IT still feels like only a few weeks ago when the 11 finalists from last year’s competition presented their Chinese talents on the stage, and yet this year’s competition is about to start next month.
The registration for the Eighth Shenzhen Expats Chinese Talent Competition is now open for expats who can speak Chinese and demonstrate a Chinese talent. Applicants must be expats who live in Shenzhen or other parts of the Pearl River Delta region. Additionally, applicants must be at least 6 years old and Chinese must be their second language.
Following last year’s rules, this year’s competition will consist of two rounds — the preliminary and the on-site final contest. Applicants should send their completed registration forms and videos to eyeshenzhen2017@126.com or mail them to the Shenzhen Daily office before Nov. 12.
The content of the video should include two parts. The first part of the video is a self-introduction and a short Chinese speech, within three minutes, concerning one of three designated topics about Shenzhen (High-tech City, Cultural City or Ecological City), which should be based on a 30-second-long short film produced by the city government.
The registration form can be downloaded at http://www.eyeshenzhen.com/content/2017-10/17/content_17530275.htm where the short-film is also available. Applicants must fill out the registration form with their personal information, including name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, residential address in China, contact number, email address and WeChat account. Also, a profile photo taken within six months should be included with the registration form.
The second section of the video should be a talent performance. Talents of all kinds, except for pantomime and magic acts, are welcomed, but must show the contestant’s understanding of Chinese culture.
Upon collecting all the videos, the organizing committee will upload them to www.eyeshenzhen.com and a panel of professional judges will select the top 10 candidates to enter the final competition.
Before the final contest in December, an online vote will be launched to let netizens vote for their favorite contestants one week after the registration deadline. The two candidates with the most votes will automatically enter the final round.
There will be three sections for the on-site final competition Dec. 9. Finalists will again deliver their polished Chinese speech in front of the judges and audience, followed by a performance of their Chinese talent.
After the speech and talent show, contestants will be divided into groups by lottery and participate in a Chinese word-guessing game to earn bonus points. Elementary level of Chinese proficiency is needed for this section.
Key dates
Registration form and video submission deadline: Nov. 12
Online vote begins: Nov. 18
On-site final competition: Dec. 9
