18th China and Me Mandarin Speech Contest

The 18th China and Me Mandarin Speech Contest is on at A18 Siyuan Center on Sunday 8 November, from 14:00 to 16:30. It's run by the Nottingham Confucius Institute, and it's more than just a one-off afternoon — it's part of the International Chinese Bridge Speech Competition pathway. The winners here are recommended to represent Nottingham at next year's International Chinese Bridge Speech Competition in London, and the top performers from there go on to represent British universities at the final Chinese Bridge competition in Beijing in summer 2027. The Confucius Institute also looks favourably on participation when it comes to future scholarship applications.

The contest is open to eligible University of Nottingham staff, students and alumni who speak Mandarin as a foreign language, including those from the Nottingham Confucius Institute. It's split into an Advanced and an Intermediate panel, so you're up against people at your own level. Each entry has two parts: a three-minute speech on a topic of your choosing, which includes a brief self-introduction in Mandarin, and an optional three-minute talent show — something like a Chinese song, dance, calligraphy or Kung Fu — that can earn you bonus points. Three prizes are awarded per panel, and contestants are offered a tutor or student helper to support their preparation.

Spectators are welcome, and you get to vote, so it's as much for the crowd as it is for the competitors. The venue is A18 Siyuan Center (Si Yuan Building) on the Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG8 1BB. Entry is free, and it runs from 14:00 to 16:30 on Sunday 8 November.