In the warm sunlight of early winter, the 600-person auditorium in the Hsi Building was filled with warmth and energy. The eighth grade"Mirror of the Times Chinese Speech Competition" grand finals was slowly unfolding. Nine finalists, having advanced through class speeches and semi-finals, were about to share their wisdom, passion, and insights of Chinese with teachers and classmates. They would offer their interpretations and views on past times and people, as well as on current social hot topics. Their heartfelt narratives, unique perspectives, deep reflections, and passionate expressions lit up the afternoon for the students like the warm sun in winter.

Isabel from class 8-5 and Chris from class 8-12, served as hosts, and introduced our themes: "As the Evening Falls" for the character chronicles, and "Contemporary Affairs" for sharp insights. Both themes were gentle yet firm expressions of the students' Chinese learning journey. A five-minute introductory video enlivened the atmosphere and set the thematic context. Students interviewed on the topic "Character Chronicles and Contemporary Voices" spoke freely, delivering memorable quotes. First up was Joy from class 8-10 and 8-4, and Isabella Chenfrom class 8-4, presenting the "As the Evening Falls" character chronicles segment. During this segment we listened to stories of the older generations resonating with the times. Joy recounted Ms. Cai's entrepreneurial tale of courage and perseverance, while Isabella shared Ms. Dai's story, which was a remarkable journey of an ordinary woman from a remote town to a major international city. The footprints of the elders' stories inspired and moved the students, prompting thunderous applause.

Following this was a ten-minute "Quick Q&A" session, where teachers and students engaged in lively exchanges on the same questions. Next was the "Contemporary Affairs Speech" segment began , where seven finalists critically examined five social issues, exploring the unknown and voicing their thoughts.

Emma from class 8-8 addressed the theme "Do Not Let 'Traffic Supremacy' Distort Social Values", encouraging students to ponder whether "traffic supremacy" is a bane of the times or a new development trend. Audrey from class 8-5 explained that "the boundaries of language are the boundaries of our cognition”. This suggested that language is the key to unlocking new worlds of understanding. Oscar from class 8-7 reflects on past societies and history in light of international current events, contemplating the present. Dora from class 8-1 discussed the issue of time wasted on short videos in daily life, examining the link between "traffic supremacy" and societal deficiencies. Nathan from class 8-9 considered the impact of AI on our lives from an efficiency standpoint, questioning what we gain and lose from high efficiency. Ray from class 8-7 explored the benefits of learning multiple languages as an international school student, drawing from personal experience. Finally, wrapping up the segment, Hannah from class 8-3 analyzed how short videos change individual and societal thinking patterns, questioning if short videos are truly beneficial.

Mr.Shen Tianyuan,Vice Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School.Mr.Ni Minxue, Director of SHSID Middle and Primary School Teaching Affairs Center(MPTC). Ms.Chen Fan, Head of SHSID Middle School Chinese Department, provided deep and insightful feedback to the students' performances, offering valuable suggestions.Student judge Leyi from class 8-6 praised the performance of fellow students and pointed out the strengths that can be learned from them. All of these enriched the eighth graders' understanding of current affairs and life.

The "Happy Lottery" session brought surprise and joy to all participants, with prizes presented by Mr. Shen Tianyuan and Ms.Shirley,Grade 8 Supervisor.

The awards ceremony reached the event's climax, with various awards presented: Ms. Liu Qiong,from MPTC, awarded the Character Chronicles Excellence Award "Voice of Narration," Ms. Chen Fan awarded the Character Chronicles First Prize "Voice of Legacy," and Ms.Shirley awarded the Contemporary Affairs Excellence Award "Voice of Spark." and the Contemporary Affairs Third Prize "Voice of Innovation," Mr.Ni Minxue and Ms. Liu Qiong awarded the Contemporary Affairs Second Prize "Voice of Inspiration". Mr. Shen Tianyuan and Ms.Chen Fan  awarded the Contemporary Affairs First Prize "Voice of Vanguard." Congratulations to the following award winners.

The hosts concluded the eighth-grade Chinese speech event, "Character Chronicles and Contemporary Voices," by highlighting its memorable moments and expressing gratitude to the participating teachers and students. Throughout this speech event, students, acting as independent learners, delved deeply into history and reality, showcasing their keen observations and profound reflections on society. They either painted a picture of the era through character chronicles or gained an understanding of society and the present through their thoughts on current issues. This grand finale not only demonstrated the students' language and critical thinking skills but also inspired them to pay attention to current affairs and cultivate a sense of social responsibility.

Written by Zhang Xinyi

Pictures by 8-11 Allen,8-12 Tiger (G8 Photography SL Group), G8 Teachers

Reviewed by Cheng Liyan, Chen Fan, Meng Shiyue,Luo cong, Emma Hackett