From June 9 to 11, 2024, Shantou University’s English debate team reached a new milestone at the National Finals of the 26th FLTRP English Debating Competition, which is widely regarded as the most prestigious English debating championship for university students in China, taking home the National First Prize as the only team from South China to advance to the National Top Eight. Team member Chen Zipeng was named Best Debater, the sole recipient of the honor from the South China Division.

The team, comprising English majors Chen Zipeng and Wen Lanyu, has trained weekly under the guidance of Collin Tham of the English Language Center, who has coached STU’s debate program for nearly a decade. Their journey to Beijing began in the South China Regional rounds, where they distinguished themselves among hundreds of competing teams. In the National Finals Online Qualifier held on June 1 and 2, they ranked 10th out of 141 teams to secure their place on the national stage, a result that marked a significant step forward for the university’s debate program.

The FLTRP English Debating Competition, which was established in 1997 and is organized by Beijing Foreign Studies University and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, has for five consecutive years been listed in the National College Student Competition Analysis Report published by the China Association of Higher Education. Chen and Wen’s achievement reflects not only their exceptional command of English and analytical thinking, but also the dedication behind years of rigorous weekly training and the kind of intellectual vitality that defines the best of China’s young generation.