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Schoolgirl wearing microphone headset. Image © Tim Hall

2002 Contest Review

	2003 Contest Review

In the autumn of 2003, the Guangdong English Speaking Contest for University Students was held for university students throughout the province of Guangdong once again.

Following the successful speaking contest in 2002, the 2003 Speaking Contest attracted 35 contestants from 24 universities from the province. For the first time, the contest was held right on campus, and raised the students’ interests in English speaking skills even more.

The organisers, the Guangdong Department of Education and the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate-General (The British Council) encouraged the students to “stand out and speak out”, the theme of the event. The China IELTS Network provided the topics, and experienced IELTS examiners sat on the panel of judges along with English teaching experts from China to ensure fairness and to lend authority to the contest.

25 October 2003 saw the contestants competing in Shenzhen University for the 10 places in the final. The contestants first presented their prepared speeches on the topic “The Future Is Now ” before giving impromptu speeches on randomly selected topics prepared by the China IELTS Network.

The top 10 semi-finalists proceeded to the final, which was held at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies on 6 November. After the prepared speeches and impromptu speeches on different topics, six finalists were chosen to take part in a debate. The debate witnessed the most intensive competition among the best university English speakers in the province. They argued back and forth, presenting the pros and cons of the increase of private cars in Guangzhou.

Xie Rui from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies was the ultimate winner of the speaking contest. Wu Zhiwei (South China Normal University) and Liao Ruochen (South China University of Technology) were chosen as second place winners. These three finalist were chosen to represent the university students of Guangdong in the CCTV Cup English Speaking Contest which was held later in Beijing.

The honors and rewards did not stop there, however. The Aspect Education Group, the sponsor of the Guangdong Speaking Contest, offered the top six contestants in the 2003 Guangdong Speaking Contest a one-week study tour to their school located in Cambridge, England.