6 qualify for English Contest Final

The three-day finals of the 8th CCTV English Speaking Contest wrapped up on Wednesday. Six contestants were selected from 23 finalists and qualified for the grand final.

The competition is getting more intense. After months of preparation, preliminaries and four-days of semi-finals, the 23 finalists showed their composure and determination to embrace the top honors.

The contestants were required to give well-prepared and impromptu speeches. They answered questions to demonstrate their repartee and eloquence, and impressed with their perspicuity in the debating section.

This year's contest attracted millions of students from 800 universities across China. The event's significance, after seven years of progress, has gone far beyond testing the English speaking ability of Chinese youth. It also highlights their perspectives of social, economic and cultural issues.

The jury members praised the finalists' performances.

The debating section was the most challenging for the contestants. They faced sharp questions from the three challengers. They were tested for their quick wit and strength of perspective.

The challengers then shared some suggestions with the finalists.

Finally six contestants stood out from the 23 finalists to qualify for the grand final. Shan Liyang, from Beijing Foreign Studies University, is currently top of the rankings.

The three-day finals will be broadcast on CCTV-9 from Thursday to Saturday. And the grand final will be broadcast live on the same channel Sunday.