Young contestants shine at international event

The English-language abilities of students from the Chinese mainland impressed judges at the English Speaking Union's 2023 International Public Speaking Competition, in London, England.

Lucia Dumont Renard, a former president of the English Speaking Union's international council and former chairperson of ESU France who is a senior English public speaking training officer, said: "We were all amazed at their capacity to express themselves. It's excellent English."

The competition, which was held from May 8 to May 12, chose "Relations between nations are too important to be left to the government alone" as its theme for the final.

Since its foundation in 1918, the London-based ESU has been a membership organization that has been promoting better communication between people of all cultures. It has 54 international branches worldwide.

After three years that were impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ESU held an in-person contest, with contestants from more than 30 countries and regions competing and exchanging ideas, including two contestants from the Chinese mainland and two others from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Liu Bowen, a 20-year-old from Peking University, said after delivering an impromptu speech during the heats on Thursday morning and ahead of presenting a prepared speech in the afternoon: "I think I generally did a great job. I conveyed all of the thoughts that I meant to convey, and I'm very proud to stand among all the international contestants from over 30 countries and regions, (which means) China is having an increasing voice in the global vision."

The competition brought together students aged 16 to 20. Chinese mainland contestants had to first perform well in the China Daily 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition.

Liu won first prize at the 27th China Daily 21st Century Cup.

The other contestant from the Chinese mainland, Wu Dongxu, is an 18-year-old from Hangzhou Foreign Languages School who won the 20th China Daily 21st Century Cup (senior high group).

He talked about his hometown, Hangzhou, in East China's Zhejiang province, during the impromptu speech heats and enthusiastically welcomed the audience to visit the city.

"I think this is a very precious opportunity for me to come here and to say something about China, and to introduce China to the outside world," Wu said.

The contestants won plaudits from judges and fellow competitors during the contest.

Jane Easton, director-general of the ESU, praised their energy and ideas, while Elene Gureshidze, a 20-year-old contestant, also praised their performance.

"My performance, I would say, was pretty good, and I listened to my Chinese counterparts and they were absolutely amazing," Gureshidze said.

Anthony Harris, chairman of the judges for the impromptu speech section, said: "We've, said: "We've got to remember that, by the time they get here, all of the students have won a competition back in their own country, and in China, I'm sure there must have been thousands of entrants to those competitions.

"So, for them to have won through to come to London, there's no great surprise that they're going to be really excellent. That's what makes it so difficult for us as judges, to know you're dealing with the best of the best."

Renard agreed, saying: "The training of the Chinese students is particularly good, because, so far, there has been three winners of the competitions through the years (Liu Xin in 1996, Xia Peng in 2005, and Yang Kangqi in 2022), and the members of the jury agree to say that their English was perfect, the training was perfect."

Renard said the competition not only offers some excellent public speaking but is also like a festival of nationalities and cultures.

"What is very important about this competition is the tolerance, the mutual understanding that prevails beyond the competition," Renard said.

Easton added: "It's a wonderful opportunity for them … to meet young people from other parts of the world and to make friendships, critically, friendships that will last a lifetime."

Liu agreed that the competition is much more than simply presenting speeches.

"This is a very memorable journey," he said. "I've never thought that cultural communication can be this complicated, complex and rewarding."

Wu added: "This can give me an opportunity to see how different cultures can merge and meet, and this can facilitate my career in the future, I know what to do and how to do."

Fellow contestant Gureshidze said the experience definitely helps her broaden her horizon and understand other people's perspectives as well.

Renard said people are important in changing the world, and that the young people who compete in the competition will be the leaders of the future, and those who are going to change the world, and, hopefully, make it a better place.

Easton said: "They have an awful lot to say when we listen carefully, and they will take their place in the world with all the knowledge and all the skills they've learned through the competitions."