Source: School of Foreign Languages
Written by: School of Foreign Languages
Translated by: Peng Ting, Yan Jiayu
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On December 12, 2015, the 21st China Daily “21st Century Coca-Cola Cup” National English Speaking Competition Regional Final (Guangdong) was held in the School of Foreign Languages (FLS) at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The event was co-organized by FLS and 21st Century English Education Media, and co-sponsored by China Daily and Coca-Cola. Chen Jiewei from FLS won the champion. Chen Jiewei, together with Liu Dong from Jiaying University and Fang Huafeng from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, the first and the second runner-ups, will represent Guangdong students to participate in the national semi-final.

SYSU student Chen Jiewei at the competition

Against the tough competition, a total of 18 contestants from 16 universities won the access to Guangdong Regional Final and met with the panel of judges, the renowned English education experts, including Prof. Yong Heming, President of Guangdong University of Finance, Prof. Liu Jianbo from South China University of Technology, Prof. Chen Jinshi, Vice Dean of School of English and Education at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Sun Bing, Vice Dean of School of Foreign Studies at South China Normal University, and Associate Professor Gao Wenping from FLS. The competition consisted of three sessions: prepared speech, impromptu speech and question-and-answer. In the prepared speech session, contestants delivered high-quality speeches of varied styles on the topic of “Two Cheers for ‘Made in China’”. In the impromptu speech and question-and-answer sessions, facing with a fierce competition though, contestants managed to impress the judges with their excellent command of language proficiency and instant reaction.

The contest selected three first-prize winners, five second-prize winners and seven third-prize winners in addition to the champion, first and second runner-ups. Chen Qiongxian and Lu Silin from FLS won the first and the third prize respectively.

As one of the top public speaking competitions nationwide, the “21st Century Coca-Cola Cup” Competition has long been a great contribution to the development of national English education, especially to the improvement of the international communication skills of students. And ever since its first competition in 1996, numerous talents participating in the contests have stood out as social elites.