WKU Campus Selection Concludes for Two National English Debating Competitions in 2026

WKU campus selection for the 28^th “FLTRP·ETIC Cup” National English Debating Competition (FLTRP) and 2026 China University Debating Championship (CUDC), organized by the English Language Center, concluded successfully on March 21, 2026.

The competition consisted of two rounds: the preliminary round and the final round.

In the preliminary round, contestants drew their positions on-site and were given 30 minutes to prepare before delivering a four-minute individual speech. This round tested participants’ ability to construct coherent arguments, organize logical reasoning, and articulate their ideas effectively. Judges assessed performances based on content depth, logical structure, and the relevance and significance of the arguments presented.

Eight finalists then formed teams of two for the final round. The final adopted the British Parliamentary (BP) debating format, one of the most popular styles of intercollegiate debating in the world. Debaters presented well-reasoned arguments and engaged in multiple rounds of rebuttal and comparison between proposition and opposition. The fast-paced clashes and layered argumentation showcased the debaters’ strong critical thinking, language proficiency, and teamwork.

In the end, Team Dystopian (Wu Yichen & Xu Haibo) won the Champions. Wonder Team (Lyu Wenyuan & Li Yilin) finished as Runners-up, while Team Grafray (Guan Yuechen & Fang Jiamin) and Team Tony (Zhou Heshun & Zhao Shuhan) were awarded the Second Runners-up.

Based on their outstanding performance in the final round, six debaters were selected to represent WKU at two higher-level competitions. Lyu Wenyuan and Guan Yuechen, along with Xu Haibo and Wu Yichen, will compete in the East China Regional of the 28th “FLTRP·ETIC Cup” National English Debating Competition in the coming April. Zhou Heshun and Zhao Shuhan will participate in the 2026 China University Debating Championship (CUDC).

Sincere thanks go to all debaters for their enthusiasm and involvement in the competition. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Shaoshuang Wen and Mr. Wu Jiang for their invaluable support and contributions, which were instrumental in the success of this event!

English Language Center

Wenzhou-Kean University