Recently, the final round of the 8th City Cup English Speech Contest was successfully held at the Ho Yin Convention Centre of the Taipa Campus of the City University of Macau. As the university’s annual English event, the contest attracted enthusiastic participation from students across various faculties and disciplines. After intense competition in the preliminary rounds, 12 contestants stood out and advanced to the finals, competing for the Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and "Most Popular Speaker" awards.

On the day of the contest, university, faculty and department leaders attended the event to cheer for the participants and offer professional guidance and encouragement. These included Vice Rector of the City University of Macau, Professor Wanlei Zhou; Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Lixian Jin; and Director of the General Education Department, Dr. Lei Sha.

In his opening speech, Vice Rector Zhou shared his own experience of learning English and highly praised the contestants for their thorough preparation and outstanding performances. He encouraged students to seize the opportunity to further improve their English proficiency and presentation skills while fostering a passion for language learning. Dean Jin urged contestants to bravely showcase their oratory talent and expressed hopes for the future development of the "City Cup" contest — envisioning collaboration with local professional speech organizations and other universities to help students shine on broader stages.

This year’s competition was themed "AI in Life", with contestants exploring the impact and implications of artificial intelligence on daily life from various perspectives, often drawing on personal experiences. Their speeches not only demonstrated an international outlook but also reflected a deep sense of national identity and social responsibility, embodying the university’s mission of “Serving Macau, Integrating into the Greater Bay Area.”

The judging panel consisted of prominent experts, including Assistant Professor Xiaohong Pu from Macau University of Science and Technology, Mr. Duncan Miers — Director of the English Language Centre at the University of Saint Joseph, and Lecturer Vicky Chan from the University of Macau. They provided on-the-spot evaluations and insightful commentary. Additionally, Assistant Professor Colum Ruane and Lecturer Anna Choi from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences served as question masters, posing questions after each speech to further assess the contestants’ critical thinking and responsiveness.

After two exciting rounds — prepared speeches and impromptu speeches — Yi Yao emerged as the Champion, Yucheng Gong won First Runner-up, Lanwei Zhang took home Second Runner-up, and Yining Che received the "Most Popular Speaker" award.

The "City Cup" English Speech Contest is not only a showcase of language skills but also a platform for the exchange of ideas and cultures. Looking ahead, we hope to see more outstanding students shine on this stage, telling China’s stories and amplifying the voices of youth.

Champion: 姚艺     YAO YI      Tansy

I'm incredibly grateful to have won the first prize in the speech competition on "AI in Life"! This recognition means a great deal to me, and I would like to extend a big thank you to GED and FHSS for organizing this amazing event. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the judges and professors for their thoughtful consideration and constructive feedback throughout the competition.

A special thank you goes to my supervisor, whose guidance was invaluable. You taught me essential body language skills and helped me refine my script to ensure that my presentation would resonate with the audience.  I also want to acknowledge my own efforts—this achievement is a reflection of the hard work that I have poured into this endeavor.

I believe that "AI in Life" is a profoundly relevant topic that prompts us to consider the impact of technology on our daily experiences. This competition has been a rewarding opportunity, providing a powerful platform for my voice as well as for the voices of others. I sincerely hope that the City Cup continues to thrive and gets better and better in the years to come!

1^st Runner-up: 龚煜程    GONG YUCHENG      Edward

It is my great honor to participate in the City Cup and got the 1st runner-up. Just like what two professors told us at the beginning of the competition, the most important thing of having a public speech is 'passion’. I have no doubt about this. For me, giving a speech is a kind of enjoyment and as long as I step onto a stage, I will have 100% confidence. I should say 'Thank you' to the CityU Macau and the GED that gives me the opportunity to show myself. Also, gives a chance to practice my English. I like speaking English. Cause I used to be super into watching Marvel and also admire the superheroes in the movies, I’m eager to speak English as fluently as they do. I think English for a gentleman is just like a suit of armour for a knight. In conclusion, thank you to all the teachers and hosts for your unwavering support and guidance throughout our competition. Your dedication has truly made a difference, and we are deeply grateful for your efforts.

2^nd Runner-up: 张澜玮   ZHANG LANWEI, Olivia

First of all, I would like to thank City University of Macau for founding City Cup, which gives us a great platform to show ourselves, enjoy the stage and feel the power of English. Secondly, I would like to thank my tutor, Adeline, for her guidance on my speech. Of course, being able to bravely stand on such a stage is not possible without the training of “It's my Stage” in Ms. Anna's class. Ms. Anna has a saying that I would like to share with you, "Be real, Be you, Have the passion! Have the passion". If you don't try, you will never know how high you can reach. I believe that learning English is not only a way to see a bigger world, but also a way to spread one's unique ideas. Last but not least, I would like to thank the teachers of the Department of Humanities and Liberal Studies for their dedication.

Most Popular Speaker: 车依凝       CHE YINING, Chloe

To every person who smiled, clapped, or voted.This trophy isn’t just mine; it’s a shared celebration of the stories we’ve exchanged and the bridges we’ve built through language. 

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all the teachers of City University of Macau for creating this platform for us.A special thanks to my mentors， who taught me that authenticity resonates louder than perfection. To my fellow competitors: your creativity inspired me daily. And to my friends and family—your patience with my late-night rehearsals and endless "Can I practice this speech on you?" texts means the world. 

Through actively preparing for this speech contest, I have also learned a lot about AI. I have come to view the role of AI in our lives with a dialectical perspective. I believe that this speech contest has not only honed my abilities but also broadened my horizons.

Let’s keep using our voices to uplift, challenge, and unite. Together, we prove that communication isn’t just about words—it’s about heart. Thank you for letting mine be heard.