Li Xiaonan, from Class 08501 of The Department of Information Technology and Business Administration, excelled as the second prize winner at the 15th National English Speaking Competition of the 21st Century Cup in Liaoning competition area, guided by Zhou Chuan, lecturer from the English Department.

    The participants of the finals came from Dalian University of Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Northeastern University, Dalian University of Foreign Languages as well as Shenyang Normal University and other key institutions of higher learning, which spelt a lineup of powerful contenders. The first three winners were respectively the champion, the runner-up and the second runner-up. Among the other winners awarded, two took the fist prize with five coming second and six the third. The champion and the runner-up, as entrants, will compete in the oncoming semi-finals of the 15th National English Speech Contest of the 21st Century Cup to be put on in Guangzhou this April.     The speaking event, sponsored by China Daily and the 21st Century, has been staged fifteen times in a row. Launched in 1996, the contest has been a tryout in China for the International Speaking Competition held in London in every May, which means the winner will display their charm internationally on behalf of the Chinese students. Liu Xin and Rui Chenggang, renowned bilingual anchors competed with international rivals and returned in triumph.     To make what is good still better, two English majors, Li Yuanxin and Li Yaoyao, guided by Ms. Wang Shanshan and Guo Mochi from the English Department, came back with two prizes of the Most Outstanding Position Paper from the DLMUN (Dalian Model United Nations) Conference 2009, exhibiting their excellent thinking and debate ability in language as well as skillful diplomacy. 64 candidates from the schools of higher learning rivaled for the six prizes of the Most Outstanding Position Paper Award and the Most Outstanding Delegates.        The DLMUN Conference 2009, under the auspices of the Dalian Municipal Committee of the National Youth League and Dalian University of Foreign Languages, is intended for the implementation of the requirement by the 17th NPC of carrying out quality education and updating China’s education in an effort to foster more builders and successors of the socialist cause. To compete in the conference, the participants must display their comprehensive abilities and skills in organizing, masterminding, managing, researching and writing, public speaking and debating, solving conflicts, seeking common grounds while shelving differences, using the language of English, communicating with others, to name a few.     Competition experience gained last year, the English Major Teaching and Research Division introduced the related training on students and made a success of the First DLMUN Conference of the English Department. Future competitors selected, the department started the pre-event grooming on a regular basis. Through systematic, effective training and preparation, the candidates were in good shape for the achievement of the mentioned satisfactory results. President"s Office