On December 17th, the national finals of the 2023 National Global Competence English Speech Competition for Undergraduates kicked off in the multi-function Hall of Yang Yongman Builiding of the School of Foreign Languages. The competition was organized by the sub-committee of Science and Technology Construction of China University Foreign Language Development Alliance and the Virtual Teaching and Research Laboratory of Integrated Learning, Teaching and Testing of College English of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and hosted by the International Affairs Division of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the School of Foreign Languages, the Global Competence Foreign Language Competence Development and Guidance Center of the School of Foreign Languages. 

The finalists, who came from 19 well-known Chinese universities, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Wuhan University, Xi’an Jiao Tong university, and University of Science and Technology of China, fully demonstrated young students’ excellent English speaking skills and ability to participate in solving global problems.

At the opening ceremony, professor Wang Xuemei from Shanghai International Studies University expressed warm congratulations on the competition on behalf of China University Foreign Languages Development Alliance. She said that in the past five years since the establishment of the alliance, more than 20 events including a series of high-end forums, college student innovation contests, speech competitions, future teacher quality display were held, centering round the higher education strategy of “double first-class”, “New Four Subjects Construction” and “High-quality Development”. She emphasized that the alliance played an importance role in building a foreign language exchange platform, jointly promoting the traning of high-quality foreign language talents, promoting cultural inheritance and innovation and continuously enhancing the international influence of China’s foreign language discipline. At the same time, the School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as the chairman of the committee of Science and Technology University Group of China University Foreign Language Development Alliance, played an important role in exploring the construcation of foreign language discipline and talent training in science and technology universities. 

Chang Hui, dean of the School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, pointed out in his speech that global competence included the ability to analyze regional, global and cross-cultural issues; the ability to understand and appreiciate the perspective and world views of others; the ability to interact openly, properly and effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds; and the ability to contribute to collective well-being and sustainable development. He hoped that the contestants can fully demonstrate their ability and style to analyze global issues. He also hoped that the college students in the new era can better master English language to tell Chinese stories well and spread Chinese voices. 

Centering on 17 global development goals set by the United Unions, 19 contestants delivered three-minute speeches and answered live questions from the judges. The juges graded the contestants according to speech content, language skill, and on-the-spot response, granting 3 grand prizes, 7 first prizes and 9 second prizes. Zhang Yuyang, an undergraduate from English Department won the grand prize of the competition, receiving judges’ praise for her profound and unique thoughts and excellent language skills. Ms Dai Rongrong from the SFL won the award of Excellent Instructor. 

It was known that the the first global competence English speech competition in 2021 included only students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In 2022, the competition involved universities across Shanghai. In 2023, the competition evolved into a national-level contest. The global competence English speech competition will continue to focus on the country’s  strategic need to cultivate high-quality foreign language talents, demonstrate the international vision of contemporary college students, be the pushing force to help China better march into the world and the world to better understand China.