Celebrating Student Success: AAICE Expo and National Chinese Speech Contest (NCSC) Highlights Creativity and Cultural Engagement
The American Academy of International Culture and Education (AAICE) National Chinese EXPO of Student Works and National Chinese Speech Contest have become signature events in our program, offering students a unique platform to showcase their linguistic, cultural, and creative talents. Now in our third year of participation, both the EXPO and the Speech Contest continue to provide invaluable opportunities for growth and connection. This year, seven outstanding works were selected for the EXPO, and two students, Benjamin Margolis and Elizabeth Taylor, advanced as finalists in the National Chinese Speech Contest. Their submissions represent a wide array of creative expressions, including essays, paintings, songs, poetry, and public speeches. Participation in the AAICE Expo and National Chinese Speech Contest reflects not only the dedication of our students but also the commitment of our faculty to their success. As Chinese Language Program Director, Professor Zhao noted, Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the AAICE National Chinese EXPO and the National Chinese Speech Contest! These events offer wonderful opportunities not only to showcase linguistic, cultural, and creative talents but also to connect meaningfully with peers from across the country. Through active engagement, students gain valuable experiences, learn from one another, and form lasting, people-to-people connections. Participation in these initiatives strengthens language skills, deepens cultural understanding, and fosters a lifelong passion for Chinese language learning—helping students grow into informed, compassionate global citizens.
Student Reflections
Reflecting on her essay, “Smartphone Addiction”, Mackenzie Chen shared: “I chose to create this work because I was learning about cell phone use in my CHIN 3010 class. I found it absolutely fascinating and a great way to learn more Chinese vocabulary. From this essay, I learned how to consult my resources and use my notes wisely. I also incorporated complex vocabulary and grammatical structures from class, which made my writing richer.”
Art was another highlight, with Melody RuGe’s painting “Lotus Flower” standing out for its personal and cultural connection. Melody remarked: “I painted ‘Lotus Flower’ because it’s a beautiful memory of my favorite place in China. When I was very young, my mom took a photo of the lotus flowers, and that place remains one of my favorite memories. Painting this piece brought me happiness and helped me connect with my cultural roots.”
Steven Wang, who submitted a poetry collection, reflected on the inspiration behind his works: “The poem ‘The Past Can Be Admonished’ (往可谏) explores the interrelation between spontaneity, society, and time. Shall one’s life be predestined by historical cycles, or shall it be shaped by one’s perceptions and desires? Meanwhile, ‘Meet Again’ (再逢) reflects my yearning for tranquility and retrospection, using scenery descriptions to evoke mood and explore how desires and decisions shape our paths.”
Another project explored the cultural significance of Chinese 风水. Samiya Ali shared:
“I created my work on the 风水 of my room and my classmates’ rooms based on what I learned in Tseng Laoshi’s class. Before the course, I knew little about 风水, but this project broadened my understanding of Chinese culture and made me a better student. It also influenced my daily life—I’ve added green plants to my room and stopped charging my phone near my bed. I learned so much and can’t wait to explore more!”
There was also a memorable experience from Annabelle Huang, who created a "cook-with-me" video for a cultural exhibition. Annabelle shared: “Last semester, I challenged myself to use Mandarin outside the academic setting by producing a video where I cooked and spoke about a traditional Chinese dish in Mandarin. With help from my longtime friend Lauren Merola, who assisted with filming, the project became a fun process with a delicious outcome. After hearing that my work could be showcased at the EXPO, I edited and re-edited the video for submission. It was an honor to be part of this modern display of Chinese culture. Learning a language, or relearning in my case, can be challenging, but having someone to practice with makes it enjoyable. I’m grateful to Lauren for her support and encouragement. Language learning not only breaks cultural barriers but also helps form new bonds.”
