To adapt to the development trends in English teaching and meet society's growing demand for foreign language skills, the finals of the 2023 Beijing Graduate English Speech Competition were held on the morning of December 3 at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After intense competition, our graduate student Yuan Xianghang stood out among the 21 finalists, winning second prize in the Beijing finals.

The competition, themed "My Confidence in Chinese Culture," was open to first-year master and doctoral students in non-English majors from the 2023 cohort. The contest was conducted in three stages: university-level selection, Beijing semi-finals, and the finals. In the finals, our contestant Yuan Xianghang delivered a three-minute prepared speech from his unique perspective and life experiences. During the Q&A session with the foreign judges, Yuan eloquently shared the unique charm of Chinese calligraphy and his teaching experiences in rural areas from the past year, showcasing his solid English skills and earning unanimous praise from the judges.

The speech competition concluded after one and a half months. All participants and their instructors took it seriously and made thorough preparation, demonstrating a positive and determined spirit throughout the event. They made significant improvements in their expression, language skills, and oratory artistry, and enhanced better understanding of "Chinese culture" and "cultural confidence". The competition let both the participants and audiences experience the captivating charm of English speeches. This event has significantly motivated graduate students to learn and use English, thereby promoting English education at our university.