CCTV Cup English Speaking Contest Drops Curtain In Beijing
Filed Under Curtain Rods | Posted on November 28, 2008
The winner is Shi Yupeng, from Fudan University. The student from Shanghai, who majors in Biology, emerged as grand champion.
Two second-place finishers and three who shared third-prize, also were given golden awards as finalists.
The six finalists emerged from the pack after four days of stiff competition at the CCTV network studios. Competitors took time out from their academic studies. The winners are awarded tours to the UK and Australia, where they will be able to advance their English language skills to a higher level still.
The winners savoured victory and reflected on the importance of mastering a second language as a significant achievement along their chosen career path.
Each contestant coming to the podium faced a contentious panel of inquisitors, who grilled them in a battle of wits, one upmanship and provocation. The panel included educators, linguists and TV hosts.
Before that each competitor had to face down anxieties about speaking a foreign language before an argumentative panel and a television audience.
Some of the winners said they found their best approach by relaxing and making every effort to be themselves.
For the first time this year, the final was broadcast live. The annual event is co-sponsored by China Central Television and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Over the past seven years, the competition has grown to become the primary platform for Chinese college students, to demonstrate their knowledge of English and their insight of the language.
Learning never to give up was another significant challenge for competitors. Those who reached the upper echelons of the competition shared a common spirit, that there was nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Tags: academic studies, anxieties, battle of wits, career path, china central television, chinese college students, english language skills, foreign language teaching, fudan university, golden awards, grand champion, inquisitors, linguists, making every effort, place finishers, provocation, stiff competition, television audience, tv hosts, upper echelonsRelated posts
Leave a Reply