英语

广东外语外贸大学沈家慧：Unity in diversity

来源：21英语网 日期: 2012-04-19

沈家慧：广东外语外贸大学，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛一等奖获得者。

自我介绍：我来自世界客都梅州，是一个地道的客家女孩。从小喜欢英语，它让我着迷，它带我敲开外面的世界。爱旅行，享受沿途的风景；远行的经历，更让人懂得珍惜出发的原点。一次次比赛的经历，让我愈发明了重要的不是结果，而是你的演讲向观众道出了你心底最真的声音。成长在欠发达的山区小城，我深知走向外面的世界去追逐梦想的道路并不平坦。而今，我最大的愿望，就是更多大山里的孩子可以有机会接受到好的教育，可以有机会为走出大山这个梦想拼搏。

演讲稿：

Unity in Diversity

Good morning ladies and gentlemen!

Are you familiar with the greeting “Long time no see”? Few decades ago, this might be considered as an awkward Chinglish expression and scorned by westerners. But nowadays, not only leaning Chinese is popular in the western world, but also some Chinglish is accepted too.

Culture is just like the grammar of our behaviors. Adopting different ways to perceive the world and react to different situations, China and the West are bound to face clashes between each other. Then what is our attitude towards all these cultural clashes? Is it a life-and-death struggle? Are we going to fight to replace each other? No! The cross-cultural communication and interaction is different from Caesar’s trip to Asia Minor. We come, we see but we never try to conquer each other. Instead, we need each other. And this becomes strong motivation for us to transform the inevitable clashes into achievable coexistence. In order to work this out, an open mind and a strong determination are required.

Here I would like to share my own experience with you. The first time I met with my American teacher Allen, I tasted the bitterness of cultural clashes. “Why are you so quiet”, he asked, disappointed by our silence. The Chinese traditional reservation clashed with the individuality advocated by western culture. Faced with this problem, Allen and my classmates decided to work together to overcome the challenge. Finally, my classmates and I became active and confident in speaking out our own voice, while Allen learned to be more patient with Chinese students.

Indeed, we are different, China and the West. We perceive the world from different angles. We come across clashes when interacting. But it doesn’t matter. Because if we, the individuals, are willing to acquire an open mind and be determined to embrace diversity, we can achieve unity and mutual understanding. Since individuals are the units of their cultures, China and the West are also able to achieve unity in diversity from the perspective of culture. And we are already on the way.

While I am learning the Principles of Management written by Peter Drucker, the MBA students in America are taking the Art of War, the Chinese classical masterpiece, as their required course. While we are watching the inspirational speeches of President Barack Obama, westerners are holding a book named On China written by an old China hand, Henry Kissinger. While Chinese Kung fu made its way into western world, Hollywood movie established its position in Chinese market.

Ladies and gentlemen, unity in diversity is achievable. Remember what Albert Einstein said, “Each of us shines in a different way, but this doesn't make our light less bright.” China and the West, it is the different ways we shine that light up this diversified world instead of a single spot. It is the different ways we shine that provide more possibilities for better cooperation. It is the different ways we shine that enable every individual to enjoy a more colorful life.

So Chinese and Westerners, let us be open-minded and determined to embrace each other. Our differences have diversified this planet. And now our efforts towards unity are going to change the world from a mess cultural smelter into a fantastic mosaic.

Thank you!宁波诺丁汉大学张苡：Cultural clashes vs. cultural coexistence between China and west: my personal perspective

来源：21世纪英文网 日期: 2012-04-20

张苡：宁波诺丁汉大学选手，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛二等奖，快易典最佳人气奖获得者。

自我简介：

我是来自宁波诺丁汉大学的张苡，我热爱挑战，喜欢音乐，执着于影响身边的人。作为校乐队的主唱兼鼓手，我参加过许多公益演出。作为宁诺aiesec非洲地区公益项目负责人，我用我的力量改变第三世界。我爱公共演讲，站在演讲台上的我，自信，闪耀，我会用自己的声音和力量，震撼他人。

在我半决赛的以备演讲中，我将号召大家在科技普及的社会中坚守自我，保持个性。

在决赛演讲中，我将和大家分享文化并存融合让我体会到的强大力量。

演讲稿：

Ladies and gentlemen, during the long and fierce competition , I would like to sing a small piece of song to all of you at first, 'All the warriors in this world /Join the passion of this master of soul/ From the Chinese hills and shore/We still listen to Bruce Lee battle call……' You might be quite familiar with the melody , yes ,this is a song created to eulogize Bruce Lee, a most iconic figure known throughout the world. He is brave, confident and hardy. He is widely considered to be the most influential martial artist of the 20th century, and a cultural icon.

