Change and Beyond. University Adult Group: Special Edition of CCTV's 5th "Hoping Stars" English Talent Show

Author: Organizing Committee of the 5th CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Show
Publisher:
Publishing Date: July 1, 2004
Features: Dear readers, thank you for choosing this book. The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Show is a high-level English competition for students across the country. By this year, it has successfully held five editions. Anyone who has watched the competition will sincerely admire the agile responses, authentic pronunciation, and fluent language of these contestants. Last year, at the conclusion of the 4th competition, our China Renmin University Press compiled and published the series "Change and Beyond – Stories Behind the CCTV 4th 'Hope Star' English Talent Show," divided into three volumes for primary, secondary, and university/adult groups. The content includes introductions to all contestants who entered the national finals, articles by parents or teachers introducing how the contestants learned English, live recordings of the competition, competition rules, and behind-the-scenes highlights. This series was well-received by students and parents, and "Change and Beyond" became a catchy slogan. Indeed, from the growth stories of these contestants, we deeply feel that learning English well can change lives and even personalities; mastering English not only helps overcome one's environment but also transcends oneself. Now, the larger 5th competition, covering a wider range of provinces and cities, has come to a close. Building on last year's experience, we have compiled and published this new series, "Change and Beyond – Special Edition of the CCTV 5th 'Hope Star' English Talent Show," divided into four volumes for primary, junior high, senior high, and university/adult groups, with a stronger focus on introducing contestants and their English learning methods. In addition to articles by parents or teachers on how the contestants learned English, there are also first-person accounts by the contestants themselves, making it more personal, engaging, and persuasive. To give you a more intuitive and clear understanding of the entire competition, we have also published VCDs, "CCTV 5th 'Hope Star' English Talent Show," featuring live recordings of all semi-finals and finals at the national finals. This allows you to thoroughly understand the competition rules, content, procedures, and on-site performances of all contestants, serving as the best guide for participation and an essential reference material. At the same time, watching the contestants' performances will surely greatly inspire your interest in learning English and boost your confidence in mastering it. In short, if you find inspiration and gain insights through reading this series or watching the competition VCDs, it will be our greatest comfort and encouragement. The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Show is a major television English competition organized by the Education and Science Program Center of CCTV. Adhering to the principles of "cultivating interest, boosting confidence, and setting role models," it provides a stage for English enthusiasts to improve themselves, showcase their talents, and seize opportunities, earning widespread popularity among audiences. Since its inception in 2000, the competition has been held annually for five years. Participants come from various industries, primarily students, representing all administrative regions of mainland China. It has influenced over 20 million people. The competition process consists of two stages: the national selection and the national finals. The national selection is conducted through regional sub-competitions, with preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds. Contestants register according to their regions and compete in the corresponding sub-competitions. Those in areas without sub-competitions are selected by the organizing committee. The national finals are held at CCTV, with champion contestants from each sub-competition group traveling to Beijing. The national finals include semi-finals and finals, with judges composed of authoritative experts in English studies and foreign teaching professionals. CCTV provides live recordings of the national finals and award ceremony. The organizing committee welcomes enterprises and institutions in education, culture, publishing, and other industries across mainland China to host sub-competition activities under the unified leadership of the organizing committee, responsible for promotion, sponsorship, registration, and competition organization within their regions. By focusing on education and collaborating with CCTV, they can develop together with "Hope Star."
From February to July 2000, the first competition was held, with the country divided into seven sub-competitions. Twenty contestants participated in the national finals without being grouped. In the end, Zhan Ying from Shanghai International Studies University won the first prize, while Han Jiang from Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shao Wei from Shanghai International Studies University won the second and third prizes, respectively. The broadcast of the first competition added fuel to the fervent wave of English learning across the country. Its flexible and diverse competition format, stunning visual effects, and relaxed, enjoyable style, combined with the contestants' youthful charm and high English proficiency, left a lasting impression on viewers.
From February to August 2001, the second competition was held, with 54 contestants from 19 administrative regions participating in the national finals. Sun Zheng from Peking University won the adult group championship, while Zhong Yurou from Hangzhou Xuejun Middle School won the junior group championship. The contestants not only gained valuable experience but also formed deep friendships. This competition generated significant social buzz, with enthusiastic registrations. Statistics show that the oldest participant was an 86-year-old, while the youngest was a 3.5-year-old toddler.
From February to July 2002, the third competition was held, with 36 contestants emerging from registrations across 16 administrative regions to compete in the national finals in Beijing. Yang Jin from Qingdao De County Road Primary School, Liu Hongyue from Changchun Foreign Languages School, and Ding Yuanyuan from Beijing Language and Culture University won the championships for the primary, secondary, and university groups, respectively. The registration phase of this competition was even more intense, with long queues at registration points in Hubei, occasionally causing traffic congestion. This competition also drew attention from leaders, with the Assistant Minister of Education and the Deputy Director of CCTV observing the competition and awarding prizes to the winners.
From January to May 2003, the fourth competition was held, with 45 contestants from 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions competing for the "Hope Star" championship. Zhao Wei from Wuhan University, Li Laiyin from Shenzhen Donghu Middle School, and Jia Ruxin from Shijiazhuang Beixin Street Primary School won the championships for the university/adult, secondary, and primary groups, respectively. The fourth competition coincided with the nation's united fight against the SARS epidemic. All contestants, judges, and staff persevered with courage and achieved a successful outcome, composing a song of praise against SARS through their actions.
From April 22 to April 29, 2004, the finals of the fifth competition were held at CCTV, with 90 contestants from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions gathering in Beijing to compete for the championship title of the CCTV 5th "Hope Star."