Veterans of contest keep on returning
For Chen Jiehao, this is the ninth consecutive year in which she has participated in the China Daily "21st Century Cup" National English Speaking Competition.
On her outing as a contestant in 2012, she won the national championship as a sophomore at Communication University of China. Since then, she had kept coming back to play organizing roles as volunteer, host and group leader.
"It's a calling for me to pay back the competition," said Chen, who has become a reporter since she graduated. "I also find it interesting to interact with younger contestants and get to know their fresh ideas on major current affairs."
The average English proficiency of the students has improved, she said, and the stories they tell in their speeches have become less academic, more colorful and personal.
Chen is not the only one who comes back. Many of the former star contestants serve as judges in this year's competition as well.
Zhan Cheng, the second runner-up of the contest in 1999, is now a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and secretary-general of the interpretation committee of the Translators Association of China.
He bought his first formal suit for the competition, he recalled, and his prize was a trip to Singapore, which became his first overseas experience.
"Back then, the contestants were less experienced, and we had few opportunities to attend such competitions. Now the students come with a lot more experience," Zhan said.
English public speaking has since become part of Zhan's life, that he evolved from a contestant to a coach and is now a competition judge.
"In the past, I was achieving my own goal. I am now helping young students to realize their dreams," he said. "I get even more satisfaction out of it."
Xia Peng, the national champion in 2005, went on to win the international public-speaking competition held by English-Speaking Union in London the same year. He is now the question master for both The Belt and Road Youth English Speaking Competition and China Daily "21st Century Cup" International English Speaking Competition held in Hangzhou on Sunday.
The "21st Century Cup" has opened a door to the world for Chinese students. Now it is inviting international students to come and see China, Xia said, adding that it was time for China to hold an international speaking competition as the country has become more and more open to the world.
Chen Bowen contributed to this story.
xingyi@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 03/25/2019 page10)
