On the sidelines of the 2026 China Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition held Saturday, the director of Barbados’ Confucius Institute has issued a warm invitation to local students, urging them to leverage bilateral cultural and educational exchange programs to pursue life-changing academic opportunities in China.
Dr. Ché Corbin, who leads the Confucius Institute hosted at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, shared details with local outlet Barbados TODAY about the annual competition, which has become a cornerstone of Chinese language promotion and cultural exchange across Barbados. Designed to give young language learners a stage to demonstrate their linguistic skills, connect with like-minded peers, and deepen their engagement with Chinese culture, the 2026 contest divided participants into three distinct divisions aligned with their education levels: primary school, secondary school, and tertiary students from UWI.
Top performers from each Barbadian division earn the highly coveted prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Beijing to compete in the contest’s global final round. In a special provision for young primary school competitors, the institute even covers the full cost of airfare and travel for one parent to accompany their child on the international trip, a benefit that has drawn widespread enthusiasm from participating families.
During this year’s national round, contestants were evaluated on two core segments: self-introductions and open-topic speeches, which allowed judges to assess both their command of the Chinese language and their public speaking confidence. Corbin noted that the event has seen explosive growth in local interest in recent years, with so many students eager to take part that organizers were forced to implement participation caps to keep the competition manageable.
Currently, the Confucius Institute delivers on-site Chinese language courses to students at multiple primary and secondary institutions across Barbados, including well-known campuses such as Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary, St George Primary, St Stephen’s Primary, The Alleyne School and Ellerslie School. Looking ahead, Corbin announced that the institute is moving forward with plans to expand access to language learning by adding new weekend sessions, which will open up slots for additional learners including adults and parents who have expressed interest in picking up the language themselves.
Drawing from his own two-decade-long journey with Chinese language and culture, Corbin shared that learning the language opened unprecedented academic and professional doors for him personally. Two decades ago, he began studying Chinese, and eventually earned a full scholarship to study traditional Chinese medicine at a university in China, an experience that shaped his career. He urged current Barbadian students to follow the same path, noting that China offers world-class educational opportunities that can transform young people’s futures. “It’s one of the best places to be a student,” he emphasized.