Monash Arts Student Triumphs at Global Chinese Language Competition
If you were to enter a language competition, what do you think you would need to do? Prepare a speech? Rehearse it until you know it backwards? Practice answering on-the-spot questions about the culture and its traditions?
Take all of this, add in a talent show, comedy sketches, debating and learning over 150 idioms. Then, imagine it all happening on an island as you face off against your competitors on television, and you’ve got the 24th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students.
It sounds like a lot of pressure, but for Monash Arts student Ava Gibbons, it gave her the chance to participate in one of the world’s most recognised Chinese language competitions and be immersed in the language and culture.
“It was an incredible opportunity to meet like-minded people from all around the world and, as a collective, enjoy China. People from countries you’ve never interacted with before, all coming together with the same universal interest and passionate enough about that interest that they’ve won on behalf of their countries,” Ava said.
After winning the Melbourne regional competition in June, Ava headed to China with two other Australian representatives to compete with over 150 people from all over the world, all skilled, enthusiastic Chinese speakers.
“As a language competition, the common denominator was Chinese, so everyone, including all the competitors and staff, spoke Chinese. I was speaking to the American competitors in Chinese just for convenience. So, it was a great opportunity, but it was also quite challenging,” Ava said.
Throughout the event, competitors toured significant cultural landmarks and sites, including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Peking University, where they were able to learn about different regions’ heritage, culture and dialects.
Photo supplied by Ava Gibbons
A passion formed in childhood
Ava’s initial experience with the Chinese language came in late primary school, when her family relocated to China for a few years.
“Living in Shanghai, I absolutely fell in love with the language and the culture. So, when we came back to Australia, I continued studying Chinese throughout high school. I came to Monash because I recognised that they had an excellent Chinese program and multiple opportunities to go on exchange to China to deepen my skills and understanding.”
Preparation always pays off
Getting ready for the regional and international competition involved intense hours of practice and research.
“I wanted to prepare my speech to perfection, so I was sending my teacher, Hailan, upwards of 30 recordings a day. She would correct my pronunciation for every single recording. I couldn’t have done it without her,” Ava said.
While the regional competition had a set agenda, the international competition was deliberately broad to ensure the focus remained on proficiency, not memory. However, both competitions required participants to demonstrate a talent.
“In high school, I discovered an ethnic dance called fish lantern dancing that originated in Shatoujiao, an area near Hong Kong. I found it beautiful, so I taught myself how to do it by studying clips online on Chinese social media. I choreographed my own performance for the competition and kept adapting it for each phase.”
Photo supplied by Ava Gibbons
As part of her preparation for going to China to represent Australia, Ava spoke to a previous Oceania winner about what to expect.
“I tried to be strategic about my preparation. For example, I knew I would have to deliver a speech about a place in China, but I wouldn’t be told which place until the day before. So, I made sure I studied words and phrases that would help me describe different settings. I also spoke online with native Chinese speakers, and rehearsed practice questions,” she said.
One of the most valuable insights Ava gained during this time was about imposter syndrome.
“One of the previous Australian competitors told me to try not to have imposter syndrome and to remember that I have my own strengths and to use them to my advantage. The skills that I’ve developed in debating and delivering presentations, along with being really expressive, all helped when I had five television cameras surrounding me, while I stood in front of a live audience,” Ava said.
Oceania Champion
After two weeks of competing, Ava made it to the Top 30 and, from there, competed over the next week to make it to the Top 5, where she was named the Oceania Champion. After returning to Australia, Ava has discovered that the competition has had an immensely valuable impact.
“The whole experience has really improved my confidence. I never thought I’d get on a stage and speak in front of hundreds of Chinese people, in Chinese, and yet I was able to achieve that and under so much pressure. Now, I’m leaping at every opportunity to speak Chinese,” she said.
Photo supplied by Ava Gibbons
“Just recently, I was invited to celebrate Chinese Teachers’ Day at the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne and met many Chinese language teachers from Victoria, including one of my VCE examiners. I’ve also been offered the opportunity to teach English to Chinese children who have recently immigrated to Australia with their families,” Ava said.
Where to next?
Ava recognises how fortunate she is to have had such a unique learning and life experience and already has plans to build on the opportunity.
“Next year, I’m going to the prestigious Peking University as part of an exchange program where I’ll be able to refine my Chinese,” she said.
“One of my career aspirations is that my Chinese skills will lead me to work in diplomacy or in a Chinese firm, either here in Australia or another country, such as Singapore or Japan,” Ava said.
Monash’s dedication provides the foundation to excel
In addition to Ava’s drive and hard work, Monash’s School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics has been key to her international success.
“I want to thank Monash for facilitating this whole journey. The School offers us so many opportunities to practice our language skills in real-life settings, from volunteering for cultural days to attending art exhibitions. The fact that the Faculty has embraced myself and so many other students is amazing. I’m so very grateful for all my teachers and their hard work,” Ava said.
Interested in learning Chinese at Monash? Discover what our Chinese Studies program has to offer.