SMBU Student Achieves Remarkable Results in the Finals of the National English Competition

From August 2-7, the 2025 National Finals of the National English Competition for College Students (NECCS) were held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Li Shuyuan, a 2024 undergraduate majoring in Electronic and Computer Engineering in the Department of Engineering at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU), participated as a representative of Guangdong Province by virtue of winning the Grand Prize in the Provincial Finals. Li demonstrated outstanding performance amidst fierce competition, being awarded first prize in the Debate Competition and securing second prize honors in the Speech Competition. Additionally, she was honored with the titles of "Outstanding Host" and "Outstanding Contestant." These achievements not only showcase her exceptional English proficiency and competitive spirit but also represent SMBU's strongest showing to date in this prestigious competition.

This year's highly competitive finals drew 325 Grand Prize winners from provincial finals representing 30 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities and 194 universities. Participating institutions included Peking University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, Shanghai International Studies University, Nankai University, Wuhan University, Southeast University, Sichuan University, and Jilin University, among others. The finals featured traditional flagship events, including the 24^th NECCS Speech Competition, the 24^th NECCS Debate Competition, and the 17^th NECCS English Talent Show. Additionally, the program included specialized professional development activities such as English learning experience exchange sessions, cultural salons, and expert lectures, all designed to comprehensively enhance participants' language application skills, independent innovation, and teamwork capabilities.

In the highly competitive English Debate Competition, Li Shuyuan and her teammates, under the guidance of instructors from Guangdong Province, engaged in several rounds of intensive preparation and strategy with participants from Shaanxi, Guangxi, Anhui, Hubei, and other regions. They refined their skills in topic analysis, argument construction, defense and rebuttal, questioning, time management, and pacing control. Through exceptional logical reasoning and fluent English expression, they secured a historic victory by claiming first prize with the second-highest overall score among 32 national teams, bringing honor to Guangdong Province and SMBU. "This experience allowed me to meet many highly skilled opponents; engaging in intellectual exchange and deep communication in English was a rare growth opportunity," Li Shuyuan shared after the competition, expressing tremendous pride in her team's first-place achievement for Guangdong Province.

Looking back on her overall experience, Li Shuyuan admitted that while she felt some regret about not performing to her full potential in the speech competition, she gained valuable experience serving as a host for the debate competition. During the event, she not only improved her English skills but also connected with outstanding students from across the country. "Every day was full and wonderful, making it the most memorable experience of this summer break!" she shared excitedly.

Since its establishment, the NECCS has served as a crucial platform for assessing the outcomes of English teaching in Chinese universities and selecting foreign language talents. This year's competition not only assessed students' language proficiency but also emphasized the cultivation of critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, and team spirit, offering a national forum for Chinese university students to demonstrate their comprehensive English prowess. In the future, SMBU will continue to promote English education and cultural exchange, enabling more students to participate in such high-level platforms.