The Telling Chinese Stories in English Contest is the first humanities comprehensive literacy event in China themed on the dissemination of Chinese culture, jointly organized by the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, China Education Television, and New Channel International Education Group. The event is designed for both domestic and international youth. Upholding the vision of Chinese Culture, Global Dissemination, the Contest implements the arrangements made by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee for cultural development, which emphasizes the need to strengthen cultural confidence, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, and inherit fine traditional Chinese culture. It focuses on building a strong socialist culture in China and implements the requirements set forth at the 20th National Congress of the CPC to tell China's stories well, make China's voice heard, present a China that is credible, appealing, and respectable, and promote the better integration of Chinese culture into the world. Through forms such as English recitation, creative speech, dramatic monologue, or displays of Chinese cultural talents, the Contest provides a platform for young people to promote fine traditional Chinese culture and engage in exchanges with the world.
The 5th Contest will be held during the 2024 academic year (from autumn 2024 to summer 2025), consisting of three stages: the city phase, the provincial phase, and the national phase. The relevant matters regarding registration are hereby notified as follows:
1. Eligibility
Full-time undergraduate and master's students currently enrolled at our university.
2. Registration Method
Scan the QR code to fill in the registration information. Before February 18, log in to the WeChat Mini Program CN Stories and follow the prompts to record or upload a video.
3. Submission Requirements
Cit Phase:
Participants should simulate a live stage setting, record a video in English not exceeding 1.5 minutes, and submit it online. Participants choose one of the following three formats for their submission: Recitation, Local Story Writing and Reading, or Self-Introduction. The specific requirements are as follows:
Option 1: RecitationSelect one passage from the recommended articles or choose a passage from the recommended books, and recite a story paragraph in English. Refer to the Mini Program for suggested passages and book information.
Option 2: Local Story Writing and ReadingWrite a short local story in English and read it aloud. Please note that the story should not center on the participant personally. The local focus should primarily be the location of the participant's university. The story must revolve around Chinese elements (including but not limited to Chinese landscapes, customs, figures, achievements, arts, and spirit). The story should have a clear narrative structure, including Introduction (setting and main characters), Main Body (key events and climax), and Conclusion (creative and vivid endings are encouraged). The specific format involves the participant introducing themselves on camera, simulating a live stage setting, recording a video not exceeding 1.5 minutes, and submitting the video online.
Option 3: Self-IntroductionIntroduce yourself in English from your own perspective. The self-introduction must incorporate Chinese elements (including but not limited to Chinese landscapes, customs, figures, achievements, arts, or spirit). It should not include the participant's Chinese name or the name of their school. (Story manuscript optional)
4. Organizer's Suggestions
The city phase assesses participants' communication and cultural confidence, focusing on overall language expression skills, such as pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, and logical coherence.
Recommended Materials for Recitation: Participants can access the materials by clicking the floating button Activity Guide on the My Story interface of the WeChat Mini Program CN Stories, or by scanning the QR code below labeled Recommended Articles for Primary/City Phase.
Submission: Upload 1 or 2 files to the Mini Program anytime before February 18. The uploaded video must pass an AI preliminary review as a formal submission before entering the judging process.
Recording Requirements: After choosing the format, participants should record their original video in English. Please ensure that no personal information (name, school name, or school uniforms/logos) is revealed during the presentation. Participants may prepare backgrounds, PPTs, costumes, or props to simulate a live setting. Ensure the face is well-lit, the environment is quiet, and the audio is clear. If using a smartphone for recording, horizontal orientation is recommended, showing the upper body and complete body language for better video quality and a higher chance of being featured in highlight reels. Do not include advertising content, duplicate submissions, plagiarized work, or any other content suspected of cheating or non-compliance.
File Specifications: Video files should be no longer than 1.5 minutes. Supported formats include mp4, flv, mkv, rmvb, etc., with a maximum size of 200MB. Text files supporting manuscript submission include doc, docx, pdf, txt, jpg, png.
Judging Results: After judging in February 2025, the organizing committee will announce the results for the next phase via SMS, the WeChat Mini Program, the official WeChat account, or WeChat groups.
5. Schedule
City Phase: November 2024 – February 2025Provincial Phase: March 2025 – April 2025National Phase (Sino-Foreign Youth Showcase): June 2025
6. Contact Information
Students interested in participating in the Telling Chinese Stories in English Contest are requested to join the QQ group: 453443670.
For any further inquiries, please contact Teacher Ma from the School of Foreign Languages at Tel: 020-87112283.