Lauren reflected on her role in the project: “It was a fun way to practice Chinese speaking skills and connect with Chinese culture. After shopping for groceries, we filmed the process, with Annabelle practicing her lines until she mastered the tones and pronunciation. Despite plenty of bloopers, the final video turned out amazing, showcasing Annabelle’s dedication. We hope this inspires others in the Chinese department to try new ways to engage with the culture.”
Margolis, Benjamin reflected on his experience in preparing for the national speech contest:
On March 29th, I had the opportunity to compete in the National Speech Contest, showcasing my fluency in Chinese and the ability to listen to other students from around the country. I started to take Chinese classes in the sixth grade, and it has been an incredible experience to continue this language throughout high school and now college. Additionally, I am proud to serve as a UVA Cultural Ambassador. After receiving an honorable mention in the finals, it is clear that my hard work and passion have paid off, but I am not finished any time soon!
Taylor, Elizabeth reflected on her experience in preparing for the national speech contest:
It was an honor to compete in the National Chinese Speech Competition, especially to watch the other students in my category. Some students wore traditional outfits and told stories from their language-learning journeys that created a camaraderie between all the students present. In terms of my own preparation, I learned so much from working with Guo Laoshi to edit, finetune my pronunciation of tones, and practice answering questions. The competition itself was a great learning experience, in that I had to speak Chinese under the pressure of being judged, but also to share perspectives on Chinese culture. I feel much more confident in conversations with native Chinese speakers, especially since I was able to provide an intelligible 4 minute speech and communicate my ideas effectively for the Q&A portion. Overall, it was a pleasure to participate and this experience has added real-world context to my classroom learning.
Faculty and Program Commitment
Preparing students for success in this highly competitive initiative takes effort and collaboration. Prof. Tseng and Dr. Guo worked tirelessly to coach and coordinate with students, ensuring their work would shine on this international platform. “It’s amazing to see how much effort students put into their work,” remarked Dr. Guo. “Their success at the Expo and National Chinese Speech Contest highlights the importance of giving them opportunities to shine.” Prof. Tseng commented that “engaging with students and helping them refine their work is an incredibly rewarding experience. Witnessing their talents being recognized and celebrated is truly thrilling. This not only sets a great example for others but also inspires students to excel and aim higher." In addition to fostering student growth, initiatives like the AAICE Expo and National Speech Contest enhance the visibility of our program and demonstrate our dedication to supporting impactful opportunities. In the past, Professors Gao and Zhao have also been instrumental in preparing students for this event, which demonstrates how deeply our faculty and program are committed to student success in initiatives like this. These efforts empower students to engage deeply with Chinese language and culture, building confidence and expanding their perspectives.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on this year’s achievements, we are filled with pride for our students and excitement for the future. The AAICE Expo and National Chinese Speech Contest are not just a showcase of talent but also a testament to the power of creativity, hard work, and collaboration. We look forward to continuing our involvement in the Expo and inspiring even more students to explore their linguistic and cultural journeys.
