A total of 24 students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) had successfully completed the Smart Partnership Mandarin Authentic Learning Programme on 25 March 2017. The programme was organized by Mandarin Language and Culture Centre (MLCC), Foreign Languages Department of Centre for Modern Language and Human Sciences (CMLHS) in conjunction with Kongzi Institute, University of Malaya. It was held at Kongzi Institute, University of Malaya.

UMP students who studies Mandarin for Intermediate had participated in the programme which aimed at practicing Mandarin among themselves and providing exposure of HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) exam format to UMP students.

The programme participants were students from East Asian Studies, University of Malaya (UM). These students were majoring in China Studies which their Mandarin Levels were equal to HSK Level 3-4. With their advanced knowledge in Mandarin, they played active role as mentors to UMP students during the programme.

The volunteer language teacher from Kongzi Institute, University of Malaya Ms. Wen Wenya gave a warm welcome to UMP students and the accompanying teachers, Ms Yong Ying Mei (Director of Mandarin Language & Culture Centre), Ms Cheng Ching Yee (Mandarin teacher from Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences), Ms Chen Yin Teng and Ng Xiu Wen (Practical Teachers from New Era College, Kajang).

The half day programme were divided into three sessions. The first session was the ice-breaking session between UMP students and UM students. They were instructed to be in pairs where they needed to introduce their new friend by using Mandarin. The second session was the short film-making session. Participants were given topics where they had to perform a one minute conversation in Mandarin. The last session was the Mandarin quiz conducted based on the HSK test format.

The programme ended with the prize-giving ceremony and the closing speech by Ms Yong Ying Mei. She expressed her utmost gratitude to the UM students that had interacted actively with UMP students. She welcomed UM students to visit UMP for further Mandarin learning programme in the future.

By Cheng Ching Yee

On 22nd March 2017, 2pm, Mandarin Language and Culture Centre (MLCC) in collaboration with Mandarin Language Society (MLS) organized Mandarin Speaking contest with a theme of “Dream Enlighten The Future”. This competition was held at Library UMP Auditorium, Pekan Campus.
The topic of Mandarin speaking contest was “Dream Enlighten The Future”. All the participants had to deliver a speech in Mandarin for 2 minutes. This contest was open to all non-Chinese students. A total of 25 non-Chinese UMP students registered for the Mandarin Speaking Contest.
The four invited judges were Madam Kang Mei Feng, Ms Cheng Ching Yee, Ms Sun Yun Feng (volunteer teachers from China) and Mrs Ng Choy Ying from SJK(C) Chung Ching.
Advisor to the Mandarin Language Society, Madam Kang Mei Feng gave her opening speech，where she motivated the non-Chinese contestants to not only learn Mandarin in the class but also to apply what they had learnt. Besides that, the main objective of the Mandarin Speaking contest was to select 8 candidates to represent UMP in 16th Chinese Bridge Competition for Malaysia Region which will be organized by Kong Zi Institute, University of Malaya on 13 May 2017.

The winners were as follows:
Placing Winners Speech Title
First Fahmi Muhamad Rasyid bin Rabuan The benefit of learning Chinese
Second Tharushini A/P Thiagaradan My Ambition of Learning Mandarin
Third Nur Syaheera Sulaiman To further study in China
Consolation 1 Fahad Amirul Aziz Work Hard to Achieve My Dreams
Consolation 2 Huda Addul Halim Toh Seng Oon Dream of Travelling to China
Consolation 3 Fahmi Zakwan Bin Md Zam Zam To further study in China
Consolation 4 Nuur Amalina Syahida Binti Md Radzi My Chinese friend
Consolation 5 Chandraka Subramaniam Dream of learning Mandarin and travelling to China

Written by: Kang Mei Feng