On November 26, 2025 – The “Foreign Students Mandarin Speech Contest” organized by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China was held on the 25th. A total of 60 foreign students from 20 universities in 16 countries participated. Ultimately, students Winco Bridge, Zhang Kun, and Bei Tingsheng from the United States respectively obtained the champion, runner-up, and third place honors in this competition.
After passionate discussions by the judging panel, Winco Bridge from the United States won the championship in this year’s competition with his speech on “Silence and Frankness”. The award ceremony took place after the competition, announcing the top four and honorable mention awards. The prize money awarded were: 20,000 New Taiwan Dollars (TWD) for the first place, 16,000 TWD for the second place, 12,000 TWD for the third place, 8,000 TWD for the fourth place, and 6,000 TWD for honorable mentions, aiming to encourage foreign students to continue their Mandarin studies diligently.
Wang Lansheng expressed gratitude to the four judging teachers for listening to the participants’ speeches and sharing valuable insights, greatly benefiting the students. The students interpreted the topics of AI and life experiences in diverse ways, blending rationality and emotion, showcasing high levels of creativity. The competition not only serves as a contest but also fosters cross-cultural exchanges, as seen by students practicing, interacting, and forming friendships. Future events will continue to be held, with hopes for more students to participate and uphold this emotional and cultural connection together.
Acting Deputy Director of the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Researcher Qiu Wen Zhi, stated that this year’s competition encouraged students to observe and understand Taiwanese culture through Mandarin, sharing the cultural impacts and values in their daily lives, showcasing the thriving energy of diverse cultures. The Memorial Hall will continue to promote Mandarin learning and related competitions.
Professor Zhang Jinlan from National Taipei University of Education, one of the judges, mentioned that an impressive speech derives from three key aspects: external performance, vocal expressions, and depth of content. Professor Zhang encouraged students to express themselves sincerely, applauding fervently for their performances regardless of winning.
The participating students in this competition came from 16 countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Indonesia, Poland, Mozambique, Myanmar, Spain, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Australia, totaling 60 foreign students from 20 universities.
The competition comprised five topics for the contestants to choose from, including “How to Understand Taiwanese Politeness”, “My View on AI Artificial Intelligence”, “Silence and Frankness”, “The Cultural Impact I Experienced in Taiwan”, and “If I Could Go Back to That Day”. Students delivered approximately 5-minute speeches on their chosen topic. “The Cultural Impact I Experienced in Taiwan” was favored by many students, reflecting their observations, surprises, and adaptation processes while living in Taiwan.
The backgrounds of this year’s participating students were diverse, including students who came to Taiwan specifically to study Mandarin and those pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in Taiwan. For instance, a student from Tamkang University, a Thai monk named Shi Xinfa, has been studying Buddhism and learning Mandarin in Taiwan since he ordained as a novice at the age of 13.
Another student, Kejian Tai from Thailand attending National Taiwan Normal University, was the 4th runner-up in the Mister Star Thailand 2023 pageant and plans to run a personal video channel in Mandarin in the future. Kei Deguchi from Feng Chia University in Japan, a former Osaka subway employee, came to Taiwan to study Mandarin after meeting and marrying a Taiwanese woman. Vietnamese students Huang Guofeng and Le Chung-hsiao from Nanhua University of Science and Technology participated in the contest together as they are brothers sharing their experiences in Taiwan.