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HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition

Congratulations to the following schools whose students have been successful in reaching the finals of the Mandarin Speaking Competition!

School
Category  
Brighton College, East Sussex
Beginner
Calday Grange Grammar School, Merseyside
Beginner
Dartford Grammar School, Kent
Beginner
Dean Close School, Gloucestershire
Beginner
George Heriot's School, Edinburgh
Beginner
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College, London  
Beginner
Hillhead High School, Glasgow
Beginner
Leith Academy, Edinburgh
Beginner
Malvern College, Worcestershire
Beginner
Reading School, Berkshire
Beginner
St Paul's Girls' School, London
Beginner
The Queen's School, Cheshire
Beginner
Calday Grange Grammar School, Merseyside
Intermediate
George Heriot's School, Edinburgh
Intermediate
Heathfield School, Harrow
Intermediate
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School, Lincolnshire
Intermediate
New Hall School, Essex
Intermediate
Our Lady's Convent High School, London
Intermediate
Queen Mary's Grammar School, West Midlands
Intermediate
Royal Masonic School for Girls, Hertfordshire
Intermediate
St Paul's Girls' School, London
Intermediate
Wellington College, Berkshire
Intermediate
Wycombe Abbey School, Buckinghamshire
Intermediate
Calday Grange Grammar School, Merseyside
Advanced
Loreto Grammar School, Cheshire
Advanced
Malvern College, Worcestershire
Advanced
Brighton College, East Sussex
Group
Calday Grange Grammar School, Merseyside
Group
George Heriot's School, Edinburgh
Group
Grange Academy, East Ayreshire
Group
Heathfield School, Harrow
Group
Kingsford Community School, London
Group
Leith Academy, Edinburgh
Group
Madras College, Fife
Group
St Ninian's High School. Isle of Man
Group
St Paul's Girls' School, London
Group
Wellington College, Berkshire
Group

Applications for the 2011/12 HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition have now closed.

Take part in the HSBC/British Council Mandarin Chinese Speaking Competition and you could be heading off to Beijing in April 2012!

This competition gives you the chance to test your Mandarin Chinese speaking skills in front of an audience of schools from all over the UK and a panel of illustrious judges.  

The competition is for UK secondary school students* who are non-native speaking learners of Mandarin Chinese who have learnt the language from scratch with no advantage. For full details of eligibility, please read the Terms & Conditions.

*UK, Channel Island and Isle of Man secondary school students, sixth form and FE college students in years 7-13 (England, Wales, Channel Islands and Isle of Man), years S1-S6 (Scotland) and years 8-14 (N. Ireland).  Students in England in the equivalent of years 7-9 e.g. in preparatory or middle schools are also eligible to enter.

In the Individual Language Ability section, with the following categories: Beginner; Intermediate and Advanced, the judges are looking for real communication and presentation, not rehearsed performance.  The winner of each category will be someone who has really got to grips with the Mandarin language appropriate to their level of learning.   

In the Group Performance section, for five or six participants from at least two year groups of the same school or college, the judges are looking for a group drama performance which has all the participants joining in and using the language. For supporting information to schools entering the Group Performance section and using PowerPoint presentations, please click Group Performance Slide.  

Full details of what is involved in each section and category are in the Judging Criteria.

The prize of a week long cultural visit to Beijing (5-13 April 2012 inclusive) for the winning students is only a part of the attraction.  Winners and their teachers are clearly proud of their achievements and the kudos that winning brings, and everyone benefits from the rehearsals and presenting or performing in front of others. If you make it through the regional heats there is a whole day at the British Museum in London for the final, with extra activities provided to see Chinese exhibits and learn more about Chinese culture.

New school entrants are very welcome, even if you have only recently started to teach Mandarin on or off the curriculum.

Important dates

Final – 10 February 2012 at the British Museum

Winners’ trip to China – 5-13 April 2012

We are extremely grateful to Newcastle University and Routes Into Languages North East and to the British Museum for generously hosting the northern heat and competition final.  We would also like to thank the LSE Language Centre for their valued support in the holding of the London heat at the LSE.

Footage of last year’s competition

BBC News film

British Council film

Contact details

If you have any questions that are not answered by the information above please contact the British Council on:

Tel: 0161 957 7755; Email: chinaschools@britishcouncil.org

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