On September 26, 2025, Emeline Gabrielle JATA proudly represented Mauritius at the 18th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition Finals for Secondary School Students in Tianjin, China. The event highlighted linguistic and cultural talents globally, serving as a vibrant tribute to the Chinese language and culture. Emeline's outstanding performance in the Chinese Bridge Competition secured her a spot in the global top 30, which earned her a scholarship for a semester of Mandarin study in China, along with a round-trip airfare.
Through her participation in the competition, Emeline not only significantly improved her proficiency in Chinese, but also gained a more tangible and in-depth understanding of Chinese history, culture, and contemporary developments. During the event, she engaged in extensive exchanges with fellow Chinese language learners from around the world, forging deep friendships. This experience marked a significant milestone in Emeline’s personal growth and served as an inspiring example for Mauritian youth to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture. Below is a recount of her experience.
“Chinese Bridge is more than a competition for me, it is an unforgettable experience that has allowed me to meet students from all over the world and make friends with them. I'm happy with my performance, to have managed to get through the first round. Even if I didn't go further in the competition, I came back stronger. Seeing the performance of all my classmates also gave me the motivation to keep working hard to learn Mandarin.
I really enjoyed discovering historical sites and more modern ones, such as the Forbidden City and Summer Palace in Beijing, as well as the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium. Visiting the robotics development facility and Lenovo development center was also an enriching experience. These visits portrayed China as both a historical and modern country, reflecting its status as one of the oldest civilizations and a growing economic and technological power.
Visiting schools was also very interesting. While some visits allowed us to see the studying options in China, visiting vocational schools, like the one for opera and the one for martial arts, showed us the impressive amount of work and devotion required for students to achieve such a high level of artistry. Seeing their hard work made me appreciate these Chinese arts even more. Meeting Chinese students and spending time with their families was another unforgettable experience. We were able to experience Chinese hospitality and family life firsthand, which allowed us to witness the devotion of Chinese parents to their children. ”