The South China regional finals of the 27th "FLTRP·ETIC Cup" National English Debating Competition were held online from April 12th to 13th. Yuan Meng and Zhao Yiqing from the School of Foreign Languages at HXIT competed against 130 teams from institutions including Guangzhou University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, ultimately securing the Third Prize.
Adopting the British Parliamentary Debate format, the competition featured multidisciplinary topics spanning economics, philosophy, and technology. Contestants rigorously discussed contemporary propositions such as "Career Preferences of University Graduates", "Popularity of Mysticism", and "Technological Optimism vs. Pessimism". These themes comprehensively assessed participants' linguistic proficiency, interdisciplinary knowledge, and critical reasoning capabilities.
During preparation, the duo conducted systematic training by analyzing outstanding cases from previous competitions, expanding multidisciplinary knowledge reserves, and enhancing teamwork through intensive mock debates. Throughout the two-day event comprising five round-robin matches, the HXIT representatives demonstrated composure in confronting diverse debating styles, swiftly deconstructing motion essentials to build logically robust frameworks.
When challenged by formidable opponents, the pair maintained psychological resilience through positive teamwork, earning consistent jury recognition. Reflecting on their experience, the students noted significant improvements in debate techniques and interdisciplinary thinking, while gaining clearer self-assessment through exchanges with regional peers.
Liu Xiao, Director of the HXIT’s ETIC office, emphasized the competition's status as a premier platform for showcasing linguistic and cognitive competencies. "HXIT's achievement demonstrates notable results in foreign language talent development," she stated. HXIT remains dedicated to cultivating globally-minded innovators through sustained support for high-level academic competitions.