Bruce was not born ever successful, once he was just a naughty boy learning Kung Fu and studying in Hong Kong. Due to the frequent street fights he caused and other bad conducts, the boy was compelled to be sent to live in the United States. However, it was just the emigration that changed his life.

After moving to America, Bruce Lee did not change who he was but still devoting himself in martial art. He won countless boxing matches which led him to be discovered in Hollywood and became a film star. However, the success does not follow previous ways . By portraying Chinese nationalism in films ,Bruce fights for his dream bring the word 'Kung Fu' in English. He adds Chinese elements to movies he starred in and change martial art into a kind of art.

The culture clashes between traditional Chinese Kung Fu and modern western film culture does not lead to cultural conflicts, instead, the culture coexistence contributes to the birth of a brand new cinematic element, Kung Fu. By playing Chinese Kung Fu in the west , Bruce Lee reveal a new era of filmic actions which subtly shows the combination of Chinese aesthetic with the western freedom and enterprising spirit. By playing Chinese Kung Fu to Chinese, Bruce Lee proved the nation that traditional Chinese martial art is extensive and profound that we should always be proud of. By playing Chinese Kung Fu to the world, Bruce Lee reveal the strong power of culture coexistence , inspiring the world to communicate more and create new ideas.

To many, culture clashes seems like a negative concept. However, the process of globalization enables various cultures to create and to shine. Famous chain restaurants Dawning East are opened. Taken example by western food culture as KFC or Macdonald, the restaurant is now extremely welcomed in southeast China. Movie series like Hua Mulan and Kung Fu panda which combined Chinese and western culture are receiving enormous attention. Confucius Institutes are established around the world, which let more people understand eastern spirit and to construct new ideas between eastern and western spirits. As we can see, new cultures emerges shining with diverse features like rainbows. Classic cultures become monumental for the new is alive to last which enhance the lasting influence of the original. So, let the cultures meet and coexist, let the new born and shine.

中国传媒大学陈洁昊：A Century’s Dance

来源：21英语网 日期: 2012-04-17

陈洁昊：中国传媒大学选手, 第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛冠军，同时获得中国日报社21世纪报最具潜力奖，托业最佳风采奖，与麦格希演讲艺术之星。

个人简介：中国传媒大学大二学生，主修英语播音专业。在2011年中国大学生模拟APEC大会中获 得全国冠军。

演讲稿：

My great-great-grandfather was very nervous, even though he had done it thousands of times.

He and his teammates held their breath in total darkness…waiting for the music. At the age of 101, he knew it was likely his last chance to compete in a dancing contest.

The drums kicked in and, slowly but surely, he started the moves of Gaoshan -- a folk dance unique to my part of China.

The music was serene... the motion was graceful.... and everything was so harmonious.

And then, everything changed!

The tempo sped up. The dancers started shaking their hips. It was completely unexpected but yes, they were dancing modern disco.

I was delighted, but not everyone liked it. Some argued that the traditional dance was compromised by the inclusion of Western fluff.

So I asked Angong, “Why not just do a typical Gaoshan dance?”

“Are you kidding me, sweetheart?” he replied. “Where would we be without some clashes and conflicts?”

That was Angong’s gut reaction, but what he implied set me thinking. “Where would we be without some clashes and conflicts?”

Looking back on the life of my great-great-grandfather, it was a journey marked by clashes every step of the way.

When he was a teenager, China’s door was busted wide open. He cut off his ponytail following the end of Qing---China’s last feudal Dynasty. During the day, cars ran alongside rickshaws. At night, jazz clashed with Chinese opera. Dancing was a luxury reserved for the rich and privileged.

When the People’s Republic was founded in 1949, Angong danced on the streets with joy. After years of unrest, he felt a sense of belonging and new possibilities. That was the moment he knew he wanted to be an artist.

After the Cultural Revolution, Angong witnessed China’s reform and opening-up. Both Deng Lijun of Taiwan and the Carpenters of America were huge stars at the time. For the first time in years, Angong didn’t have to follow one set of doctrines or one form of dancing for that matter.

Angong’s personal journey mirrored the transformation of a nation, a transformation encapsulated in the life of a man who pursued artistic expression.

