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SUIS Gubei students impress at scholar contest
January 30, 2013, Wednesday
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AS Shanghai United International School Gubei develops from strength to strength so the opportunities for the students also increase.
Over the past year SUIS Gubei has entered students for the World Scholar's Cup competition, which has many demanding aspects such as close reading and understanding, quick-fire questions which test thinking as well as memory, and essay writing. But perhaps the most memorable section is the debates, where the students pitted themselves against opposing schools face-to-face.
The contest has grown phenomenally during the past six years and Wikipedia states it is "poised to become the world's first and premier academic competition." The World Scholar's Cup has attracted what it calls "a global community of future scholars and leaders," and says it allows participants to "discover strengths and skills you never knew you had."
SUIS Gubei students not only got through the regional rounds to the final but one team of three, Dominique Hua, Eunice Lee and Anton Yao, all Grade 10, were so good they were invited to the "Champion of Champions" round at Yale University. Although apprehensive as they knew what they were up against, the team made good friends with their opponents and gradually gained in confidence over the three days of the competition. Even so, the three were still surprised at the final night's Awards Gala at Yale when they won a slew of medals and trophies, including one for third best student in the junior section for the whole competition. Dominique Hua, congratulations!
But apart from the awards and recognition why did the three students put themselves through this rigorous experience? All three of them agree it is a truly worthwhile task, all stating it has increased their confidence and made them aware of just how high a level they are working at in school for them to be able to take on the crème de la crème from other international schools. They all said they now feel on an equal footing with any other school and have just as much a chance of accessing top universities like Yale as anyone else.
Though the Scholars Cup is not to be seen as a "nerd comp" or a tournament, but as a "learning festival" - there are still academic influences throughout the event. The coordinators emphasize that they never use the "L" word, but instead use winners and runner-ups as an indication of the results of debates. Anton said it was great being able to think on your feet and express opinions in the debates, and Dominique and Eunice agreed that the debates were the best part of the competition and that it was fun as well as being a challenge.
Furthermore, Eunice added it did not detract from her studies at school. If anything it was a boost to her IGCSE studies as it was not only a practical development and use of her IGCSE study skills but it was also energizing to meet students from so many different countries and backgrounds. It has expanded her horizons further and made her more determined than ever to do well in her exams now they are put into this international context.
So, have you got what it takes? Can you stand up for yourself and express your opinions in debate? Do you want to learn how? Do you want something to put on your university application form to make the Admissions Officer sit up and take notice? Then it's simple: Go to www.scholarscup.org and join the fun! You never know, you might end up in Yale and New York like these three students.
SUIS Gubei attendance record of World Scholar's Cup:
? April, 2011: First round in Beijing, China
? June, 2011: Second round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
? April, 2012: First round in Hong Kong, China
? June, 2012: Second round in Bangkok, Thailand
? November, 2012: Final round at Yale University, the USA
www.suis.com.cn (Gubei)
Over the past year SUIS Gubei has entered students for the World Scholar's Cup competition, which has many demanding aspects such as close reading and understanding, quick-fire questions which test thinking as well as memory, and essay writing. But perhaps the most memorable section is the debates, where the students pitted themselves against opposing schools face-to-face.
The contest has grown phenomenally during the past six years and Wikipedia states it is "poised to become the world's first and premier academic competition." The World Scholar's Cup has attracted what it calls "a global community of future scholars and leaders," and says it allows participants to "discover strengths and skills you never knew you had."
SUIS Gubei students not only got through the regional rounds to the final but one team of three, Dominique Hua, Eunice Lee and Anton Yao, all Grade 10, were so good they were invited to the "Champion of Champions" round at Yale University. Although apprehensive as they knew what they were up against, the team made good friends with their opponents and gradually gained in confidence over the three days of the competition. Even so, the three were still surprised at the final night's Awards Gala at Yale when they won a slew of medals and trophies, including one for third best student in the junior section for the whole competition. Dominique Hua, congratulations!
But apart from the awards and recognition why did the three students put themselves through this rigorous experience? All three of them agree it is a truly worthwhile task, all stating it has increased their confidence and made them aware of just how high a level they are working at in school for them to be able to take on the crème de la crème from other international schools. They all said they now feel on an equal footing with any other school and have just as much a chance of accessing top universities like Yale as anyone else.
Though the Scholars Cup is not to be seen as a "nerd comp" or a tournament, but as a "learning festival" - there are still academic influences throughout the event. The coordinators emphasize that they never use the "L" word, but instead use winners and runner-ups as an indication of the results of debates. Anton said it was great being able to think on your feet and express opinions in the debates, and Dominique and Eunice agreed that the debates were the best part of the competition and that it was fun as well as being a challenge.
Furthermore, Eunice added it did not detract from her studies at school. If anything it was a boost to her IGCSE studies as it was not only a practical development and use of her IGCSE study skills but it was also energizing to meet students from so many different countries and backgrounds. It has expanded her horizons further and made her more determined than ever to do well in her exams now they are put into this international context.
So, have you got what it takes? Can you stand up for yourself and express your opinions in debate? Do you want to learn how? Do you want something to put on your university application form to make the Admissions Officer sit up and take notice? Then it's simple: Go to www.scholarscup.org and join the fun! You never know, you might end up in Yale and New York like these three students.
SUIS Gubei attendance record of World Scholar's Cup:
? April, 2011: First round in Beijing, China
? June, 2011: Second round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
? April, 2012: First round in Hong Kong, China
? June, 2012: Second round in Bangkok, Thailand
? November, 2012: Final round at Yale University, the USA
www.suis.com.cn (Gubei)
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