An Alfred University faculty member and student participated in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, held Nov. 20-22 in New Orleans. The conference is the most influential gathering for world language educators in the United States.
The University was represented by Zhongbei “Daisy” Wu, clinical associate professor of music and language, and art major and Chinese minor student Max Rasilla, along with their collaborators—Dr. Wen Guo from East Voyager Academy and University at Buffalo student Anthony Casseri.
The group delivered a featured presentation at the conference, which attracted over 6,000 educators and featured more than 800 sessions. Having their proposal selected amid such strong national competition marked a significant recognition for Alfred University.
Their session, “Engaging Strategies to Improve Language Skills Through Speech Contests,” explored how speech competitions can significantly accelerate language acquisition. Drawing from years of coaching experience, Wu and Guo shared an instructional approach that blends research-informed pedagogy with practical training techniques. They presented a model that encourages students to speak authentically—to tell their own stories—allowing personal experience and emotion to drive communication. Educators in the audience responded enthusiastically to the idea that meaningful self-expression builds confidence and fluency more effectively than scripted or formulaic speech.
A key focus of the presentation was how structured preparation, targeted pronunciation practice, and staged rehearsals help students achieve dramatic improvement in a short time. Alfred University students have earned notable distinctions in Chinese speech contests. Following Laura Bishop’s second-place finish at the 2023 Chinese Bridge East Coast competition, Max Rasilla and Angelina Olivera continued the success, securing second- and third-place awards in regional competitions in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Max further distinguished himself by placing second nationwide at the 2025 U.S. Chinese Speech Contest.
The session’s most compelling moments came from the students themselves. Max and Anthony spoke candidly about their journeys—from overcoming pronunciation challenges and shyness to delivering award-winning speeches on a public stage. Max attributed his three major awards to consistent practice and the structured training methodology he learned at Alfred University. Beyond the honors, he described how speech contests transformed his confidence and broadened his worldview. His achievements led to three distinct cultural exchange opportunities: attending the Chinese Bridge Global Finals as a U.S. observer, participating in the Flying Tigers Sino-American Youth Program, and traveling to Beijing and Kunming as a youth delegate to speak at the International Peace Conference.
“As we have seen repeatedly, when motivation meets the right training approach, students can go remarkably far,” said Wu. “Speech contests not only strengthen language proficiency but also play a powerful role in personal growth.”
Both Max and Anthony shared that the confidence gained through competition has opened doors to new opportunities for communication, connection, and self-presentation. They now apply the skills developed through speech contests to real-world interactions, academic settings, and cross-cultural exchanges.
Since its launch just over a year ago, Alfred University’s Chinese Language and Culture minor has attracted more than a dozen students. The program continues to explore innovative ways to enhance language learning beyond the traditional classroom, with speech contests proving to be a highly effective pathway for accelerating language development.
“We are incredibly proud—not only of our students’ achievements but also of the opportunity to share these successful practices with world language educators across the United States at the ACTFL Convention,” Wu said.
Participation in the ACTFL convention was made possible through generous support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office and the Bernstein Fund for Student and Faculty Development, administered through the Provost’s Office. This support enabled Alfred University faculty and students to both contribute to and learn from a national network of educators. Their presentation highlighted the outstanding achievements of Alfred students and showcased the University’s commitment to innovative, student-centered learning on a national stage.