Please remember, Angong and his generations were born into a China that was struggling to keep at bay an outside world that threatened China’s self-perception and self-rule.

A century later, this is a different China, and fortunately, a China that has learned lessons history had to offer, and now it seeks to re-engage the west.

Angong was a man of his times, but he has always been open to new voices, new ideas, new dances. He adapted, changed and grew by learning from the world around him, both Chinese and Western.

By being open to each other, we can grow in unexpectedly beautiful ways, just like my Angong’s disco Gaoshan dance. Ladies and gentlemen, I implore you to join my great-great-grandfather and me as we dance with a spring in our step into that great unknown that will be our future.北京外国语大学刘宇寒：Cultural Clashes and Coexistence: Intercultural Marriage

来源：21英语网 日期: 2012-04-17

刘宇寒：北京外国语大学选手，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛一等奖获得者。

演讲稿：

When I turned 20, my mum had a big talk with me, a talk regarding my upcoming romance and marriage. “Find a good boy who really understands you. Foreigners? Not suggested.” As I felt quite amused about my mum’s restriction on my choice of future husband, she continued with a very serious look. ”You’d never truly understand a person from a different country. Cultural clashes will drive you crazy --- different languages, customs, values and beliefs, even diets. Everything that first appeared exotic and charming may later become cultural barriers. Trust me, honey. Don’t risk it.”

I never really thought about problems in intercultural marriage until recently I had a conversation with my American teacher Cyrus, who married a Chinese lady in Beijing five years ago. According to him, cultural clash is a year-round house guest in their family. From a simple cuisine on the dinner table to a million-yuan decision of buying a condo, everything in life can reflect their cultural difference. Did the day-to-day clash drive him crazy like my mum anticipated? Cyrus said the key to their peacefully living together is to always think and ask a little more. To many, this advice almost sounds like a cliché. But for a couple from completely different cultures, it’s an effective solution that they learnt the hard way. Only when every confusing sentence is asked to be explained, and every unfamiliar encounter discussed, can true harmony be achieved in Cyrus’ marriage. Whenever he feels irritated or baffled by his wife, he thinks a bit further about their different cultural backgrounds. “Could her silence mean dissatisfaction?” “Should I be more implicit in expressing refusal?” In Cyrus’ exact words, he didn’t just marry a 28-year-old Chinese lady, but a 5000-year-old culture, beautiful yet very sophisticated

Cyrus’ marriage inspired me to ponder on intercultural communication. Within an intercultural family, neither party attempts to dominate nor gets assimilated to the other. Instead what spouses want is to stay in a happy and stable relationship together. Similarly, what diverse cultures seek for also isn’t a life-or-death struggle, but to friendly co-exist without sacrificing their own uniqueness. As Samuel Huntington wrote in The Clash of Civilizations?” We will be modern, but WE won’t be YOU.”

The right way to move from cultural clash to cultural co-existence is exactly what Cyrus reflects on his intercultural marriage: think, ask, and try harder. Try harder to overcome the tendency of egocentrism but to respect cultural diversity. Try harder to avoid imposing our own decision on others but to communicate constructively. Try harder to find out the problem-solving access to a win-win outcome.

Cultural clash is inevitable and constant. Just like my teacher Cyrus, he could never escape from disagreement with his beloved Chinese wife. In the era of globalization, to wane or wax, our fate is associated. To transcend differences, only when we identify with one another, only when we recognize shared objectives, only when we work hard towards the goals, cam harmonious coexistence be attained not only in a small family, but the big world.

Thank you!

西安翻译学院姚潇： Survive vicissitudes of history, Strive for coexistent victory

来源：21世纪英文网 日期: 2012-04-20

姚潇：西安翻译学院选手，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛二等奖与最佳思辨奖获得者。

自我简介：

我来自太原，在西安读大学。乐观，真诚，开朗，积极。喜欢音乐，平时会抽空练习吉他和口琴，喜欢语言和公共演讲，曾在2011年CCTV-10希望之星英语风采大赛获得大学成人组的全国二等奖。我希望自己在未来可以成为一名出色的译员，并且我一直在为自己的梦想而努力着。我相信，人生，就是不停的奋斗。永远年轻，永远热泪盈眶。

演讲稿：

February 25th was a peculiar joyful day for many Chinese netizens, a lot of Chinese internet users found they somehow regained their access to Google’s social network site on that very day. This was followed by the message inundation on US president Obama’s page. ‘Every current topic on Mr. Obama’s Google+ page attracted hundreds of Chinese comment’ BBC reported, ‘they talked about occupying the furniture and bringing snacks and soft drinks’. Of course we know those furniture were misunderstanding of Chinese internet jargons, referring to the first several posts in response to the original poster, but it did get on the nerves of almost every foreign reader. Lacking of the mutual-understanding towards each other’s culture, this awkward translation has become the laughingstock among us after tea and dinner.

