This September, South China University of China had witnessed the arrival of freshmen who were about to start their brand-new life in this university. An opening ceremony for 2019 freshmen of SFL (School of Foreign Languages) was held in the Humanities Hall of the Yifu Building on the morning of September 24. Zhong Shuneng, Dean of SFL, Liu Yingsi, Party Secretery of SFL, Wu Jianguo, Vice-Dean of SFL, Zhu Xianlong, Vice-Dean of SFL, Zhao Shuidong, Deputy Party Secretary of SFL and An Ran, a special guest attended the ceremony.
The opening ceremony
Accompanied by the melody of “Me and My Motherland”, all students and faculty with five-star red flags in their hands sang this song together to pay tribute to our great motherland and to celebrate 70th anniversary of the founding of PRC, which showed SCUT students’ ambitions and responsibilities to make contribution to our great motherland.
Teachers and students sing “Me and My Motherland”
Liu Yingsi, Party Secretery of SFL hosted this ceremony. He first extended his warm welcome and sincere congratulation to the newcomers. He then reviewed and introduced the history, current development and future prospects of our school.
Liu Yingsi,Party Secretery of SFL, hosts the ceremony
Zhong Shuneng, Dean of SFL, introduced in his speech the discipline characteristics and learning skills of foreign language majors. He noted that the original aspiration and our mission of learning foreign languages was to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and to promote Chinese culture worldwide, and to improve China’s international status and enhance confidence nationwide by telling China’s story to the world. Professor Zhong also encouraged the newcomers, the new generation of “SCUT students”, to embark on their journey of learning foreign languages that leads to the future and the world.
Zhong Shuneng, Dean of SFL, gives a speech
Professor An Ran, a distinguished alumni representative of SFL, shared her valuable experience of study and encouraged students to devote to their interest, concentration and passion on the path of growth; to cultivate their abilities of critical thinking and independent thinking, and abilities of summary and reflection. In the globalized society, students majoring in foreign languages should learn the philosophy of “Harmony in Diversity”, Cherish their own motherland, have the whole world in vision, and keep their mind as bright as sunshine and as inclusive as sea.
Professor An Ran, an alumnirepresentative, speaks at the ceremony
Professor Liu Yaobo, a teacher representative of SFL, said in his speech that students should be grateful for the opportunity to study, cherish their college time, adapt to and plan their study life as soon as possible, improve themselves, and strive to pursue all-round development, so as to pursue their dreams on this campus and embrace the struggles in their lives.
Professor Liu Yaobo, a teacherrepresentative of SFL, speaks at the ceremony
Liang Jiayi, a representative of 2017 postgraduates, encouraged freshmen to keep in mind the university motto of “Study Extensively, Reflect Carefully, Discriminate Clearly, Practice Earnestly”, and to show and develop their talents based on the platform and resources provided by SCUT and SFL. Zheng Yifei, a representative of 2017 undergraduates, noted that students majoring in foreign languages should pursue all-round development in morality, intelligence, physical health and aesthetics and strive to become international comprehensive talents. Liu Jiayi, a representative of 2019 new undergraduates, shared her understanding and future plans for new college life from the aspects of embarking on a new journey to seek truths and pursue dreams. She also looked forward to joining hands with the newcomers to meet challenges and embrace a brighter future.
Student representatives speak at the ceremony
At the ceremony freshmen of class 2019 recited an English poem named “Youth”. They used their sonorous and powerful voices to convey their yearning and determination to create a youthful China with their strength and intelligence.
Freshmen recite the English Poem“Youth”
The opening ceremony ended with all singing the university anthem “The Song of SCUT” and the English song “auld lang syne”. This was not the end but a fresh new start for a new journey.
Teachers and students sing the university anthem and the English song “auld lang syne”.
All professors, associate professors, and master tutors of Foreign Languages, directors of each department, all teachers of English Department and Japanese Department, staff from the College Office and the Office of Student Affairs had attended this opening ceremony.
(Edited by: Wang Xueqiao, Chen Ziyue, Ran Yuxin, Zhao Dan, Chen Yi)
