US students aim to bridge cultures through language

In a vibrant awards ceremony at the residence of the Chinese consul general in San Francisco, three US students who recently took home top honors in the "Chinese Bridge "global Chinese proficiency competition, stood proudly, their fluency in Chinese and passion for Chinese culture on full display.

Ivana Moreno, a high school student in a black kung fu uniform, captivated the audience with a display of martial arts.

Andrew Fowler, a college senior, showcased his talent in the ancient art of Chinese bamboo weaving.

Sage Houdek, an elementary schooler, filled the room with the delicate melodies of traditional Chinese folk music played on her violin.

The three were not just celebrating their victories at the competition; they were ambassadors of cultural understanding, building bridges of friendship between the US and China with every spoken word and graceful performance, said Zheng Xin, wife of Chinese Consul General Zhang Jianmin in San Francisco, who hosted them, their families and other Chinese-language learners from the Bay Area at their residence on Saturday night.

Moreno, a student at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, won the second prize and the best potential award at the global finals of the 16th "Chinese Bridge" World Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students.

"I feel like my whole life I've benefited from learning Chinese just from a really young age. I started learning Chinese when I was 3," she told China Daily. "I love teaching kids, and I would love to go to China and experience more about the culture and language and then bring that back to the US."

Opening gateways

Fowler, who studies languages and mathematics at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, was inspired by a passionate teacher in high school and then discovered Chinese as a gateway to new ways of thinking and learning.

"When I started learning Chinese, I had never truly learned a foreign language before, so it's very difficult," Fowler said. "I felt Chinese taught me to think in a new way and taught me how to learn something that was very difficult."

He participated in the 22nd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in China and finished third in the global final.

After graduation in 2024, Fowler said he plans to intensively study the Chinese language in China and potentially pursue further graduate work and look for a job in academia.

Similarly, Houdek, drawn to the vibrant traditions experienced at Yinghua Academy, an immersion school in Minnesota, embraced Chinese customs like celebrating Lunar New Year with fervor.

Having been studying Chinese for seven years, Houdek won the Best Performance Award at the third "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show for global elementary school students.

As Deputy Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Zou Yonghong aptly noted, "Learning Chinese can broaden one's horizons, share the benefits of China's development … it can promote the healthy development of China-US relations."