Speaking Nov 17

Describe a popular person.

To me, Liu Yifei stands out because of her disciplined artistry—the way she builds a character through restraint, precision and, I suppose, methodical preparation. That’s the headline. The backstory is simple: I first knew about her in middle school, when her period dramas were basically everywhere; later, during uni train rides, I caught her major live-action film and noticed how consistent her craft had become.

Why the popularity? It isn’t only star power. It’s a blend of cultural resonance—that poised, almost classical elegance—and cross-border visibility from international projects. She maintains a relatively low-key public persona, which, to be honest, keeps the focus on the work itself and creates a sense of professional integrity.

What she actually does, beyond the headlines, is sustain emotional continuity across long narratives: measured diction, economical movement, and a careful control of intensity. Well—or rather—she has a coherent repertoire that feels curated rather than improvised.

Listening to interviews or rewatching key scenes, I feel quietly motivated. As a physics grad student, when I’m tweaking code or aligning an optics setup, her example reminds me that excellence is iterative—repetition, refinement, and attention to small errors. In other words, her career models perseverance without noise. At the end of the day, that work ethic is why I admire her—and why I try to bring a similar economy and focus to my research presentations and lab work.

To me, Liu Yifei stands out because of her disciplined artistry—the way she builds a character through restraint, precision and, I suppose, methodical preparation.
/tuː miː ˈljuː ˈiː.feɪ stændz aʊt bɪˈkɒz ɒv hɜː ˈdɪs.ə.plɪnd ˈɑː.tɪ.stri ðiː weɪ ʃiː bɪldz eɪ ˈkær.ɪk.tə θruː rɪˈstreɪnt prɪˈsɪʒ.ən ænd aɪ səˈpəʊz məˈθɒd.ɪ.kəl ˌprep.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

That’s the headline.
/ðæts ðiː ˈhed.laɪn/

The backstory is simple. I first knew about her in middle school, when her period dramas were basically everywhere; later, during uni train rides, I caught her major live-action film and noticed how consistent her craft had become.
/ðiː ˈbæk.stɔː.ri ɪz ˈsɪm.pəl aɪ fɜːst njuː əˈbaʊt hɜː ɪn ˈmɪd.əl skuːl wen hɜː ˈpɪə.ri.əd ˈdrɑː.məz wɜː ˈbeɪ.sɪ.kli ˈev.ri.weə ˈleɪ.tə ˈdjʊə.rɪŋ ˈjuː.ni treɪn raɪdz aɪ kɔːt hɜː ˈmeɪ.dʒə laɪv ˈæk.ʃən fɪlm ænd ˈnəʊ.tɪst haʊ kənˈsɪs.tənt hɜː krɑːft hæd bɪˈkʌm/

It isn’t only star power.
/ɪt ˈɪz.ənt ˈəʊn.li stɑː ˈpaʊ.ə/

It’s a blend of cultural resonance—that poised, almost classical elegance—and cross-border visibility from international projects.
/ɪts eɪ blend ɒv ˈkʌl.tʃər.əl ˈrez.ən.əns ðæt pɔɪzd ˈɔːl.məʊst ˈklæs.ɪ.kəl ˈel.ɪ.ɡəns ænd krɒs ˈbɔː.də ˌvɪz.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti frɒm ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl ˈprɒdʒ.ekts/

She maintains a relatively low-key public persona, which, to be honest, keeps the focus on the work itself and creates a sense of professional integrity.
/ʃiː meɪnˈteɪnz eɪ ˈrel.ə.tɪv.li ˌləʊˈkiː ˈpʌb.lɪk pəˈsəʊ.nə wɪtʃ tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst kiːps ðiː ˈfəʊ.kəs ɒn ðiː wɜːk ɪtˈself ænd kriˈeɪts eɪ sens ɒv prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl ɪnˈteɡ.rə.ti/

What she actually does, beyond the headlines, is sustain emotional continuity across long narratives: measured diction, economical movement, and a careful control of intensity.
/wɒt ʃiː ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li dʌz bɪˈjɒnd ðiː ˈhed.laɪnz ɪz səˈsteɪn ɪˈməʊ.ʃən.əl ˌkɒn.tɪˈnjuː.ə.ti əˈkrɒs lɒŋ ˈnær.ə.tɪvz ˈmeʒ.əd ˈdɪk.ʃən ˌiː.kəˈnɒm.ɪ.kəl ˈmuːv.mənt ænd eɪ ˈkeə.fəl kənˈtrəʊl ɒv ɪnˈten.sɪ.ti/

Well—or rather—she has a coherent repertoire that feels curated rather than improvised.
/wel ɔː ˈrɑː.ðə ʃiː hæz eɪ kəʊˈhɪə.rənt ˈrep.ə.twɑː ðæt fiːlz kjʊəˈreɪ.tɪd ˈrɑː.ðə ðæn ˈɪm.prə.vaɪzd/

Listening to interviews or rewatching key scenes, I feel quietly motivated.
/ˈlɪs.ən.ɪŋ tuː ˈɪn.tə.vjuːz ɔː ˌriːˈwɒtʃ.ɪŋ kiː siːnz aɪ fiːl ˈkwaɪət.li ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/

