On December 3, 2023, the national finals and grand finals of the 6th SFLEP National Intercultural Competence Contest concluded successfully at Hunan Normal University. Under the meticulous guidance of teachers Zhang Xin, Xuan Jing, and Zhao Danchen from the School of Foreign Languages, a team composed of three students, Cheng Ziyang from the English major of the 2020 class, Zheng Yulu from the Library Science major of the 2022 class, and Qian Siyu from the History major (Base Class) of the 2022 class, representing Shaanxi Province, won the national second prize of Chinese student group and the “Best Case Award”. This marks the best achievement our school has obtained since participating in this competition and is also the best result in Shaanxi Province in this competition.
The SFLEP Cup National College Students’ Intercultural Competence Contest was selected for inclusion in the 2023 National General Higher Education Student Competition Analysis Report by the China Association of Higher Education in March of this year. After several years of high-quality development, it has become one of the largest national events in foreign language disciplines, with the highest number of participants from teachers and students and the widest coverage of schools. The competition, themed "Strengthen Cultural Confidence and Enhance International Understanding ", aims to promote the construction of international communication capabilities, facilitate mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, and enhance cultural exchanges.
The 6th SFLEP Cup National College Students’ Intercultural Competence Contest was guided by the China Education Association for International Exchange, hosted by Shanghai International Studies University, co-organized by Hunan Normal University, and organized by Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, with academic Support provided by the International Institute of Shanghai International Studies University. A total of 52 Chinese student teams and 20 international student teams participated in the finals, having stood out from 741 participating colleges and universities in 23 provinces and municipalities nationwide and showcased their talents in the intense competition.
Since the launch of the competition, our school has attached great importance to it and actively organized student participation. During the five-month preparation period, from studying cross-cultural theories to analyzing simulated cases, from finalizing scripts to daily training and rehearsals, the journey was long, while the teachers and students never slackened. In the national finals, the three students demonstrated solid cross-cultural abilities and outstanding performances. They actively cooperated in case analysis, answering judges' questions, and interpreting famous quotes. Their cooperation fully showcased the team's cohesion and collaborative ability, and achieved the excellent result of the national second prize. At the same time, they also won unanimous praise from judges and audiences for their in-depth exploration of the case, earning them the "Best Case Award".
The award-winning results of this competition not only demonstrate the outstanding intercultural communication skills of our school students but also add color to our school's international education efforts. Furthermore, through this competition, students gained in-depth insights into the cultural differences and communication methods of different countries and regions, enhancing their understanding and cognition of international affairs. This has a positive driving effect on our school's work in country and area studies, providing valuable experience and materials for in-depth research and understanding of various cultures and social backgrounds.
Our school will continue to strengthen the cultivation of students' intercultural abilities, provide more opportunities for exchange and practice for students, and strive to cultivate more outstanding talents with a global perspective and intercultural communication abilities.