2003 "CCTV Cup" English Speaking Contest

cctv.com 09-19-2003 13:59

China's opening-up and reform coupled with the successful bid for the 2008 Beijing Olympics have provided the perfect backdrop for Chinese people to embrace the international community. Following successful contests in 2000 and 2002, CCTV-9 and the Foreign Language Teaching Research Press are teaming up to hold the 2003 "CCTV Cup" English Speaking Contest.

For the very first time, participants from the Taiwan region and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs will compete along with contestants from 32 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the Chinese mainland. Only university undergraduates and graduates are entitled to take part in the four-level contest, consisting of preliminary, intermediary, semi-final and final stages. The first stage is to be held at universities. The second will be held at the regional level, sponsored by foreign language teaching research associations in local universities. The top three from each region will come to Beijing for the semi-final. And the top 23 emerging from the semi-final will compete in the final. CCTV-9 will broadcast the final live.

The contest will pick one champion, two silver and three bronze medalists as well as several individual awards. The winner will be presented with a trophy and a "CCTV Cup" English Speaking Contest certificate. In addition, the champion and his or her director will be sent to the UK for the annual "ESU Cultural Seminar" week next spring. ESU stands for English Speaking Union. It's aimed at enhancing the global use of English. It's a non-political educational charity organization with members dotted around the world. The two silver medalists and their directors win a one-week training program at the "Oxford Summer School" in the UK at the beginning of July. The bronze medalists and their directors are invited to take part in the annual "Australia University Debate Contest" in mid July, which is held in Asia or Oceania.

According to the agenda, regional contests will end by mid November. Those emerging from the first two phases face tough competition in the semi-final in Beijing. 23 candidates will eventually take part in the finals at CCTV.

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2003 "CCTV Cup" English Speaking Contest Organizing Committee

Editor:Sun  Source:CCTV.com