Intl students shine at Chinese speech contest in Wuxi

Contestants pose at the award ceremony of the South Jiangsu division of 2018 "Shared Joy in Jiangsu" Chinese Speech Contest for Foreigners on May 31. [Photo by Hu Yi/Jiangnan University]

The final of the South Jiangsu division of 2018 "Shared Joy in Jiangsu" Chinese Speech Contest for Foreigners took place in Jiangnan University, Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, on May 31.

A total of 20 international students from 18 countries, including the United States, Italy, Yemen, Japan and India, put on exciting audio-visual performances and vied for the top two places in the final, which will be held in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, in June.

Sponsored by the Information Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government and Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, the event encourages international students to showcase their Chinese proficiency and share their aspirations for living in Jiangsu and China.

Jared York, the first-prize winner. He is proficient not only in Chinese mandarin, but also in dialects popular in the Jiangnan area (the region south of the Yangtze River), Southwest China's Guizhou province and East China's Fujian province. [Photo by Hu Yi/Jiangnan University]

Jared York, an American boy who is studying at the Business School of Jiangnan University, won the first prize.

From cracking jokes in Wuxi dialect to chatting freely in the dialects of Southwest China's Guizhou province and East China's Fujian province, the young man regards regional dialects, which are related to all aspects of his life, as national treasures.

"I've learned Chinese since I was in high school, and I came to China to experience a different culture," he said, adding that he himself is also a great fan of Chinese food, including hot pot and steamed buns.