Step up and shine! Join Maple Leaf intl. Chinese speech contest

Are you an international student aged 6-18 with a passion for storytelling? Ready to showcase your Chinese skills on a global stage and compete with peers from around the world? This is your chance! Join a worldwide community of young speakers and let Chinese be your bridge to new friendships, exciting opportunities, and a brighter future!

The 1st Maple Leaf Cup International Chinese Speech Contest is organized by the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation, Maple Leaf Educational Systems (MLES) and the Chinese Testing International (CTI). 

The competition is divided into six regions: North China, Central China, South China, Northeast China, Southeast Asia, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It attracts Chinese learners from the Greater Bay Area and around the world, fostering cultural exchange and building a bridge of friendship among global Chinese language learners.

01 Name of the event

The 1st Maple Leaf Cup International Chinese Speech Contest

02 Hosts and organizers

Hosts: Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC), Maple Leaf Educational Systems (MLES)，Chinese Testing International (CTI)  

Organizers: MLES Chinese Learning and Testing Center

Co-organizers: The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, ISS (International Schools Services)

Partner Media: EyeShenzhen, Shenzhen Daily

03 Theme

Mandarin Bridging the World Ahead

04 Categories

Group A | This group accepts primary school students in grades 1-3. 

Group B | This category is open to primary school students in grades 4-6.

Speech theme: Mandarin and world culture

Theme description: Aiming to inspire participants to explore how Chinese can serve as a bridge for sharing the world’s diverse cultures. Share stories of global traditions and customs in Chinese, or compare world cultures with Chinese culture to spark meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.

Group C | Students in junior high school are eligible for this group.

Group D | This group is designated for high-school students.

Speech theme: Mandarin and the future

Theme description: Aiming to inspire participants to envision how Chinese will drive innovation and transformation in our rapidly evolving world, paving new paths for personal growth and the advancement of human society. 

05 Who can participate 

Students of non-Chinese nationality, aged 6 to 18 (grades 1-12), whose first language is not Chinese.

06 Evaluation criteria

• Speech content

• Chinese language fluency 

• Public speaking skills

• Stage presence

• Optional talent performance / Impromptu Q&A (applies only to students in grades 7-12) 

07 Schedules

The First Maple Leaf Cup International Chinese Speech Contest will be held in person, featuring three stages: the preliminary round, semifinals, and finals.

1. Preliminary and semifinal rounds

These rounds include two sections: a self-introduction and a speech delivered without notes.

Time limits:

•Group A: 3 minutes

•Groups B & C: 4 minutes

•Group D: 5 minutes

Scoring criteria:

Each speech is scored out of 100 points. Judges will evaluate based on:

•Speech content

•Chinese language fluency

•Public speaking skills

•Stage presence

•Talent performance or impromptu Q&A

(The talent performance is optional but can add value to the presentation. If included, it must be completed within 2 minutes.)

Timeline:

•Registration for preliminary round: March 7-April 13, 2025

•Preliminary round: 1:30 p.m., April 19, 2025

•Semifinals: 1:30 p.m., April 26, 2025

•Finals: 1:30 p.m., May 27, 2025

（Contestants should arrive 30 minutes in advance.）

Venue: Maple Leaf Educational Systems Building Shenzhen (No. 13, Baolong Road 1, Longgang District, Shenzhen)

2. Final round

The final round includes three parts: A self-introduction, a speech delivered without notes, and either an optional talent performance or an impromptu Q&A session which applies only to students in grades 7-12.

Themes:

Contestants will deliver a speech based on given themes. The time limits remain the same as in the preliminary and semifinal rounds.

Scoring & penalties

•The total score is 100 points.

•The evaluation criteria and time limits are the same as in the previous rounds.

• A 2-point deduction will apply if a speech is shorter or longer than the allowed time by more than 1 minute. Similarly, exceeding the time limit for a talent performance by over 1 minute will result in a 2-point deduction.

Venue: Maple Leaf Educational Systems Building Shenzhen (No. 13, Baolong Road 1, Longgang District, Shenzhen)

08 Awards & prizes

• In the final round, each group will have a champion, two runners-up, and three third-place winners, along with special awards.

Winners will receive exciting prizes, official certificates, and trophies.

• Participants in the preliminary and semifinal rounds will also receive competition certificates and participation prizes.

09 Contact

Tel: 0755-2899 5625 

Contact person: Ms. Wang 

Emails: 

wangyezi@mapleleaf.net.cn;

tangshiyu@mapleleaf.net.cn;     

yinnannan@mapleleaf.net.cn

Scan the QR code to register