在澳大利亚推广中文，除了孩子们的热爱，更重要的是得到主流社会的理解、认可与支持。
今年，澳中文化交流协会团队来到 Prince Alfred College（PAC），为即将代表澳大利亚参加汉语桥全球总决赛的学生送行。
Promoting Chinese language learning in Australia takes more than the passion of young students — it also requires understanding, recognition and support from the wider Australian community.
This year, the Australia-China Cultural Promotion Association (ACCPA) team visited Prince Alfred College (PAC) to see off a student who is about to represent Australia at the Chinese Bridge Global Final.
今年12岁的 Kayden Dean，将再次踏上前往中国的旅程。
而这已经是他连续第二年参加汉语桥相关活动并前往中国。
出发前，我们采访了 Kayden、他的中文老师 Mr Greg Zheng，以及 Prince Alfred College 校长 Mr David Roberts，一起聊聊中文学习、汉语桥，以及一次中国之行究竟能够为孩子带来什么。
This year, 12-year-old Kayden Dean is about to embark on another journey to China.
This will be his second consecutive year participating in Chinese Bridge-related activities and travelling to China.
Before his departure, we spoke with Kayden, his Chinese teacher Mr Greg Zheng, and Prince Alfred College Principal Mr David Roberts about learning Chinese, the Chinese Bridge programme, and what an experience in China can truly offer a young student.
12-Year-Old Kayden: “I’m Still Very Excited to Be Going to China for the Second Time”
面对镜头，Kayden 的第一句话就很直接：
“连续第二次去中国，这非常特别。”
Speaking to the camera, Kayden’s first words were simple and direct:
“Going to China for the second time in a row is really special.”
对于一个12岁的孩子来说，能够连续两年前往中国参加交流和比赛，本身就是一段非常特别的成长经历。
今年，他依然为比赛进行了大量准备。
除了在学校学习，他还和中文老师进行了许多一对一课程，准备演讲、比赛内容以及相关表达。
For a 12-year-old, having the opportunity to travel to China for two consecutive years to take part in cultural exchange and competition is, in itself, a truly special experience.
This year, he has once again put in a great deal of preparation for the competition.
In addition to learning Chinese at school, he has also had numerous one-on-one lessons with his Chinese teacher, preparing his speech, competition materials and related language skills.
说起今年的比赛，Kayden 表现得非常自信。
“我觉得自己准备得很好，我希望能够取得一个好成绩。”
但如果问他去年中国之行最大的收获是什么，他的答案并不是奖项。
而是——朋友。
When talking about this year’s competition, Kayden is clearly feeling confident.
“I think I’ve prepared really well, and I hope I can achieve a good result.”
But when asked what he gained most from last year’s trip to China, his answer wasn’t about the competition or the awards.
It was — friendships.
A competition gave him the chance to make friends in China.
去年前往中国期间，Kayden 参观了北京、天津，也登上了长城。
During his visit to China last year, Kayden visited Beijing and Tianjin, and also climbed the Great Wall.
但真正让他记住这段经历的，是在那里认识的朋友。
即使回到澳大利亚之后，他们依然通过微信保持联系。
对Kayden来说，这些跨越国家和文化的友谊，也许就是汉语桥带来的最珍贵收获之一。
But what truly made the experience memorable for him were the friends he made along the way.
Even after returning to Australia, they have continued to keep in touch through WeChat.
For Kayden, these friendships that cross borders and cultures may be one of the most valuable things the Chinese Bridge experience has given him.
从一个澳大利亚学生，到在中国认识来自不同地方的同龄人，再到回国后继续保持联系。
语言，让交流成为可能；交流，又让语言变得更加真实。
From being an Australian student, to meeting peers from different parts of China, and then continuing those friendships after returning home.
Language makes communication possible; and communication, in turn, makes language come alive.
Principal: The competition results are important, but what I really hope is that he can truly experience China.
Prince Alfred College 校长 Mr David Roberts 在采访中表示，他当然希望 Kayden 能够在比赛中发挥出自己的真实水平。
但比比赛结果更加重要的，是这段经历本身。
The principal of Prince Alfred College, Mr David Roberts, stated in the interview that he certainly hopes Kayden can demonstrate his true level in the competition.
However, what is even more important than the competition result is this experience itself.