Yet explanations can be found given the history. Traditional Chinese culture attached importance to Feudal Culture and Agriculture. While the western one is practically capitalized and industrialized. Consequently we've encountered the cultural clashes. As Yan Fu said ‘Chinese follows form while westerner pursues freedom; Chinese survives among conventional restraints while westerner values the conspicuous result .

The word ‘sofa’ was originated from the expression ‘so fast’ that the westerner used to describe how swift, free they are able to post on the internet. However, some Chinese netizen took that for ‘sofa’ merely from the pronunciation rather than the western cultural background. Following the form of the feudal morality for thousands of years, we are embedded with the concept that those who came first and at the top of the social ladders should be given prior seats, i.e. sofa in this case. So if we further develop the coexistence of different cultures, there will be less misunderstanding being caused .

A friend of my father has benefited greatly from the mixture of two cultures. He’s been with cancer over years, according to conventional restrains of traditional Chinese medical science, he would not have done physical surgeries because that will ruin the completeness of one’s body. But the modern western medical Science values the maximized effects regardless of those Chinese taboos. Fortunately, he was cured by the mixture of the amazingly effective gamma knife and the interventional therapy of Chinese herbs, he now leads a happy and healthy life after having been diagnosed cancer for 10 years. See? If we further develop the coexistence of different cultures, there will be more lives being cured.

Well, Modernization and globalization resulted in the existence of cultural clashes. And the above-mentioned facts shows that clashes exist for a reason. To survive among those cultural clashes, we should cultivate an open mind to receive different cultures and rejuvenate them as an integrated one to help coexist perfectly.

The city I am living in is a good case in point. Receiving from different cultural elements, authentic Chinese heritage and modern western highlights, visitors to my city were impressed by the perfect harmony that the bell tower, city wall and the terra cotta warriors lived with the surrounded Starbucks Macdnalds and KFCs .

Ladies and gentlemen, We survived the vicissitudes of the history, and we will strive for the cultural coexistent victory!

安徽大学王慧斌：Let It Fall or Rise

来源：21世纪英文网 日期: 2012-04-20

王慧斌：安徽大学选手，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛二等奖获得者。

选手简介：

王慧斌，出生于古城河北邯郸。现在就读于安徽大学中文系，大三。虽然为如愿进入英语系，但作一个英语翻译的梦想从未放弃，并一次次的自我挑战着。10年获得“外研社”杯演讲比赛安徽省一等奖；11年获得“希望之星”英语风采大赛全国前二十，获得“优胜奖”；11年9月有幸受邀参加了中欧辩论赛。希望在这次比赛中再接再厉。

演讲稿：

Hello, everyone! My topicis Let it Fall or Rise. I would first ask you to entertain this scenario. At a future time your child approaches you and asks, “Is the panda the symbol of the United States?” Or with equal enthusiasm, “Did kung fu originate in the Western world?” The young learner, expressing an interestin this art, comments,“It is cool!I want to learn the technique to protect you!”

How will you react? By prohibiting American content in your home? By outlawing American television entirely? Definitely not.

But, how can these things, iconic of Chinese tradition, come to represent another culture thousands of kilometers away?

Before answering this question, please shiftyour attention to contemporary Chinese society. The 5000 years of brilliant history is now inundatedwith narratives, artifacts, and images from other nations. Certainly we are benefiting from the experiences brought to us from outside; brought through the saturated media presentations of a distant land.But there must be limitations or compromises. Macaois a case inpoint. Itnot only preserves the 400-year essence of oriental and occidental cultural exchange, but presents the possibility of coexistence between two diverse traditions.

We wouldbetterembrace the exotic and differentthan turnhostile and defensive. Being magnanimous is at the core of Chinese culture. Being showered withthe world’s diverse culturepreserves the integrity of that sensibility. By demonstrating our willingness to be open, wewill also demonstrate our value as a society gaining further recognition on the world stage.

