Recently, teachers and students from grades 6 and 7 gathered in the Hsi Building Auditorium to witness the exciting finals of the annual English Speech Contest. All English students in Grade 6 wrote a collection of poetry and performed 2-3 minutes of their poetry as an oral presentation in English class. During the Grade 7 TED Talk Presentation, students delivered English presentations centered around the theme of "Science Fiction and the Future." Drawing inspiration from classic science fiction works, they connected literary perspectives with real-world technological developments, presenting thought-provoking ideas with confidence, clarity, and engaging delivery. Three outstanding contestants from S/S+ and H/H+ levels advanced to the finals.

Poetic Rhythms and Childlike Hearts—Giving Words Wings Through Sound

First to take the stage were three students from the S/S+ group. Cynthia from Class 6(2) believes poetry is her way of communicating with the world. Her poems "Free as Bird" and "A New Day" express her longing for the future and a better life. Though her heart was once trapped and fate presented her with challenges, she remained resilient and unwavering. "My Angel" depicts the complex emotions she felt upon glimpsing a glimmer of hope amid helplessness.

Toby from Class 6(13) felt lost and insecure on the ice hockey team due to his height disadvantage. He writes poetry to give himself hope and courage in times of confusion. Toby believes poetry is a form of self-expression, so the writer is as free as a bird; punctuation need not be logical, and meaning need not be clear. "After all, I love poetry just as an eagle loves the wild." Stephanie from Class 6(2) composed three poems. "Dreams" expresses nostalgia for carefree times in the face of harsh reality; "Old Days" depicts growing apart from childhood friends and the loss of imagination and joy that comes with growing up; "Drawing" explores how strict standards of art and beauty can limit others' imagination. She said: "I really enjoyed this competition. Although I was a bit nervous at first, I realized that as long as I give it my all and focus entirely on my delivery, I can overcome stage fright."

Three contestants from the H/H+ group also delivered flawless recitations. Sophia from Class 6(8) recited the poem "The Elm." In the poem, she portrayed the old elm tree as a symbol of natural wisdom, used a lark's feather to express life's regrets, depicted the confusion of growing up through a fox's plea for help, and conveyed the theme of "loss giving birth to new life" through dialogue. Reflecting on her performance in the finals after the competition, Sophia realized that "recitation is a form of secondary creation; one must blend one's own understanding with the soul of the original poem to move the audience." Elena from Class 6(4) centered her poem on the core imagery of a small water droplet and a flower seed, symbolizing hope, quiet power, and strength. She expressed the belief that even after enduring storms, one must persevere through growth to bloom. Sherrie from Class 6(5) recited a poem from her poetry collection, a collection of random ideas based on her observations and worldview. Sherrie hopes to use poetry to advocate for environmental protection. After the competition, she said, "We can build AI robots, we can design intricate systems. Why can't we spend a little of our time saving, instead of destroying, our home planet?"

The Eye of Science Fiction

—Exploring the Future Through Imagination and Reality

While the sixth-graders gave wings to poetry with their heartfelt recitations, the seventh-graders took to the same stage with questions about the future. The three students from the S/S+ group demonstrated outstanding critical thinking and presentation skills. 7(11) Panini began with the story of resurrected dinosaurs in a science fiction film, focusing on the relationship between technological development and environmental protection, considering the boundaries of scientific advancement. 7(4) Sam carefully analyzed the similarities and differences between science fiction predictions and real technological development. His fresh perspective and vivid presentation kept the audience fully engaged. 7(5) Celina focused on whether artificial intelligence could truly be considered a form of life. Her calm and thoughtful delivery prompted the audience to further reflect on emotion, self-awareness, and the future world.

The three students from the H/H+ group also demonstrated impressive insight. 7(8) Erin vividly traced the development of robots from science fiction imagination to real-life applications. Her natural interaction and fluent storytelling deeply engaged the audience. 7(12) Olivia explored modern society's reliance on "artificial happiness," while also analyzing the unique role that pain plays in personal growth through real-life examples, leaving the audience deep in thought. 7(6) Audrey extended her discussion to social media, gene editing, and fast-fashion culture, using mature, insightful analysis to guide the audience in reflecting on the social impact of technology.

After each presentation, the English teachers joined the speakers on stage for spontaneous interactions. The teachers' humorous yet thought-provoking questions, combined with the students' confident, quick responses, repeatedly energized the atmosphere and elicited rounds of applause and laughter from the audience.

6S/S+ Winners:

4.6(13) Toby

5.6(2) Stephanie

6.6(2) Cynthia

6H/H+ Winners:

4.6(8) Sophia

5.6(4) Elena

6.6(5) Sherrie

7S/S+ Winners:

4.7(5) Celina

5.7(11) Panini

6.7(4) Sam

7H/H+ Winners:

4.7(8) Erin

5.7(12) Olivia

6.7(6) Audrey

From the subtle perceptions of the self and the world expressed in their poetry to the profound reflections on technology, ethics, and the future in their TED Talks, the students have demonstrated rich imagination and keen insight through their creative work and self-expression. We are confident that, in the future, they will continue to carry this spirit of reflection and creativity, making their voices heard on an even broader stage.

(Written by Xinyu Ma, Peiyao Tang

Pictures by Ruolin Yan

Reviewed by Ms. Cheng Liyan, Ms. Wu Wenyi, Dane Wendell, Shiyu Wu, Hannah Kloeber)