Showcasing Talent Through Creative Works
The works selected for this year’s AAICE Expo and National Chinese Speech Contest reflect the diverse talents and interests of our students. Below is the list of works displayed at the AAICE (American Academy of International Culture and Education) Expo: https://www.aaiceusa.com/2024expocollege:
Essay: Smartphone Addiction
Title: 手机文明病
Student: Mackenzie Chen (陈文琪)
Teacher: Professor Miao-Fen Tseng
Furniture Arrangement in Bedrooms and Chinese Fengshui
Title: 卧室的摆设与中国风水
Student: Samiya Williams (卫健)
Teacher: Professor Miao-Fen Tseng
Poetry Collection
Title: 诗集
Student: Steven Wang (王续衡)
Teacher: Professor Miao-Fen Tseng
Making Dumplings
Title: 包饺子
Student: Moore Melody RuGe (杜如歌)
Teacher: Professor Wen Guo
Original Song Performance: "I Love Singing Chinese Songs"
Title: 原创歌曲弹唱: 我爱唱中文歌
Student: Ben Barnes (包文斌)
Teacher: Professor Wen Guo
Chinese Fried Rice
Title: 中华炒饭
Students: Annabelle Huang (黄思华, Presenter) & Lauren Merola (梅兰, Videographer)
Teacher: Professor Wen Guo
Painting: Lotus Flower
Title: 绘画: 莲花
Student: Moore Melody RuGe (杜如歌)
Teacher: Professor Wen Guo
appendix
AAICE (American Academy of International Culture and Education) Expo: https://www.aaiceusa.com/2024expocollege
Here is a list of the work:
1. Essay: Smartphone Addiction
Title of the Student Work: 手机文明病
Student: Mackenzie Chen 陈文琪
Teacher: Miao-Fen Tseng 曾妙芬
2. Furniture Arrangement in Bedrooms and Chinese Fengshui
Title of the Student Work: 卧室的摆设与中国风水
Student: Samiya Williams 卫健
Teacher: Miao-Fen Tseng 曾妙芬
3. Making Dumplings
Title of the Student Work: 包饺子
Student: Moore Melody RuGe 杜如歌
Teacher: Wen Guo 郭文
4. Original Song Performance: "我爱唱中文歌"
Title of the Student Work: 原创歌曲弹唱: 我爱唱中文歌
Student: Ben Barnes 包文斌
Teacher: Wen Guo 郭文
5. Chinese Fried Rice
Title of the Student Work: 中华炒饭
Students: Annabelle Huang 黄思华 (展示) and Lauren Merola 梅兰 (摄像)
Teacher: Wen Guo 郭文
6. Painting: Lotus Flower
Title of the Student Work: 绘画: 莲花
Student: Moore Melody RuGe 杜如歌
Teacher: Wen Guo 郭文
7. Poem
Title of the Student Work: 诗集
Student: Steven Wang 王续衡
Teacher: Miao-Fen Tseng 曾妙芬
Here is a list of students’ testimonials:
"I chose to create this particular work because I was learning about cell phone use in my CHIN 3010 class. I found it absolutely fascinating and a great way to learn more Chinese vocabulary. Professor Tseng was always very engaging and informative when she was teaching this unit, so I wanted to expand upon what I learned in class in my own writing. From this essay, I learned how to consult my resources and use my notes wisely. I employed different grammatical structures and phrases that I learned in class to make my writing richer. I also learned how to incorporate more complicated vocabulary in my writing. Overall, I truly enjoyed writing this essay, and I’m glad my efforts paid off!"
By Chen, Mackenzie Teri
“The poem “The past can be admonished (往可谏)” was inspired by the quote “往者不可谏，来者犹可追”, meaning that “what has happened was in the past and what will be happening will come. Over the poem, I explored the interrelation between spontaneity, society, and time: shall one’s life be predestined by the historical cycle and its origin, or shall one’s life simply be determined by one’s perceptions and desires?"
“Meet Again (再逢)” was inspired by my yearning for tranquility and leisure, alongside the observation and retrospection of surrounding scenes and past lives. In the poem, I tried to explore how the scenery descriptions could symbolize and render the mood and how poorly considered desires and decisions create delusions and ultimately push someone off from their original desires. "
By Steven Wang
I have many reasons for studying Chinese now. My mom is Chinese, so I want to use Chinese to talk with her and my family. I also really like Chinese culture. I have been to China several times. However, I feel that because I don’t speak Chinese, I have missed out on a lot of Chinese culture. Therefore, the next time I go to China, I want to speak better Chinese. I studied Chinese for a year before, and now I have been studying Chinese at university for almost a semester.
My favorite hobby is oil painting, and I spend a lot of time painting. Whenever I finish a painting, I feel very happy. My favorite food is dumplings because they are not only delicious, but making dumplings with my family is a lot of fun.