Many of us on occasion dress in Western attire. We don a pair of jeans or a T-shirts without reflection. However cheongsam, Qi Pao originatingfrom Manchu - shows new signs of life as fashion. Imbued with some Western elements, cheongsam has gone beyond national borders embracing the international fashion arena.

However,caution must be exercised in this diversified world. It is still a musttoprotect and keep the uniqueness of one’s tradition and culture, whether internationally popular or not.We welcome Starbucks’ arrival in China, however,the embodiment of American fast food culture, has no place in the Forbidden City.We welcome foreign festivals, a popular diversion in China, but they should not supplant our own.

Sinceother countries can adopt our culture and glorify it, why cannotChinahighlightChinese traditions and practices? Why should not our own culture be equally appealing?

It isa pity that, as a nation, we want forvigor and vitality.Our futures are better served in rekindlingChinese traditions, not diminishing them. We, as a modern nation, must recognize the limits and liabilities inherent in excessive globalization. We cannot and should not abandon the splendid accomplishments of the past. Instead, we should become the modern harbingers of these glorious legacies. By preserving these traditions, we can serve as the new vanguard, introducing Chinese culture for generationsto come.

Thank you!华中科技大学陈骁：Only Love Can

来源：21英语网 日期: 2012-04-17

陈骁：华中科技大学选手，第17届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛二等奖获得者。

自我介绍：Xiao Chen, alias Lucas, is an elite student of translation. Majoring in Translation & Interpreting in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, one of the top universities of China. Invited guest delegate to University of Harvard, student of the year 2011 of his province, winner of supreme honour of HUST. Been to 10 countries, able to order food in 4 languages. Had his premiere interpreting at China-UK Workshop on Space & Technology, later interpreted at 4 different international meetings. Working as a translator for his university website, English announcer at broadcast station, and one of the most popular teachers at METEN English language training school of Wuhan. Been a regular member of Volunteers’ Union of Wuhan for three years, devoted to volunteer work and organised Care Victims of Earthquake program. Enjoys football, travelling, light music and thoughtful films.

演讲稿：

On December 7, 1972, aboard the Apollo Spaceship, a photo was taken that changed human’s view of the world. For the first time, people around the world saw that the planet we call home as a delicate, beautiful blue marble. We could see land, sea, winds and clouds but no political or cultural boundaries at all.

However, if we zoom into the picture, we’ll find that people are inclined to group themselves by national boundaries. In his book Clash of Civilization Samuel Huntington gave us a new opinion that more than national borders, people are actually grouped into different cultures by various boundaries, such as faith, hobbies and goals. Despite the disputes among nations, coexistence of culture will take the overwhelming tendency.

If you’ve watched Kony 2012 on Youtube, you would probably know that people on all the continents, people in different jobs are united by the same goal of tracing out Kony, the devil military commander in Uganda, before the end of 2012. Famous people supporting this campaign include Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Angelina Jolie and millions of Chinese netizens. No matter in China or in the United States, the goal of world peace and conscience join people’s efforts, and these efforts will bring people to mutual understanding and cooperation. We are ONE.

Besides this big event, I’d like to share with you my stories with Couch-Surfing Community. This amazing community encourages its 3 million members all around the world to host travelling strangers; not knowing each other before, they only need to contact another member on the Internet and make a booking. I’ve been a Chinese member of this community for 3 years, and I stayed over by local people around Europe and America, together we cook dinners, exchange experiences, hang out in the cities…all of them are totally free! As a big traveller, I have been to so many countries and met so many people, but didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, because I know even though I’m Chinese, he’s German, she’s American, we share the same faith and love. With faith and love we unite!

You may say, oh, that’s only in Couch-Surfing Community, 3 million people are much too small in the world. No. Actually, people in the whole world are essentially similar. Martin Luther King says, “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”

I’m always convinced that people can get along in harmony, despite their differences. Coexistence is the trend. What we can help is to learn from each other. For instance, we Chinese can learn community spirit and voluntary devotion to environment from Westerners; while Westerners can learn closer family bonds from us. When you commit to learning to love to trust, you will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.

Ladies and gentlemen,we should have every confidence in China and the Westthat cultural clashes cannot overweigh coexistence. Let us remember Dr. King’s words, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can; hate cannot drive out hate, only love can.”

本文来源：https://www.2haoxitong.net/k/doc/8a0062a9284ac850ad0242ca.html