Beihang English Elite Program was launched by the School of Foreign Languages of Beihang University in 2009, in response to the “12th Five-Year Plan” proposed by the school to train innovative talents with critical thinking, international vision and leadership. The objective of the Program is to take the oral English competition as an opportunity to cultivate leaders with comprehensive humanistic qualities, interdisciplinary knowledge, language advantages and communication competence for Beihang and our country.
The English Elite Program selects 30-50 students as its members from all students of Beihang each year. The team of teachers is mainly composed of professors and doctors from the School of Foreign Languages, backbone teachers who have long been coaching various English debate and speech contests, as well as foreign teachers with debating experiences.
Teachers and Graduates of English Elite Program (2012)
The English Elite Program has offered various courses such as Public Speaking, Debating Practice, English-Chinese Interpretation, Chinese-English Cultural Comparison, Critical Reading and Writing. Alfred Snider, professor of the University of Vermont, Loke Wing Fatt, president of Singapore College Debate League, Bojana Skrt, founder of Slovenia ZIP organization and many other famous experts have been invited to conduct more than 20 English debate and speech workshops and tournaments.
In this spring semester, the English Elite Program provides several classes as a routine. Students in Shahe Campus are able to take a series of foundation courses including Public Speaking, Advanced Debating, Introduction to Debate and Debating Practice. Students can understand the basic information and skill of debate in the Introduction to Debate course, and apply what they have learned in the Debating Practice course. Moreover, Students in Xueyuan Road Campus can take Debating Practice course on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evening, which is to help students develop their debating skills.
In 2013, the English Elite Program became a partner of the EU “Youth in Action” project, and received a funding of 20,000 euros. The teachers and students participated in the International Youth Forum held in Slovenia and Thailand. Meanwhile, the Beijing Forum was successfully held by the English Elite Program in an effort to provide a platform for the youth of various countries to understand each other and enhance friendship. They exchanged views on such topics as environmental protection, anti-poverty, youth volunteers and China-EU relations.
The Youth in Action—Slovenia Forum（2013）
The English Elite Program has been committed to the popularization of English speech and debate, and hosted a series of competitions including the 5th Asian British Parliamentary Debate Championship (ABP2013), the 2nd, 4th, 7th China British Parliamentary Debating Championship (CBP2013, CBP2015, CBP2018), six consecutive competitions of Beihang World Debate Academy (BWDA 2013-2018), the 15th and 18th “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition, the 23rd China Daily “21st Century Coca-Cola Cup” National English Speaking Competition Regional Final of North China, the 10th National Finals of “China Speaks” International Competition, etc. The activities have been extensively reported by some well-known media such as China Education Television, China Radio International, People's Daily, and CCTV network.
The 2014 Beihang World Debate Academy
After years of efforts, the English Elite Program has made remarkable achievements. Beihang Debating Team, composed of two top debaters from the English Elite Program (Zhong Jinzuomu from the School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering and Li Anqi from the School of Foreign Languages), won the championship of the 21st “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition Finals held in Beijing from May 17 to May 22, 2018. Besides, the team has participated in various international contests. They reached the last eight of the EFL (English-as-a-Foreign-Language) group in 2018 World Universities Debating Championship held in Mexico with their coach Franny Solnick, the foreign teacher of the English Elite Program, breaking as the adjudicator.
The 2018 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
Thanks to the unremitting efforts of the English Elite Program, Beihang team has made great achievements in the “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition during the past nine years. In total, they have got two grand prizes, five first prizes and two second prizes, and become a veritable “Dream Team”. Besides that, they also participated in many competitions at home and abroad, and some main awards can be listed as follows.
The Domestic Awards:
Grand Prize: The First Place in the 2018 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
Contestants: Zhong Jinzuomu (School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering: 15031193), Li Anqi (School of Foreign Languages: 15291337)
Coach: Franny Solnic (Foreign Teacher of the School of Foreign Languages)
Grand Prize: The Third Place in the 2013 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
Contestants: Wu Weihao, Zhang Qiuyu (School of Humanities and Social Sciences)
Coach: Cui Liangyi (Department of Automotive Engineering)
Grand Prize: The Second Place in the 2013 “FLTRP Cup” National English Speaking Competition
Contestants: Guo Hongtao (School of Energy and Power Engineering)
Coach: Zhu Guozhen (Teacher of the School of Foreign Languages)
First Prize in the 2016 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
Contestants: Liu Yanwei (School of Foreign Languages), Hu Nan (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Ma Conghui (School of Foreign Languages)
First Prize in the 2015 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
Contestants: Xiang Wei (School of Computer Science and Engineering), Jia Mian (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Li Nan (School of Foreign Languages)
First Prize in the 2014 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition Invitational
Contestants: Qiu Xixin, Hu Nan (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Du Tian (School of Materials Science and Engineering)
First Prize in the 2012 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition Invitational
Contestants: Du Tian (School of Materials Science and Engineering), Du Wenbin (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Sun Mei (Teacher of the School of Foreign Languages)
The 2013 “FLTRP Cup” National English Debating Competition
The 2013 “FLTRP Cup” National English Speaking Competition
The International Awards:
Top Eight Advance in 2018 Mexico World Universities Debating Championship (EFL)
Contestants: Zhong Jinzuomu (School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering), Li Anqi (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Franny Solnic (Foreign Teacher of the School of Foreign Languages)
The First Place in 2018 Malaya Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship (EFL)
Contestants: Zhong Jinzuomu (School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering: 15031193), Li Anqi (School of Foreign Languages), Wu Shujie (School of Foreign Languages)
Coach: Franny Solnic (Foreign Teacher of the School of Foreign Languages)
The Malaya Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship
These excellent results are testament to the hard work and dedication of every member as well as the strict selection and training system of the English Elite Program which has been strongly supported by Beihang University and the School of Foreign Languages since its establishment. The Program members have promoted their leadership, critical thinking and English communication skills through those teaching and communication activities, and achieved excellent results in various international and domestic competitions. Meanwhile, they have shown high comprehensive qualities in postgraduate recommendation and employment. Wish that the Elite Program members can make greater progress and reach new heights in the future!
Planned and written by Lu Baihui
Designed by Yang Yanzhuo
Reviewed by Lyu Xingyun
Special thanks to Prof. Xu Guohong
