AMMAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese proficiency competition was held in Jordan's Philadelphia University on Wednesday, where Layan al Hersh from the University of Jordan came out on top.
The competition, known as the Jordanian regional contest of the 17th "Chinese Bridge" Competition, brought together 10 contestants from major universities and educational institutions in Jordan, including the University of Jordan, TAG Education Group, the Philadelphia University and the Yarmouk University.
Hosted by the Confucius Institute Headquarters in China, the competition consists of three parts: a free speech in Chinese, a quiz on the knowledge about China and Chinese culture and artistic performance.
"The use of Chinese language expands with high demand in various sectors. It was a very good choice for me to study Chinese," al Hersh, 21, told Xinhua after winning the race.
She has won two scholarships respectively awarded by the Chinese government and the Confucius Institute of the Philadelphia University in 2018.
Al Hersh gave a perfect speech in Chinese and did a "hilarious" talk show, according to Ding Haibin, a Chinese teacher working at the university.
She will travel to China's capital Beijing this summer to compete with contestants from other countries and regions in the "Chinese Bridge" final.
Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang said he hoped these Jordanian students will become the messengers of the traditional friendship between the two countries.
As one of the most significant platforms for college students across the world to study Chinese language, the annual "Chinese Bridge" competition serves as a bridge to promote the cultural exchanges between China and the outside world.
