The Si Yuan Centre was live with excitement on November 8th as the Nottingham Confucius Institute hosted its 17th “China and Me” Mandarin Speech Contest. Eleven enthusiastic learners from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Confucius Institute took to the stage, captivating an audience of over 40 friends, family, and supporters.

A key annual event since 2009, the contest gives students a dynamic platform to showcase their linguistic skills and cultural knowledge. This year's event was divided into intermediate and advanced levels, where each contestant delivered a prepared speech, with some opting to include a talent show-style performance. The advanced-level participants faced the extra challenge of answering impromptu questions from the judges.

Contestants brought their language journeys to life through personal stories, sharing everything from visits to the ancient sites of Xi'an and Beijing to a shared love of Chinese cuisine. The talent show then featured a wonderful variety of acts, including classic songs like "The Moon Represents My Heart," a heartfelt guitar performance of "Yong Qi" (Courage), a poetic recitation, and a vibrant handmade dragon dance. Each performance drew warm and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

After much deliberation, the winners were announced:
Advanced Category: Mariam Areigib, Daniel Sadiq, Charles Steward
Intermediate Category: Beth Hawkes, Christopher Cogley, Ana Vieru

The Nottingham Confucius Institute extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the participants on their fantastic achievements. A special thank you goes to the dedicated volunteer coaches—current UoN students—who provided one-to-one support, as well as to the judges and staff who made the event possible.