CityU hosts 6th City Cup English Public Speaking Competition to strengthen students’ intercultural communication competence
[foogallery id="53825"]
The 6th City Cup English Public Speaking Competition of the City University of Macau (CityU) was held at the Ho Yin Convention Centre, Taipa campus, and was hosted by the General Education Department. This annual event attracted a record number of participants this year, with approximately one hundred students taking part.
During his opening address, Rector Jun Liu encouraged students to participate in the competition to sharpen their English skills, particularly in oral expression. He conveyed his well wishes to the contestants and expressed his anticipation for their performances. Chair Professor Lixian Jin, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as Iris Mak Ngan Leng, the Head of the General Education Department, attended the contest to provide advice and guidance.
The theme of this year's edition was "Best Day of My Life," and contestants shared their experiences from various angles. Some shared their experiences as international volunteers and emphasized the importance of seizing the day. Covering a wide range of topics from personal anecdotes to epiphanies, the students showcased their exceptional English proficiency and intercultural communication skills, infusing positive energy into the campus culture. After the preliminary round, eleven finalists were shortlisted for the championship, first runner-up, second runner-up, and other honorable mentions.
The jury panel was comprised of several members, including Lecturer Vince Li from the University of Macau, Former President Vong Kuok U of the Macau Professional and Graduates Toastmasters Club, Senior Lecturer Andrew Leong-Murphy from the University of Saint Joseph, and Jasper Leong Chon and Anna Choi Sin Va, lecturers of CityU, who acted as questioning panelists.
Following the thematic speech and impromptu speech rounds, Hazel Zhang Ziqiu, a student of English Studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, was awarded the championship. Student Celine Gao Yueying won first runner-up, while student Slade Li Xiangyu received the second runner-up title. Additionally, student Ximena Zhang Ximing was recognized as the Most Popular Speaker, and student Giselle Ai Jian was awarded Best Manner.
Champion – Hazel Zhang Ziqiu
First of all, I am very grateful that CityU can provide a stage for English learning and communication so that people from different majors who love English and public speaking can get together and communicate with each other. It is enjoyable to hear other people's stories and learn from their experiences. Secondly, from my point of view, the best way to learn a language is to speak. Through public speech, presentation, and daily communication, we can practice English expression so as to form an English mindset. I am grateful that my ability of expression and logic has improved in this competition. Finally, I want to thank my mentors William and Daniel. Their support and help to me are beyond words. I hope we can continue to communicate and learn from each other in the future.
1st Runner Up – Celine Gao Yueying
First of all, I am very grateful to the City University of Macau and FHSS for launching this event which provides a platform for us to exchange ideas and showcase our talent. I was given a golden chance to share my story with CityU with the audience. Secondly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers who organized the contest and my supervisor, Anna, who took time out of her busy schedule to help me improve my speech, correct my pronunciation, and to share many presentation tips. Without her guidance and encouragement, I would not have achieved such a great result. I am also very grateful to the outstanding contestants. I gained joy from their speeches, and at the same time, I realized my shortcomings, so that I can orient myself for future efforts and improvement. Through this contest, my writing and speaking skills have been significantly improved. In addition, I learned to overcome my nervousness and enjoy the stage. This competition experience will always be an encouragement to me whenever I face future challenges.
2nd Runner Up – Slade Li Xiangyu
CityU has set its sights on becoming an university with global vision, and as such, English is of paramount importance. Not only is English the bridge that connects us to the world, it is also the foundation of our communication with the world. City Cup is an annual English event that I have witnessed since I enrolled, and this year I was fortunate enough to participate and gain a lot from it. First and foremost, I would like to thank my mentor, Henry, whose meticulous guidance and enthusiasm for public speaking have greatly inspired me. I would also like to express my gratitude to my teachers and classmates for their support and encouragement. Lastly, I would like to thank the General Education Department and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for organizing this competition and providing a platform for students to showcase their skills. English is a window that cannot be shut once it is opened. It allows us to see the outside world, and it is a window to the world. It also enables us to recognize that there is always someone better than us, and to strive for greater heights.
Most Popular Speaker – Ximena Zhang Ximing
Firstly, I would like to thank my tutor Laurinda and all the teachers who helped me during my preparation for the competition. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to help me revise my script and horn my public speaking skills. Your assistance has allowed me to make progress through practices. I would also like to thank all the students who enjoyed my speech. What I gained from this competition is beyond results and rewards, whether it was the sincere sharing in the lecture before the competition, the genuine comment from the judges after the competition, or from the other competitors’ excellent performances. What's more, I will continue to carry all these harvests with me as I move forward.
Best Manner – Giselle Ai Dian
There is nothing better than dedicating the beautiful spring days to the City Cup and gaining fantastic memories. I will never forget the feeling of seeing all the wonderful candidates shining on the stage and my heart beating for the competition. Though there were some obstacles and challenges in the process of preparing for the competition, just as Kelly Clarkson sang in her song: "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", I've learned a lot from the experience and met so many wonderful people and finally become more capable than I used to be. I would like to show my appreciation to all the people who had helped me and supported me. Without you, I couldn't have done this. As for those who didn’t take part in the game this year, City Cup is well-worth trying, and I wish next year you will bravely step out of your comfort zone and shine on the stage. Let's bring our A game and strive to become better versions of ourselves through this competition!
Source: General Education Department