他希望 Kayden 能够：
亲身感受中国文化
认识来自世界各地的中文学习者
开阔自己的眼界
将这次中国之行变成一段难忘的人生经历
He hopes Kayden will:
·Experience Chinese culture firsthand
·Meet Chinese language learners from around the world
·Broaden his horizons
·Turn this trip to China into a truly memorable life experience
这也体现了 PAC 对语言教育的理解：
学习一门语言，并不只是为了考试或者获得一个成绩，而是为了让学生拥有与不同文化、不同背景的人交流的能力。
This also reflects PAC’s approach to language education:
Learning a language is not simply about passing exams or achieving good results. It is about giving students the ability to connect and communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
What is the biggest challenge in learning Chinese?
对于第一语言不是中文的学生来说，学习中文并不容易。
中文和英文之间存在很大的差异，尤其是：语音、语调和汉字。
Kayden 的中文老师 Mr Greg Zheng 也特别提到了这一点。
For students whose first language is not Chinese, learning Chinese is not easy.
There are significant differences between Chinese and English, particularly when it comes to pronunciation, tones and Chinese characters.
Kayden’s Chinese teacher, Mr Greg Zheng, also highlighted this point.
但Kayden有一个很特别的优势——他非常喜欢唱中文歌。
通过唱歌，他不断练习中文的发音和语调，也在潜移默化中改善了自己的中文表达。
But Kayden has one very special advantage — he loves singing Chinese songs.
Through singing, he constantly practises his Chinese pronunciation and tones, while gradually improving his spoken Chinese in a natural and enjoyable way.
对于语言学习来说，兴趣往往就是最好的动力。
爱好是最好的老师。当孩子真正喜欢一门语言时，学习就不再只是课堂上的任务。
For language learning, interest is often the greatest motivation.
Passion is the best teacher. When children genuinely enjoy a language, learning is no longer simply a task in the classroom.
What the “Chinese Bridge” brings is not merely the ability to speak Chinese.
在校长 David Roberts 看来，参加汉语桥这样的活动，孩子获得的远不只是语言技能。
其中一个非常重要的变化，就是：
Confidence——自信。
For Principal David Roberts, taking part in a programme like Chinese Bridge gives students much more than language skills.
One of the most important changes he sees is:
Confidence — self-confidence.
当孩子能够把课堂里学到的语言，真正带到现实生活中使用；当他能够站上舞台演讲；当他能够和来自世界各地的人交流——
他会发现：
“原来我真的可以做到。”
这种自信，会慢慢迁移到学习和生活的其他方面。
David 也特别强调，学校希望学生在离开校园之后，拥有的不仅仅是知识，更包括批判性思维、伦理思辨以及与不同人建立联系的能力。
而汉语桥这样的国际交流经历，恰恰提供了一个非常真实的实践环境。
When a child can take the language they have learned in the classroom and use it in real life; when they can stand on a stage and deliver a speech; when they can communicate with people from different parts of the world —
they begin to realise:
“I can actually do this.”
That confidence can gradually carry over into other areas of their learning and everyday life.
David also emphasised that the school hopes students leave school with more than just knowledge. They should also develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and the ability to build connections with people from different backgrounds.
An international exchange experience like Chinese Bridge provides exactly that kind of authentic environment for students to put these skills into practice.
“It’s Not Just a Gain for the Student. It’s a Gain for the Whole Community”
谈到多元文化教育，David Roberts 提到了一个非常重要的观点：
这不仅仅是学生个人的收获，也是整个社区的收获。
当不同文化背景的孩子能够在学校里一起学习、交流，并建立真实的友谊，很多原本存在的距离和陌生感，也会慢慢被打破。
他说，这些跨文化关系能够帮助人们：
“break down the barriers between countries”——打破国家与国家之间的隔阂。
而Kayden在中国结识的朋友，以及未来一届又一届参加交流项目的学生所建立的友谊，都会成为这种连接的一部分。
When speaking about multicultural education, David Roberts shared a particularly important perspective:
The benefits are not limited to the individual student — they extend to the whole community.
When children from different cultural backgrounds learn and interact together at school, and form genuine friendships, some of the distance and unfamiliarity that may exist between different cultures can gradually begin to disappear.
He said that these cross-cultural connections can help people:
“break down the barriers between countries.”
