There’s impressive, and then there’s Aleah Ramouthar! Just eight years old, she only started learning Mandarin in February, yet she’s already mastered the language and soared to national recognition as one of the most fluent youngsters in South Africa.
Durban, South Africa (11 July 2025) – If an eagerness to learn could be personified, it would be the spitting image of eight-year-old Aleah Ramouthar.
The Glen Ashley Junior Primary School learner has managed to achieve what few can at her age: learn Mandarin in just a couple of months and go on to achieve top honours at the national level!
Recommended by the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology, Aleah recently competed in the South African Finals of the prestigious Chinese Bridge Competition for primary school students.
The Chinese Bridge Competition is an international Chinese language and culture competition for foreign students, which aims to promote Chinese language learning and cultural exchange worldwide.
As the youngest contestant at the event, Aleah captivated judges and secured an impressive second place, a testament to her rapid immersion in Chinese culture and language under the guidance of her dedicated teacher, Vivian Zeng.
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What makes her achievement all the more inspiring is how quickly she picked up the language, having only started learning in February this year.
According to East Coast Radio, the young Mandarin speaker already has her sights set on next year’s competition, aiming for that coveted first-place spot, a goal her Zeng believes is attainable and could see Aleah compete in the World Chinese Bridge competition for her age group.
Aleah’s journey is a shining example of what passion and dedication can accomplish. We cannot wait to see what this brilliant mind will achieve next.
Sources: DUT Confucius Institute | East Coast Radio
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