Secondary Battle of the Books Chinese

On Wednesday last week, AISHK held the Hong Kong Secondary ‘Battle of the Books’ Chinese Reading Competition. This event brought together eight prestigious international schools;

• American International School,

• Hong Kong International School,

• Korean International School,

• Malvern College Hong Kong,

• Nord Anglia International School,

• Singapore International School,

• Stanford American International School and

• AISHK,

Battle of the Books offers students an opportunity to celebrate their passion for the Chinese literature.

Three captivating books were carefully selected to fuel the intellectual exploration of the participants:

• “An Ode to Lychees in Chang'an (长安的荔枝)”

• “Super Granny in Saga (佐贺的超级阿嬷)” and

• “My Altay (我的阿勒泰)”.

These books challenge and inspire students to delve deeper into the world of Chinese reading.

The day commenced with an opening speech by Mr Peter Phillips, the Head of Secondary. His words set a positive tone and motivated all the participants to give their best. As the competition unfolded, the atmosphere was charged with a blend of tension and fun. It was fascinating to watch the dynamics within each team unfold. The “blind box” round was particularly exciting and added a special sense of charm to the day. During this phase, students were presented with an array of questions concealed within the blind box. As they delved into this element of mystery, they not only had to draw upon their extensive knowledge of Chinese literature to formulate accurate responses but also engage in astute strategic decision-making. Each question carried with it the potential for further progress or potential setbacks, compelling the students to carefully weigh their options. Should they opt to continue answering and risk facing more difficult inquiries, or play it conservatively and secure the points already earned? This conundrum added an electrifying tension to the atmosphere, making every moment fraught with anticipation.

The highlight of the event was the award ceremony presided over by Head of School, Ms Mina Dunston. The competition was won by Malvern College and the pride displayed by these students when their victory was announced was truly heartwarming to witness. The trophies and certificates they received were testament to their hard work and dedication in mastering the Chinese language.

What made this event truly remarkable was the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from the other schools. The students thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the competition, forging new friendships and broadening their horizons. It was a resounding success, strengthening the bond between different educational institutions and celebrating the beauty of the Chinese language, culture and identity on an international stage.

Report by Mia Xu, Specialist Teacher - Chinese.