On May 19th (last Sunday), the Northern California Chinese School Union held the “Idioms Competition” and “Multimedia Presentation Competition” at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Center, followed by an award ceremony.
This year, 39 students from 8 member schools participated in the “Idioms Competition” and “Multimedia Presentation Competition”, two artistic competitions. The competitions were held in the morning and afternoon, with students well prepared and the competition fierce.
The scope of this year’s “Idioms Competition” included 220 idioms for the junior division and 280 idioms for the intermediate division. Participants not only needed to memorize each idiom but also understand its origin and usage. The competition served as a good channel for promoting Chinese language learning.
The theme for this year’s “Multimedia Presentation Competition” was “My Chinese School”, tailor-made for the students. Each student presented vivid and interesting content, showcasing their rich experiences in learning Chinese.
Following the competition, a panel of three reputable experts in the Bay Area served as judges for the multimedia presentation competition: Dr. Yang Shao, Fremont City Councilor and Vice Mayor, Professor Hua-Fu Liu, Director of the Chinese Department at De Anza College, and Richard Li, a simultaneous translator for the U.S. State Department. After the judges’ comments, the award ceremony promptly took place.
During the award ceremony, President Shan Shengling of the Northern California Chinese School Union thanked the principals and teachers for encouraging students to participate in the competition, as well as parents for their hard work in assisting and motivating students in preparation. She commended the students who participated in the competition, recognizing each of them as courageous winners who embrace challenges and pursue their dreams.
In her speech, Director Jane Chuang of the Cultural and Education Center pointed out that the Idioms and Multimedia Presentation Competitions provide students with highly challenging but beneficial learning activities. Utilizing multimedia for presentations and incorporating idioms into writing can greatly help with further education and future employment opportunities. Congratulations were extended to all participating students for their outstanding performances.
She also expressed gratitude to the three judges for their professional and insightful comments, as well as to the organizers Huifeng Kou and Wanjun Wang for their efforts in planning the competition and contributing to the educational cause.
Under the guidance of the host Huifeng Kou, the two competitions and the award ceremony concluded successfully.
The award recipients were as follows:
1st Place – Sheryl Chen from Mickey Kids Education Center
2nd Place – Kairi Vilimek from Cherrywood Elementary School
3rd Place – Frank Chen from Mickey Kids Education Center
1st Place – Iris Chen from Mickey Kids Education Center
2nd Place – Olivia Yuling Hu from Mandarin Language School
3rd Place – Jocelyn Chung from Fremont Chinese School
1st Place – Sheryl Chen from Mickey Kids Education Center
2nd Place – Kendra Lee from Mickey Kids Education Center
3rd Place – Olivia Tung from Joyful Talent Academy
1st Place – Ireene Lu and Mia Lu from North Peninsula Chinese School
2nd Place – Emma Chen and Vicky Chen from Mickey Kids Education Center
3rd Place – Una Yang and Max Yang from Mickey Kids Education Center
Recommended Award – Athena Fitzpatrick from San Mateo Tzu Chi Chinese School
Recommended Award – Isabel Wang from Fremont Chinese School
Sheryl Chen achieved two championship titles in the competition, expressing her joy and slight surprise at her success. She mentioned feeling more confident for the future, less nervous, and aiming for even better results.
Mrs. Chen’s three children were all award recipients in the competition, leaving her feeling extremely happy and proud. She stated that she would encourage her children to persist in their Chinese language learning journey, ensuring they do not lose their roots. She also hopes that when they return to Taiwan, they can communicate fluently in Chinese with their family.
Xiuqing Liao, Principal of Mickey Kids Education Center, expressed her gratitude to all the staff of the Chinese School Union for organizing this event, providing students with a platform to showcase their Chinese proficiency. Participation in the competition motivated students to work harder and strive for excellence.