Change and Beyond. Junior High Group: Special Edition of CCTV's 5th "Hope Star" English Talent Competition

Author: Organizing Committee of the 5th CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Competition
Publisher:
Publishing Date: July 1, 2004
Features: Dear readers, thank you for choosing this book. The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Competition is a high-level English competition for students across the country. By this year, it has successfully been held for 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 4th CCTV 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," divided into three volumes for primary school, secondary school, 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, as well as 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 experiences of these contestants, we deeply feel that mastering English can change lives and even personalities; learning English well not only helps overcome one's environment but also transcends oneself. Now, the 5th competition, which is larger in scale and covers more provinces and cities, has concluded. Building on last year's experience, we have compiled and published this new series, "Change and Beyond – Special Edition of the 5th CCTV 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," divided into four volumes for primary school, junior high school, high school, 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 the content more personal, engaging, and persuasive. To give you a more intuitive and clear understanding of the entire competition, we have also compiled and published VCD series, "CCTV 5th 'Hope Star' English Talent Competition," which includes live recordings of all semi-finals and finals at the national finals. This allows you to thoroughly understand the competition rules, content, and procedures, as well as the on-site performances of all contestants, making it the best guide for participation and an essential reference material. At the same time, watching the contestants' performances is sure to greatly inspire your interest in learning English and boost your confidence in mastering it. In short, if you gain inspiration and benefits from reading this series or watching the competition VCDs, it will be our greatest comfort and encouragement.
Competition History (Preface)
The CCTV "Hope Star" English Talent Competition 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 exercise 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. Contestants come from various industries, primarily students, representing all administrative regions in 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 three rounds—preliminary, semi-final, and final—selecting contestants. Participants register according to their regions and compete in the corresponding sub-competition. Those without sub-competitions in their regions are selected by the competition organizing committee. The national finals are held at CCTV, with champion contestants from different groups across sub-competitions gathering in 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 competition organizing committee welcomes enterprises and institutions in education, culture, publishing, and other industries across mainland China to organize sub-competition activities under the unified leadership of the committee, handling promotion, sponsorship, registration, and competition within their regions. By focusing on education and collaborating with CCTV, they can develop together with "Hope Star."
From February to July 2000, the inaugural 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 championship, while Han Jiang from Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shao Wei from Shanghai International Studies University took second and third place, respectively. The broadcast of the inaugural competition added fuel to the fervent wave of English learning across the country. Its flexible and diverse competition format, stunning visual effects, relaxed and enjoyable style, as well as the contestants' youthful charm and high English proficiency, left a lasting impression on the audience.
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 experience but also formed deep friendships. This edition sparked significant public interest and saw enthusiastic registration. Statistics show that the oldest participant was 86 years 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 16 administrative regions to compete in the national finals in Beijing CCTV. 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/adult groups, respectively. The registration phase of this edition was even more intense, with long queues forming at registration points in Hubei, occasionally causing traffic congestion. The competition also drew attention from leaders, with the Assistant Minister of Education and the Deputy Director of CCTV attending to observe and award winners.
From January to May 2003, the fourth competition was held, with 45 contestants from 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions competing for the championship title of the 4th "Hope Star." 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 and achieved success, composing a song of resilience in the face of adversity.
From April 22 to April 29, 2004, the finals of the 5th 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 5th CCTV "Hope Star."