National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall 2026 Foreign Students’ Chinese Speaking Contest

  1. Objective: The contest is held to promote foreign students’ understanding Chinese culture, to enhance their interest in learning Chinese and to share multiple perspectives of Taiwan.
  2. Supervisor: Ministry of Culture
  3. Organizer: National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
  4. Contestant Eligibility: a.Qualification for entry into the contest requires foreign students to be enrolled in an educational institution in Taiwan. The contestant needs to be at least 18 years of age, and does not hold R.O.C nationality. (Students from China, Hong Kong, and Macau and overseas Chinese students are excluded) b.In order to encourage new applicants, any prize winners (1st prize through to 4th prize) from the 2025 contest are not eligible to apply. c.All contestants of whose native language, or whose parent’s native language or whose country’s official language is Chinese are not eligible to apply for the fairness of the contest.
  5. Activity Period: a. Registration Period: September 1 (Tue.) to October 12 (Mon.), 2026 b. Sequence: Contest order will be announced on the official website before October 16 (Fri.), 2026 c.Contest Date: 10 am, November 17 (Tue.), 2026 d.Contest Site: Taiwan Music Institute B1 Lecture Room, Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center （No.751 Wen-lin Road, Shilin District, Taipei） Traffic Information: https://gov.tw/Xgv
  6. Registration Method: a.The total number of applicants is limited to 60. We will stop accepting applications once we reach 60 applicants. The list of contestants will be posted on “News” of the organizer’s official website. b.Registration is by mail only. Please be sure to fill out and send the registration form, stamped with the official stamp to signify approval from the contestants’ schools or institutions and attached with the passport copy, before October 12, 2026 (due day included, based on the postmark) by registered mail to the following address: NATIONAL DR. SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL EXTENSION SERVICE DIVISION No.505, Sec.4, Ren-ai Rd., Taipei. Please download the "Registration Envelope Cover” and firmly attach it to the standard B4 envelope for the registration form. Late or incomplete applications and no supplementary documents will be allowed. c.When a departmental or school seal is affixed, the responsible officer’s seal must also be included. Yet this is not required if an official seal is used. d.The number of applicants and contesting order will be based on the organizer’s registered time of receiving the registration forms. If more than one registration forms are received at the same time, the order arrangement will depend on the “date and time of postal delivery” from Chunghwa Post’s domestic registered mail tracking system. 
  7. Check-in Procedure: Applicants with copy of passport checking in at Taiwan Music Institute B1 Lecture Room, Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center on November 17 (Tue.) from 9 am to 9:45 am
  8. Speech Topics: (choose one) (1) My First Day in Taiwan (2) Observing Taiwanese Life through Its Breakfast Shops (3) Housework: Whose Responsibility Is It? (4) What Does Happiness Mean to You? (5) If I Could Buy a Remedy for Regret
  9. Judgement and Standard of Grading: Jury composed of professionals hired by organizer. a.content 40%, expression 30%, stage presence 20%, time-control 10%, total 100%. b.A bell will be rung once at 4 minutes, twice at 5 minutes, and three times at 6 minutes. If the speech surpasses 8 minutes, a long bell will be rung, and the host will terminate the speech the contestant’s speech with no objection accepted. c.The speech time is suggested to be between 4-5 minutes. No point will be deducted when the speech is between 4 minutes and 5 minutes 59 seconds. Starting from 6 minutes, one point will be deducted for every additional minute over the time limit, and three points will be deducted at most. The timekeeper will make records and deduct points of the speakers over the time limit. The points will be deducted from the total points.
  10. Reward: The winner: A certification and NT $ 20,000, one person, total 1 The second-place winner: A certification and NT $ 16,000, one person, total 1 The third-place winner: A certification and NT $ 12,000, one person, total 1 The fourth-place winner: A certification and NT $ 8,000, one person, total 1 Honorable Mentions: A certification and NT $ 6,000, one person, total 6
  11. Copyright: All contestants grant the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall a free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any audio, video, or images from the '2026 Chinese Speech Contest for Foreign Students.' This includes the use of one's likeness for non-commercial purposes. The Memorial Hall may publish, edit, and reproduce the content across all media and territories without limit, and may authorize third-party use.
  12. Notice: (1) The site of contest has changed to Taiwan Music Institute B1 Lecture Room, Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center (No.751 Wen-lin Road, Shilin District, Taipei) .You should complete the check-in procedure on time, otherwise will result in disqualification. (2) According to the taxation law of the R.O.C., the prize winner shall receive the corresponding net amount after a 20% tax deduction of the prize money. Any failure to comply will result in disqualification and hence no prize money will be allocated. (3) All participants are required to comply with the general regulations of the contest. If any violations occur, the organizers have the right to immediately cancel the registration or qualification of the contestant, even including after awarding. (prizes may be revoked) The organizer has the final decision on the dispute, the contestants have no right to object. (4) Due to any disasters or any other major causes, National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall reserve the right to cancel or postpone, delay or prolong the contest. The related information will be announced on “News” of our official website without further notice. (5) If the contestants perform less than standard awards, the award could be missed or reduce admissions. (6) Organizers do not pay any fees or compensation to be contestants and companions. (7) For the content of the speech, participants can prepare their own costumes and props. The organizer has no responsibility for any loss and damage. (8) The equipment of the contest venue (such as projector and player) will not be lent to the contestants. (9) A certificate of merit & a proof of participation should be conserved completely, yet reissuing will not be accepted in case of loss or damage. (10) The competition numbers will be assigned based on the order in which submissions are received. Requesting to adjust the competition order will not be accepted.
  13. If you have any queries, please refer to the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall website (http://www.yatsen.gov.tw).contest contact: Extension Service Division, Ms. Chen, Tel: (02) 2758-8008, ext. 669.