Tauranga Girls' College student Shannon Couper has shown she knows what she's talking about.

Tauranga Girls College student Shannon Couper. Photo: www.photomedic.org

The Year 10 student has won the May Kingsford Challenge Trophy in the regional Chinese speaking competition in Rotorua.

Shannon was one of only two Tauranga students to enter the competition, which was mostly attended by schools from Rotorua, where the event was held.

Shannon's father Harley Couper says although the number of schools catering for Mandarin in the Tauranga region is lower than in the Rotorua area, Tauranga Girls College 'seems to be coming on board with this important language option”.