YNU student scores highly in national interpreting contest

The national finals of the 8th All China Interpreting Contest, hosted by the Translators Association of China, was held to great acclaim at Beijing Foreign Studies University on Oct 17 -- with 50 finalists from earlier heats held in the country fighting it out for the prizes.

Yu Xiangjun, an undergraduate from the school of journalism at Yunnan University, also known as YNU, won third prize.

Yu was the only constant from Yunnan province to participate in the national final, competing with top students from Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai International Studies University, Fudan University and others.

The organizers said the national competition provides a platform for university students to demonstrate their English interpreting skills and helps the country to develop a professional translation and language service team.

Interpreting is widely regarded as one of the most challenging skills in learning a foreign language -- and the contest requires contestants to be a master in using English, as well as with being fluent in interpreting skills under stressful conditions.

YNU students have performed well in the contest in recent years. In 2017, a YNU student won third prize in the provincial finals; last year another won the special award in Yunnan province; and this year a YNU student won third prize in the national final.

University officials said in future, YNU will continue to deepen its reforms, broaden students’ horizons and promote academic exchanges, in order to build itself into a university with a higher level of internationalization.