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Grades 9-10 English Speech Competition: A Journey of Imagination and Insight

October 31, 2025

On October 29, the annual English Speech Competition for Grades 9-10 was held in the Grand Auditorium. Before the finals, students had already signed up for the preliminary round, and after a round of selection, a total of 22 students from Grades 9 and 10 advanced to compete in the finals.



This year’s theme, "What if…," challenged participants to unleash their imagination and creativity within such a concise prompt, encouraging them to find a unique perspective. From "What if we lived in the world of Barbie" to "What if the Earth were flat," the topic sparked imagination among the competing students.




At 2:20 PM, the competition officially began. Contestants took turns delivering their speeches, showcasing their fluent English speech skills and unique ideas in a series of captivating presentations.





Among the ninth-grade students, one speaker delved into the history of cryptography, using detailed arguments to inspire the audience to reflect on modern information warfare and international strategic games. Another student depicted a world without mobile phones—their humorous delivery and relatable theme repeatedly sparked murmurs and discussion, earning enthusiastic applause after the speech. One contestant gave full play to their imagination by cleverly integrating chemistry and physics to explore "what would happen if Earth lost oxygen for five minutes," thereby highlighting how often we overlook the ordinary yet indispensable elements of life and encouraging everyone to observe the wonders of the world more closely. Yet another speaker touched hearts by starting with the hypothetical scenario, "if humans were born old," delving into the meaning of life, emphasizing how familial love can overcome all obstacles, and calling on students to cherish every form of care and friendship.





Meanwhile, tenth-grade students also displayed a wide range of styles on stage, painting diverse worlds through their words. One presenter constructed a world of selective memory, arguing that most embarrassing and hard-to-recall memories are in fact valuable experiences rather than something to run away from. Another student introduced the little-known concept of flat Earth theory in a humorous tone, drawing waves of laughter from the audience. As the competition atmosphere intensified, one speaker explored the hypothetical scenario “What if a drug could eliminate the need for sleep?” — highlighting the importance of rest and imagination. Another approached the topic from a neurological perspective, emphasizing that in today’s world, empathy and unity are more urgently needed than ever.





The speech topics were novel and imaginative, spanning various disciplines such as biology, sociology, philosophy, and economics. The contestants' ingenious ideas, delivered through masterful speaking skills, guided the audience across time and space to explore novel perspectives and abstract thinking, unleashing their imagination through a series of "what if" scenarios. The atmosphere was exceptionally lively, with bursts of applause celebrating the students' spirit of inquiry and critical thinking, and cheering on the speakers.



Following intense competition and careful evaluation by the judges, the first, second, and third prize winners were finally determined.



We sincerely congratulate all the award-winning students and extend our heartfelt thanks to every participant and teacher! This English speech competition was not just a linguistic feast, but also a platform that sparked the fire of ideas. We look forward to continuing this excellence in the future, providing students with more stages to showcase their talents and connect with the world.



(Written by 10(9) Max, 10(9) Victor, 10(11) Emily,10(6) Arianna   Pictures by Grades 9-10 Media Group  Supervised by Yu Lijia     Reviewed by Gu Ying, Shen Chenli)