Two Southern River College students have been recognised at one of Australia’s leading Chinese language competitions after months of study and practice.
Year 10 students Agampreet Kaur and Hamida Mohammadi received Excellence Awards at the Chinese Bridge Speech Competition, while Southern River College was named an Excellence Organisation.
The competition attracted students from across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Participants competed in Chinese language speeches and cultural performances before a panel of judges.
Mandarin teacher Songyu Liu said the achievement was a big milestone for the school.
“This recognition is a brilliant milestone for Southern River College,” she said.
“It is not merely an acknowledgment of our students’ individual linguistic talents and hard work; it stands as a real testament to our school’s overarching commitment to excellence in language education.”
Mr Liu said the students’ dedication was evident throughout their preparation.
“Day in and day out, these students willingly gave up their recess and lunch breaks, and stayed back after school for intensive coaching sessions,” she said.
“What makes their journey really extraordinary is their background. None of these students come from a Chinese heritage, and they are already navigating the complexities of being multilingual.”
One of the students, Agampreet noted that the journey began almost by chance.
“To be honest, I first chose Chinese in Year 7 because there were limited language options available,” she said.
“What interested me most was how different Mandarin was from the languages I already knew.”
She said mastering pronunciation and tones proved one of the biggest challenges.
“In Mandarin, small changes in tone can completely change the meaning of a word, so I spent a lot of time practising pronunciation and trying to improve the flow of my speech,” she said.
Despite competing against students from some of the state’s most recognised schools, Agampreet said she focused on her own preparation.
“By the time the competition arrived, I knew I had prepared to the best of my ability, and that was what mattered most to me,” she said.
She added that learning another language had broadened her understanding of other cultures.
“Learning another language helps you understand not only how people communicate, but also how they think and view the world,” she said.
Hamida’s interest in Mandarin came from a different source.
“I was sparked in learning Chinese through people who thought I looked Chinese, which jogged my curiosity and made me want to start learning the language,” she said.
She described memorising her speech as the toughest part of the competition.
“Often I got confused between lines and pronunciation,” she said.
“It took a lot of time and dedication to become confident.”
Hamida admitted she initially felt intimidated by some of the competitors.
“Yes, it was a little intimidating at first, when I saw how good they were in their understanding of Chinese and speaking, especially their performance,” she said.
“But I tried to focus on doing my best rather than comparing myself to others.”
She said the experience had strengthened her confidence.
“It has boosted my confidence in interacting with different people, and stepping out of my comfort zone,” she said.
Mr Liu said achievements such as these often inspire other students to challenge themselves.
“In fact, I have had numerous students from other year groups proactively come up to me and put their hand up for next year’s Chinese Bridge competition,” he said.
He said the success reflected the multicultural values of both the school and the wider community.
“When our local students actively embrace, respect, and excel in an international cultural arena, it reinforces the core values of diversity, empathy, and inclusion that our community holds dear,” he said.
