On April 23, 2025, the English Language Centre (ELC) celebrated the conclusion of the “i-Learner English for Universities Marathon Competition” with an awards ceremony honoring the most dedicated and high-achieving students.
Over the course of two months, more than 1,500 students enrolled in ELC courses participated in the competition, collectively completing an impressive 13,085 lessons. This reflects the students’ determination to go beyond their coursework and engage in self-directed learning. Among these participants, over 500 students completed at least 12 lessons, and 43 students surpassed 24 lessons—demonstrating exceptional commitment and focus.
The writing component also saw remarkable engagement, with participants producing 11,197 pieces of writing during the competition. Notably, 473 students completed at least 12 compositions, while 14 students reached the milestone of 24 pieces. These achievements underscore the students’ growing interest in honing their writing skills and their dedication to improving English proficiency.
The i-Learner platform, central to this competition, continues to play a vital role in the ELC’s mission to empower students for academic success in English-medium university studies. By offering an immersive and flexible learning environment, the platform encourages students to develop their language skills, enhance critical thinking, and achieve better learning outcomes beyond the classroom.
Group photo of all winners
The awards ceremony opened with a speech from Prof. Katherine Chen, Director of the English Language Centre, who commended the students for their dedication throughout the Spring 2025 semester. Certificates and prizes were awarded to the top performers, whose accomplishments reflected both their hard work and their ability to exceed expectations.
A standout achievement came from Luis Chen, a University English 1 (UE1) student, who completed an extraordinary 183 lessons with an impressive average score of 85%. Among other winners, Hoi Weng, the champion of the UE4 level, completed 172 lessons, while top performers in other levels completed approximately 100 lessons each, showcasing their dedication and perseverance.
These milestones highlight the students’ ability to balance their coursework with additional learning on the i-Learner platform, proving their commitment to personal and academic growth.
Follow is a list of the winners:
| Name | Faculty | |
| Champion | Luis Chen | Year 2, ICI |
| 1st Place in UE2 | Wang Kinsing | Year 1, FBA |
| 1st Place in UE3 | Wong Pui Si | Year 1, FBA |
| 1st Place in E4 | Hoi Weng | Year 3, FAH |
| 1st Place in E5 | Cai Jiaying | Year 1, FBA |
| 2nd Place | Kwok Man Wai | Year 3, FAH |
| 2nd Place | Matias Wu | Year 2, FBA |
| 3rd Place | Leong Weng Lam | Year 1, FBA |
| 4th Place | Kong Kaiying | Year 3, FED |
| 5th Place | Fong Si Weng | Year 1, FSS |
The writing competition revealed exceptional talent across all levels, with students producing clear, thoughtful, and well-structured essays. Luis Chen, the Marathon competition champion, also earned the title of best writer at the UE1 level. His essay, which debated the relevance of school uniforms, balanced personal experiences with persuasive arguments.
At the UE2 level, Tang On Nei wrote a compelling and well-reasoned essay on the role of anti-corruption organizations, demonstrating clarity and logical structure. Leong Hou Long, from UE3, showcased strong critical thinking skills in a polished essay debating whether marriage is essential to happiness.
Follow is a list of the best writers:
| Name | Faculty | Grades | |
| Champion in UE 1 | Luis Chen | Year 2, ICI | A |
| Champion in UE 2 | Tang On Nei | Year 1, FED | A |
| Champion in UE 3 | Leong Hou Long | Year 2, FSS | A |
Champion of the i-Learner English for Universities Marathon Competition
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Winners of the writing competition
1st place of UE2
1st place of UE3
1st place of E4
1st place of E5
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2nd place
3rd place
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The competition’s success was further reflected in the feedback collected from participants, who shared their thoughts on the i-Learner platform and its impact on their learning journey.
Students reflected on their English learning journey, and found the writing exercises and grammar practices valuable:
“The platform is useful for training writing skills, and it helps me to practice writing and critical thinking by avoiding reliance on AI.”
“It helps me improve grammar, which is essential in learning English.”
When asked about the most interesting and useful aspects of the i-Learner platform, students appreciated the vocabulary and reading sections:
“The platform and the exercises provided are useful because now I don’t have the chance to learn English daily as I did in secondary school.”
“The reading part is interesting. I’ve learned not only the language but also knowledge of new fields like scientific facts and phenomena.”
“The vocabulary sections are helpful, and I can apply the new words to academic writing at university.”
The listening exercises were also praised for improving comprehension of tone, emotion, and authentic speech:
“The listening parts are useful for understanding tones, emotions, and authentic speech.”
Participants expressed the motivation to further work on this platform and shared a strong willingness to recommend i-Learner to their peers:
“Yes, it’s helpful for the ELC coursework and helps to prepare for tests and exams.”
“Yes, because it enhances English skills at different levels, and I found it helpful with IELTS preparation.”
“Yes, definitely. We can learn and win amazing prizes at the same time.”
“Yes, my English has obviously improved. I’m happy to see my improvement and better grades.”
“It’s a free platform for students and it can be used effectively to improve various English skills. We should make good use of i-Learner while we are here.”
The i-Learner platform continues to empower students by strengthening their language proficiency and fostering a love for learning. The achievements of this semester’s participants and winners are a testament to their hard work and determination.
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Congratulations to all who took part in the “i-Learner English for Universities Marathon Competition”! Your success inspires us to create even more dynamic and engaging activities in the future.