Ysgol Eirias pupils continue Mandarin studies at university

Two students who have achieved great success in Mandarin Chinese will be progressing their skills at university this September.

Jessica Thomas and Lily Braden have been learning Mandarin at Ysgol Eirias's Confucius Classroom and have excelled in competitions, language qualifications and cultural exploration. Jessica will study Chinese and German at the University of Leeds, while Lily's degree will be in Mandarin and International Relations at the London School of Economics.

A passion for languages

Jessica's interest in Chinese began at primary school. Already intrigued by languages, she was attracted by the challenge of learning something completely different from those she was familiar with. More recently, she reached the final of the Chinese Bridge UK competition for secondary school learners, and is currently attending a summer programme at Cardiff University's partner university in Xiamen before starting her degree.

Reflecting on her experience of learning Mandarin, Jessica said:

"I've always enjoyed learning languages and wanted to do something completely different. Chinese really stood out because it was so unlike any other language I'd studied before. The more I learned the more interested I became - not just in the language itself, but in the culture as well."

Jessica credits her progress to regular exposure to the language, and encourages other learners to immerse themselves as much as possible through listening, speaking and even finding a pen pal.

Competition and cultural opportunities

Lily's Mandarin studies have taken her even further afield. After winning first prize in the beginners' group of the UK Chinese Bridge competition in 2023 then the intermediate-plus category in 2025, she went on to represent the UK in the global finals in China. This gave Lily the opportunity to put her language skills into practice and strengthened her interest in Chinese language and culture.

Looking ahead to her university studies, she believes Mandarin will complement her interest in international affairs.

"China is becoming increasingly important globally. Speaking Chinese will help me connect with that part of the world and understand it more deeply."

Their teacher, Li, praised both students for their commitment to learning and willingness to embrace new challenges.

"It is my honour to have met two such self-motivated and self-disciplined students. Their excellent attitude towards challenges, whether in competitions or examinations, has enabled us to learn from one another."

A longstanding partnership

Jessica and Lily's achievements continue a strong record of engagement with Mandarin at Ysgol Eirias, whose learners have regularly participated in Chinese Bridge competitions and other activities offered through Cardiff Confucius Institute. The school was awarded Confucius Classroom status in 2013 and is one of Cardiff Confucius Institute's longest-standing partners.