The friendships Kayden has made in China — along with the connections built by future generations of students who take part in international exchange programmes — can all become part of this broader bridge between cultures.
Chinese Language Education Requires the Support of Schools, Families and the Community
采访中，David Roberts 也特别肯定了学校中文教师团队的工作。
他说，中文老师不仅全身心投入语言课程，更重要的是，他们真正关心学生的发展。
来自家庭的反馈，也让学校看到了中文教师们所做工作的价值。
而在 Kayden 的成长过程中，家庭同样发挥着非常重要的作用。
David 特别提到：Kayden拥有一个非常支持他的家庭。
During the interview, David Roberts also spoke highly of the school’s Chinese teaching team.
He said that the Chinese teachers are not only deeply committed to their language programmes, but, more importantly, they genuinely care about their students’ development.
Feedback from families has also shown the school the value and impact of the work being done by its Chinese teachers.
And throughout Kayden’s development, his family has played an equally important role.
David particularly highlighted that Kayden has a very supportive family behind him.
老师的努力、学校的支持、家庭的坚持，再加上学生自己的兴趣和投入，共同构成了孩子学习中文的动力。
这也是中文教育能够持续发展的重要基础。
The dedication of teachers, the support of schools, the commitment of families, and the student’s own interest and effort all come together to create the motivation behind a child’s Chinese language learning.
This is also an important foundation for the continued development of Chinese language education.
A Message from the Principal to Kayden
采访最后，David Roberts 对即将出发的 Kayden 送上了祝福：
“Kayden，我们为你取得的成就感到非常骄傲。”
他也特别感谢华人社区为学生提供这样宝贵的机会。
At the end of the interview, David Roberts shared a message for Kayden as he prepares to set off:
“Kayden, we are incredibly proud of what you have achieved.”
He also expressed his appreciation to the Chinese community for providing students with such valuable opportunities.
在他看来，这样的交流机会非常珍贵，也非常有意义。他相信，Kayden一定会在中国展现出最好的自己，也会让学校、老师和家人为他感到骄傲。
In his view, opportunities like this for cultural exchange are both precious and meaningful.
He believes Kayden will represent himself at his very best in China, and will make his school, teachers and family proud.
From Learning a Language to Discovering a Bigger World
两年前，Kayden可能只是学校里众多学习中文的学生之一。
今天，他已经站上了汉语桥的舞台，并且即将再次前往中国。
他的经历也让我们看到：
语言教育真正的价值，从来不只是“会说多少中文”。
Two years ago, Kayden may have been just one of many students learning Chinese at school.
Today, he has stepped onto the stage of Chinese Bridge and is about to travel to China once again.
His journey also reminds us that:
The true value of language education has never been simply about how much Chinese a student can speak.
它可以让一个孩子拥有更多认识世界的机会；
让他敢于站上舞台表达自己；
让他认识来自不同国家的朋友；
也让原本彼此陌生的文化，开始产生真实的连接。
这也是澳中文化交流协会持续推动汉语桥活动的意义。
It can give a child more opportunities to discover the world;
the confidence to step onto a stage and express themselves;
the chance to make friends with people from different countries;
and the opportunity for cultures that were once unfamiliar to one another to form genuine connections.
This is also why the Australia-China Cultural Promotion Association (ACCPA) continues to support and promote the Chinese Bridge programme.
我们希望更多在澳大利亚学习中文的孩子，能够通过汉语桥走出课堂、走向世界，在真实的交流中感受中文、了解中国，也让更多主流社会看到——
中文教育不仅属于华人家庭，也可以成为澳大利亚多元文化教育中重要的一部分。
这一次，12岁的 Kayden 又要出发了。
期待他在北京的舞台上，自信表达，尽情发挥。
祝 Kayden 中国之行顺利，期待他带着新的故事归来！
We hope more children learning Chinese in Australia will have the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into the wider world through Chinese Bridge — to experience the language through real-life interactions, gain a deeper understanding of China, and show the wider Australian community that:
Chinese language education is not only for Chinese-Australian families. It can also be an important part of Australia’s multicultural education.
This time, 12-year-old Kayden is setting off once again.
We look forward to seeing him take the stage in Beijing, express himself with confidence, and give it his all.
Wishing Kayden a wonderful journey to China. We can’t wait to hear the new stories he brings home!
