Language as a Bridge, Connecting the World | Official Launch of the 5th UK English–Chinese Bilingual Recitation Competition
The Mothers' Bridge of Love (MBL), Capital Class and KYX International Education are proud to jointly present the Official Launch of the 5th UK English–Chinese Bilingual Recitation Competition.
Over the past five years, the competition has grown into one of the UK's recognised charitable bilingual cultural initiatives. We warmly invite schools, educational organisations and young people across the UK to join us in celebrating language, culture and intercultural understanding.
Competition Information
Date: Sunday, 15 November 2026
Venue: SOAS University of London, Djam Lecture Theatre
Categories:
Group A：5–7 years old
Group B：8–10 years old
Group C：11–13 years old
Group D：14–17 year old
Group E：18–21 years old (University Group)
Finalists will perform one Chinese recitation and one English recitation. Each piece should last between 30 and 90 seconds, with a maximum total performance time of three minutes. Up to fifty finalists will be selected, with ten contestants in each category.
For the first round, we will continue to accept participants through school nominations only. Individual applications are not accepted. Detailed regulations and registration materials will be distributed directly to participating schools and educational organisations.
Since its inception, the competition has been committed to promoting bilingual excellence, public speaking, artistic expression and intercultural understanding.
More than a language competition, it encourages young people to appreciate literature, express ideas with confidence and connect cultures through bilingual performance.
China Daily
China Minutes
The competition has received growing recognition from the Chinese language education sector and wider communities in the UK, with media coverage including China Daily and China Minutes. It continues to provide a meaningful platform for bilingual excellence and intercultural dialogue.
Previous Judging Panels
Previous competitions have featured an esteemed panel of judges drawn from UK universities, cultural institutions, and the education sector, including:
Hilary Spurling CBE FRSL
Award-winning British author, biographer, CBE and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Frances Wood
Former Curator of Chinese Collections at the British Library and internationally respected sinologist.
Professor Julia Lovell FBA
Professor of Modern China at Birkbeck, University of London and Fellow of the British Academy.
Professor Hugo de Burgh
Founder of Kensington Wade School and leading advocate for bilingual education.
Dr Song Lianyi
SOAS University of London School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics Principal Teaching fellow .
Michelle Tate
Education Specialist, UCL Institute of Education.
Dr Yukteshwar Kumar
Director of the Chinese Stream, University of Bath.
Jointly Presented By
The Mothers' Bridge of Love (MBL)
Capital Class
KYX International Education
Working together with educators, cultural leaders and community partners across the UK to inspire the next generation through language, culture and education.
Language as a Bridge, Connecting the World.
May every recitation become a meeting of cultures, and every voice become a bridge connecting people, communities and the world.