The 13th Zhejiang Provincial College Chinese Classics Recitation, Writing and Interpretation Contest, themed "Classics Illuminate China, Cultural Heritage Endures," has concluded. With strong Chinese language proficiency and deep cultural insight, ZJSU international students achieved a grand slam across all sub-competitions for the first time, showcasing the remarkable results of the university's education in Chinese language and culture and its cultivation of applied Chinese-language skills among international students.
In the "Classics Nourish the River" recitation competition, DEMARIA JOSHUA CHARLES (An Shi), a student majoring in International Trade, won the first prize. KULIK IANA (Lin Yali), majoring in Chinese Language and Literature (Business Chinese track), took the second prize. KIM KRISTINA (Jin Xi) and DUBROVSKAIA AGLAIA (Li Yue), also majoring in Chinese Language and Literature (Business Chinese track), received the third prize. The students' standard pronunciation, sincere emotion, and precise grasp of the meaning of the classical works earned high praise from the judges.
DEMARIA JOSHUA CHARLES (An Shi)
KULIK IANA (Lin Yali)
KIM KRISTINA (Jin Xi) and DUBROVSKAIA AGLAIA (Li Yue)
In the "Poetry Nourishes the River" poetry interpretation competition, SIRITO AUE-AREE (Li Xiaoxue), majoring in Chinese Language and Literature (Business Chinese track), delivered an impressive performance and won the second prize, demonstrating her ability not only to recite classics but also to interpret the artistic conception and essence of Chinese poetry in depth.
SIRITO AUE-AREE (Li Xiaoxue)
In addition, ZJSU international students also won awards in the "Calligraphy Enriches the River" Chinese character writing competition and the "Stone Carves the River" seal carving competition. OVCHINNIKOVA ELIZAVETA (Xu Lishu), majoring in Chinese Language and Literature (Business Chinese track), won the third prize in the soft-brush undergraduate category. BALABINA IULIIA (You Liya), also from the same major, won the third prize in the seal carving undergraduate category. Their brushwork and artistry on the small square of stone reflected their appreciation for and practical mastery of traditional Chinese art forms. Notably, these two competitions did not set up a separate category for international students, and both students were the only international recipients of awards in their respective events.
OVCHINNIKOVA ELIZAVETA (Xu Lishu) with her work
BALABINA IULIIA (You Liya)'s work
These outstanding achievements are closely tied to ZJSU's long-standing commitment to fostering Chinese language and cultural literacy among international students. Through a systematic and professional curriculum that integrates language learning with cultural education, the School of International Education goes beyond classroom instruction by actively organizing cultural practice activities and classical recitation events. Together with outstanding faculty from the University Youth League Committee, the School of Art, and the School of Humanities, the school creates rich opportunities for international students to study calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, building a comprehensive and immersive environment for learning Chinese culture. For example, the university's Master Studio for National Conditions Education for International Students has launched a video column titled "ZJSU · Poetic Splendor · New Voices from Abroad," and regularly hosts "Qiantang Tea Talks" — faculty-student exchange gatherings — to help international students understand fine traditional Chinese culture and enhance their cross-cultural communication and international outreach skills. The School of International Education is dedicated to cultivating international talent who are not only proficient in Chinese but also understand and appreciate the meaning of Chinese culture. This competition's success is a vivid manifestation of that educational philosophy.
The participating international students shared that through preparing for and taking part in the competition, they gained a deeper appreciation of the enduring charm of Chinese classics and the profound richness of the Chinese language, while their practical Chinese proficiency and cultural awareness were significantly strengthened and enhanced. They thanked the school for providing high-quality educational resources and a rich learning atmosphere, and expressed their commitment to continue striving to become cultural envoys who know China, befriend China, and cherish China.
OVCHINNIKOVA ELIZAVETA (Xu Lishu) reflected: "For me, writing Chinese characters is an art that requires patience and focus. You can't rush any stroke; only by writing slowly can you capture the spirit. Studying the works of ancient calligraphers, I discovered that Chinese characters hold long stories within them. Take the character 'ren' (person) — just two simple strokes, yet it carries deep meaning. In Russia, letters by themselves have no meaning; only when put together do they form words. But a single Chinese character can convey rich meaning. That is why I love Chinese calligraphy."
BALABINA IULIIA (You Liya), who participated in the seal carving competition for the second year and again won an award, said sincerely: "I have loved art since childhood, especially hands-on creation — painting, knitting, pottery, and so on. After coming to China, I didn't set aside these hobbies; instead, I wanted to try new experiences and feel the charm of Chinese culture firsthand, which is how I became fascinated with stone seal carving. I am so happy that our school gave me this opportunity to explore a new field, master a new skill, and showcase what I have learned in the competition! Thank you to my teachers for your hard guidance, patient teaching, and constant support along the way!"
These results not only recognize the personal effort and talent of the winning students, but also showcase the School of International Education's deep and fruitful work in international Chinese language education. The school will continue to optimize its training model and deepen teaching reform, making greater contributions to enhancing the quality of education for international students in China and promoting the international dissemination of fine traditional Chinese culture.
