St Aloysius student represents Malta at the Chinese Bridge Competition in China

From 9 to 21 September, Andy Liviu Zachin (Chinese name: AN Yifeng), a student from St Aloysius Secondary School—one of the teaching points of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta (UM)—represented Malta at the prestigious 19th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, held in Beijing and Tianjin, China.

The event features a series of intense competitions testing Chinese public speaking, cultural knowledge, and talent performances. In recognition of his outstanding achievement, Andy was honoured with the Excellence Award and granted a one-semester scholarship to study in China.

Reflecting on this milestone experience, Andy expressed his gratitude:

“Taking part in the 19th Chinese Bridge competition was a special opportunity that not everyone gets to experience. Through my Chinese studies, I was able to put what I learned into practice and learn more about Chinese culture, especially through calligraphy with my teacher, Tang Yu Xiang, and my Chinese language teacher, Yang Kezhen. The experience motivated me to continue improving my Chinese and gave me unforgettable memories and friendships. I feel very grateful to have been selected to represent my country and to have experienced such a wonderful journey.”

As a long-term partner of St Aloysius Secondary School, the Confucius Institute provides full-time Chinese-language teachers to prepare students for the O-Level MATSEC in Chinese. This successful partnership has nurtured strong student engagement, with three students winning the Malta Division of the Chinese Bridge Competition in as many years to reach the finals in China.

Ms Yang Kezhen, Andy’s Chinese teacher from the Confucius Institute, noted the broader impact of the platform:

“The Chinese Bridge Competition has greatly stimulated students’ interest in learning the Chinese language and Chinese culture. It allows students to explore a broader world through Chinese, and also enables us to witness students’ unlimited learning potential and shining talents.”

The University of Malta and the Confucius Institute extend their warmest congratulations to Andy on his impressive accomplishment and wish him continued success in his studies.