From December 12 to 14, the national finals of the 8th SPLEP Cup National College Students' International Competence Contest were held at Shanghai International Studies University (Hongkou Campus). The team from Tianjin Normal University (TNU), consisting of Dai Yujia from the School of Foreign Studies, Li Xiao and Kou Jinming from the School of Literature, won the national first prize in the Chinese student category. Feng Ruiling and Shi Xiuhong were both awarded the national first prize for faculty advisors.

The finals comprised several segments, including case study presentations, scenario analysis and commentary, and storytelling about China. In their preparation, the team worked from in-depth analyses of real-world intercultural cases to refining their presentation frameworks, while running through hundreds of scenario drills for each competition stage. This cycle of practice and critique sharpened their ability to improvise and respond under pressure. The advisors steered the team through the entire process, from selecting the topic and structuring the argument to polishing the final delivery. They tackled core challenges through means such as focused workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions, thereby building a rock-solid foundation for the competition. Additionally, TNU's teams also achieved outstanding results in the Tianjin divisionals, winning two grand prizes and one first prize.

Guided by the China Education Association for International Exchange, this year's competition was hosted by Shanghai International Studies University, with academic support from its Center for Intercultural Studies and organized by Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. Since its launch, the contest has attracted enthusiastic participation from college students across the nation. Ultimately, 76 Chinese student teams and 25 international student teams advanced to the national finals.

TNU consistently integrates intercultural competence development throughout the entire talent cultivation process, incorporating diverse cultural elements into various curricula. Moving forward, TNU will continue to optimize its curriculum system, expand practical dimensions, and strengthen faculty support. It will further implement the educational mechanism of "using competitions to enhance learning, teaching, research, and development," aiming to better motivate students for intercultural exchange, heighten their intercultural awareness, and improve their intercultural communication skills.

By He Jierui