Editor: Li Weimiao

(Image: Opening Ceremony)

The 2025 Guangdong Provincial College Students' Foreign Language Contest, also known as the provincial round of the "FLTRP·ETIC Cup" "Understanding Contemporary China" National Foreign Language Contest for College Students, was successfully held at Jinan University on November 8-9.

Under the theme "Understanding China, Connecting with the World," this year's contest attracted over 55,000 participants from 69 universities across Guangdong. Following preliminary rounds, more than 1,100 students advanced to the provincial finals. During the two-day event, 244 contestants competed in the on-site English speech and interpretation categories. The top performers will represent Guangdong at the upcoming national finals in Beijing.

The competition was hosted by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province and organized by the School of Foreign Studies at Jinan University. It was co-organized by the Guangdong Provincial Guidance Committee for College English Teaching, the Guangdong Provincial Guidance Committee for Foreign Language Majors, and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP).

At the opening ceremony, Chen Ying, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jinan University Committee, highlighted the contest's role in providing a platform for students to demonstrate their language skills and cross-cultural communication abilities. She noted it serves as an important initiative to advance foreign language education reform and innovative talent cultivation, encouraging students to share China's stories with the world.

Jiang Lin, Director of the Higher Education Department of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, emphasized the competition's significance in deepening foreign language education reform and nurturing talent for international communication. She expressed hope that universities would leverage this opportunity to further enhance talent development.

Chang Xiaoling, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of FLTRP, reflected on the development of the competition series. She expressed her expectation that participants would hone their practical skills in international communication and cultural exchange through this platform.

Professor Chen Jinshi, Secretary-General of the Guangdong Provincial Guidance Committee for College English Teaching, underscored the contest's positive impact on driving teaching innovation and improving the quality of foreign language education.

Aiming to deepen students' comprehension of China's development path while broadening their global perspective, the contest comprehensively assesses participants' language proficiency, cross-cultural competence, critical thinking, and creativity. As one of the largest and most influential foreign language contests in Guangdong, it featured three main categories: English, Multi-language, and International Chinese, covering a total of 11 languages. The English category included sub-competitions in Integrated International Communication Abilities, Translation, Interpretation, and Short Video. The Multi-language category tested comprehensive language application skills, while the International Chinese category featured a Short Video sub-competition for international students in China.

(Image: English Group Speech Competition)

At the closing ceremony on the afternoon of November 9, speeches were delivered by Professor Liu Jianda, Chair of the Guangdong Provincial Guidance Committee for College English Teaching; Professor Wu Zhuang, Secretary-General of the Guangdong Provincial Guidance Committee for Foreign Language Majors; Ms. Liu Qiuxiang, Director of the FLTRP South China Information Center; and Professor Pu Ruoxian, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Jinan University. The winners of the various English category sub-competitions and the International Chinese Short Video competition were announced. Award certificates bearing the official seal of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education will be issued to the winners by the organizing committee.