2025 Hippo English Olympiad National Finals Held at City University of Macau 

The International Training and Testing Center of City University of Macau and Beijing ASEEDER (China) jointly hosted the "2025 Hippo English Olympiad National Finals" recently at CityU Macau. The five-day event, themed "Hippo Journey to the West," integrated elements of Chinese culture with international English competitions, attracting about 400 non-native English-speaking youths aged 6 to 19 and their parents from across China, including Macau, to showcase their English skills and cultural exchange achievements.

On the first day,Dr. Lei SHA, Curriculum Director of General Education at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, CityU Macau, warmly welcomed students, parents, and teachers from all over the country. He expressed hope that students would use this platform to demonstrate their English proficiency and cultural communication skills, further strengthening their language and communication abilities.

The integration of Chinese culture and English competition

The International Training and Testing Center of CityU Macau has been dedicated to providing comprehensive international English examination services and professional training in Macau. This event not only supports the integration of "Tourism + Education" development but also enhances the English proficiency and cross-cultural literacy of local and regional youths. It promotes educational cooperation and exchange between Macau, mainland China, and internationally, further contributing to Macau’s economic diversification and sustainable social development.

Besides competitions, the event included thematic workshops for teachers and students to deepen their understanding of Macau’s English teaching environment and current situation. This fosters educational exchange and professional growth between Macau and the mainland, supporting Macau’s goal to become an international language and education training hub. The main activities included

• Written assessment (Hippo Paper Test)

• Spelling Bee

• Quiz Bowl

• Hippo Journey to the West Carnival (English Carnival)

• Chinese Culture Exhibition (Culture Fair)

Dr. Lei SHA, Curriculum Director of General Education at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Assistant Professor Colum Ruane served as the main judges for the event. The event’s theme, "Hippo Journey to the West," creatively combines the cultural essence of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West with English competitions. Through Chinese culture-themed exhibitions and English quiz contests, students were encouraged to tell Chinese stories in English, enhancing cultural confidence and international expression skills in a fun learning environment. The event provided students with valuable opportunities to showcase their English talents, develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and create more international development chances.

Dr. Lei SHA, Assistant Professor Liu Yanjin of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and local senior English teacher Dr. Cheuk Kee CHENG shared the latest English teaching methods with themes such as “Effective Strategies for Improving Primary School Students’ English Reading Skills,” “English Expression and Presentation Workshop,” and “Professional Development for Language Teachers.” They combined Macau’s teaching cases to offer practical and innovative teaching ideas and strategies to help teachers better motivate students and improve teaching quality.


Hippo English Challenge (Hippo English Without Borders) is organized by the Global Hippo Association, a non-profit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Italy. The Hippo English assessment follows the European CEFR framework, with 12 levels of difficulty, targeting youths aged 6 to 19 from non-native English-speaking countries and regions. Over the past thirteen years, more than 70 countries and regions worldwide have participated, with nearly 100,000 students globally joining in 2025. The initial round in China attracted nearly 10,000 participants, making it the largest youth English (non-native) assessment challenge worldwide. Students awarded in this regional competition have the opportunity to participate in the global finals.
Source: International Training and Testing Center, City University of Macau
Photo Credit: Beijing ASEEDER (China)