I painted a piece of work called "Lotus Flower." In China, my cousin and I looked at lotus flowers together. When I was very young, my mom took this photo. However, I remember that this place in China is one of my favorite places. I painted this painting because it is a very beautiful place and also a wonderful memory.
By Moore, Melody RuGe
I chose to create my work on the 风水 of my room and my classmates’ room based on the information that I learned in Tseng Laoshi’s class. I really enjoyed doing this because prior to the course I had minimal knowledge on Chinese 风水. I think it is important to have knowledge about other cultures, especially one in which you are actively studying the language; thus, I felt like I became a better student after the fact. This also has impacted my lifestyle outside of the classroom. I have applied the 风水 taboos that I learned to my everyday life. One example of this is that I have added more green plants in my room, and I do not charge my phone near the head of my bed anymore. I learned a lot from this process and cannot wait to explore more!
By Williams, Samiya Ali
Last semester, I decided to challenge myself by making a short project that really exercised my ability to implement Chinese outside the academic setting. I wanted to do something creative for an assignment and came up with the idea of producing a cook-with-me video, where I spoke in Mandarin about a traditional Chinese dish. Since we were in the same Chinese class, I asked my longtime friend Lauren Merola for assistance in filming while I was cooking and speaking. The assignment quickly turned into a fun process with a delicious outcome. After hearing of the opportunity for my work to be showcased by EXPO as a cultural exhibition, I edited and re-edited the video for submission. I was happy to hear that my video had the chance to become a part of such a modern display of Chinese culture. Learning a language, or relearning in my case, can be challenging at times, but it is enjoyable when you have someone to practice it with. With gratitude, I thank Lauren for helping and encouraging me in this creative process. Learning new languages not only transcends cultural barriers, but can formulate new bonds with those around you.
By Annabelle Huang
Recently, I had the pleasure of helping Annabelle Huang film her presentation of making Chinese fried rice. The experience was lots of fun and helped us practice our Chinese speaking skills while connecting more deeply with Chinese culture. I truly didn’t do much in this project, but getting to help by recording was something I’m extremely happy I got to do. We started off by meeting up one Saturday morning to buy groceries for this project. Annabelle decided fried rice would be best for a simple delicious staple meal in China. When we returned to her apartment, we started filming right away. Annabelle practiced her lines with me until she got the hang of the right tones and pronunciation. We had lots of bloopers during this process of filming and refilming, but after Annabelle edited everything, the project turned out great and I was so impressed at her hard work and dedication. Initially, this project was for a class project, but Annabelle worked tirelessly on editing and fixing up the video clips to be ready for the expo. We had lots of fun during this experience and hope that others in the Chinese department can take up the challenge of trying something new to connect more deeply with Chinese culture.
By Lauren Merola
Margolis, Benjamin reflected on his experience in preparing for the national speech contest:
On March 29th, I had the opportunity to compete in the National Speech Contest, showcasing my fluency in Chinese and the ability to listen to other students from around the country. I started to take Chinese classes in the sixth grade, and it has been an incredible experience to continue this language throughout high school and now college. Additionally, I am proud to serve as a UVA Cultural Ambassador. After receiving an honorable mention in the finals, it is clear that my hard work and passion have paid off, but I am not finished any time soon!
Taylor, Elizabeth reflected on her experience in preparing for the national speech contest:
It was an honor to compete in the National Chinese Speech Competition, especially to watch the other students in my category. Some students wore traditional outfits and told stories from their language-learning journeys that created a camaraderie between all the students present. In terms of my own preparation, I learned so much from working with Guo Laoshi to edit, finetune my pronunciation of tones, and practice answering questions. The competition itself was a great learning experience, in that I had to speak Chinese under the pressure of being judged, but also to share perspectives on Chinese culture. I feel much more confident in conversations with native Chinese speakers, especially since I was able to provide an intelligible four-minute speech and communicate my ideas effectively for the Q&A portion. Overall, it was a pleasure to participate, and this experience has added real-world context to my classroom learning.