A positive response to the national Ministry of Education's emphasis on
English teaching in China, this competition was started by China Daily in 1996
and organized by 21st Century English Newspapers.
Since the beginning, it has served as China's qualifying contest for London's
annual International Public Speaking Competition. Former winners have been
honoured with the "First Prize", the "Best Non-Native English Speaker" Award and
the "Audience's Choice Award" .
The "21st Century Cup" Competition has won the support of ESU, TESOL, ETS,
ESOL, the English Cultural Association and top global of English teaching and
test organizations. The competition not only rewards the use of English but also
thinking and debating styles and the comprehensive qualities of its contestants.
The competition begins from June to September with contestants from more than
600 universities, technical and independent colleges.
A panel of judges selects preliminary winners to enter regional finals in
October-November. Each regional contest sends 10 students to the grand finals
where they join by 10 contestants from the seed universities and contestants
from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other Asian countries.
The National Most Promising Speaker is invited to the International Public
Speaking Competition in London, and First-Prize Winners are given study trips to
Britain, Australia or Singapore.
