the 2009 Shanghai Cup Chinese Language Competition.
The Shanghai Cup, held on June 26 at the State Library of Queensland, pitted students of modern standard Chinese, or Mandarin, across four divisions against each other.
Students from Year 11 and Year 12 as well as from universities and private institutions were asked to display their language skills by delivering a speech on a subject of their choice in Chinese (Mandarin).
Judges awarded prizes and an individual trophy to the first, second and third place winners in each division. First prize winners received return airfares to Shanghai and accommodation.
The Department of Education and Training's Assistant Director-General, Tertiary and Non-State Education, Ian Hawke congratulated all of the competitors at the presentation ceremony for their interest in learning a language other than English.
'It is important that we have more internationally engaged Queenslanders, who are comfortable with diversity, and possess the skills and knowledge to work across the globe and across cultures with different world views and belief systems,' Mr Hawke said.
'The ability to speak a second language fluently is particularly important in this regard.'
The competition coincided with Shanghai Week in Queensland celebrations.
This week of events marked the 20th anniversary of Queensland's sister-state relationship with Shanghai, which aims to further develop bilateral trade, economic and cultural relations and mutual understanding.
Winners in the four categories were:
Year 11 division: Alex Prior, Brisbane Grammar School
Year 12 division: Adam Spottiswood, Queensland Academy for Science, Maths and Technology
Open beginners division: Anna Llambias, ASJ Group
Open division: Thomas Harrison, Bond University
Other languages