As a physics grad student, when I’m tweaking code or aligning an optics setup, her example reminds me that excellence is iterative—repetition, refinement, and attention to small errors.
/æz eɪ ˈfɪz.ɪks ɡræd ˈstjuː.dənt wen aɪm ˈtwiː.kɪŋ kəʊd ɔː əˈlaɪ.nɪŋ ən ˈɒp.tɪks ˈset.ʌp hɜː ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl rɪˈmaɪndz miː ðæt ˈek.səl.əns ɪz ˈɪt.ər.ə.tɪv ˌrep.əˈtɪʃ.ən rɪˈfaɪn.mənt ænd əˈten.ʃən tuː smɔːl ˈer.əz/

In other words, her career models perseverance without noise.
/ɪn ˈʌð.ə wɜːdz hɜː kəˈrɪə ˈmɒd.əlz ˌpɜː.sɪˈvɪə.rəns wɪˈðaʊt nɔɪz/

At the end of the day, that work ethic is why I admire her—and why I try to bring a similar economy and focus to my research presentations and lab work.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ ðæt wɜːk ˈeθ.ɪk ɪz waɪ aɪ ədˈmaɪə hɜː ænd waɪ aɪ traɪ tuː brɪŋ eɪ ˈsɪm.ɪ.lə ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi ænd ˈfəʊ.kəs tuː maɪ rɪˈsɜːtʃ ˌprez.ənˈteɪ.ʃənz ænd læb wɜːk/

part 3

Why do some students want to become popular?

To be honest, many students chase popularity because it buys belonging and a buffer against social exclusion. On a busy campus, visibility functions as reputational capital—you’re invited into study groups, lab teams, even informal mentoring networks. I suppose it’s also about identity formation: being recognised helps you decide who you are, especially when you’re still negotiating values and goals. In my programme, the students who MC events or organise journal clubs are seen, and opportunities tend to flow to them. At the end of the day, popularity is perceived—rightly or wrongly—as a shortcut to access and psychological safety.

To be honest, many students chase popularity because it buys belonging and a buffer against social exclusion.
/tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst ˈmen.i ˈstjuː.dənts tʃeɪs ˌpɒp.jʊˈlær.ə.ti bɪˈkɒz ɪt baɪz bɪˈlɒŋ.ɪŋ ænd eɪ ˈbʌf.ə əˈɡenst ˈsəʊ.ʃəl ɪkˈskluː.ʒən/

On a busy campus, visibility functions as reputational capital—you’re invited into study groups, lab teams, even informal mentoring networks.
/ɒn eɪ ˈbɪz.i ˈkæm.pəs ˌvɪz.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti ˈfʌŋk.ʃənz æz ˌrep.juːˈteɪ.ʃən.əl ˈkæp.ɪ.təl jɔː ɪnˈvaɪ.tɪd ˈɪn.tuː ˈstʌd.i ɡruːps læb tiːmz ˈiː.vən ɪnˈfɔː.məl ˈmen.tə.rɪŋ ˈnet.wɜːks/

I suppose it’s also about identity formation: being recognised helps you decide who you are, especially when you’re still negotiating values and goals.
/aɪ səˈpəʊz ɪts ˈɔːl.səʊ əˈbaʊt aɪˈden.tɪ.ti fɔːˈmeɪ.ʃən ˈbiː.ɪŋ ˈrek.əɡ.naɪzd helps juː dɪˈsaɪd huː juː ɑː ɪˈspeʃ.əl.i wen jɔː stɪl nɪˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪ.tɪŋ ˈvæl.juːz ænd ɡəʊlz/

In my programme, the students who MC events or organise journal clubs are seen, and opportunities tend to flow to them.
/ɪn maɪ ˈprəʊ.ɡræm ðiː ˈstjuː.dənts huː ˌemˈsiː ɪˈvents ɔː ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪz ˈdʒɜː.nəl klʌbz ɑː siːn ænd ˌɒp.əˈtʃuː.nɪ.tiz tend tuː fləʊ tuː ðem/

At the end of the day, popularity is perceived—rightly or wrongly—as a shortcut to access and psychological safety.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ ˌpɒp.jʊˈlær.ə.ti ɪz pəˈsiːvd ˈraɪt.li ɔː ˈrɒŋ.li æz eɪ ˈʃɔːt.kʌt tuː ˈæk.ses ænd ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl ˈseɪf.ti/

What kinds of people are more popular at school?

To be honest, the students who become popular are those who are prosocial and dependable. If someone consistently shares notes, organises revision groups, and, you know, shows up on time for lab work, people trust them. I suppose conscientiousness and emotional intelligence matter more than loud charisma: they listen, remember your deadlines, and include quieter classmates. In my physics cohort, the lab rep who coordinates equipment bookings and mediates small conflicts is well liked because he reduces everyone’s friction costs. At the end of the day, reliability plus inclusivity translates into reputational capital.

To be honest, the students who become popular are those who are prosocial and dependable.
/tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst ðiː ˈstjuː.dənts huː bɪˈkʌm ˈpɒp.jə.lə ɑː ðəʊz huː ɑː prəʊˈsəʊ.ʃəl ænd dɪˈpen.də.bəl/

If someone consistently shares notes, organises revision groups, and, you know, shows up on time for lab work, people trust them.
/ɪf ˈsʌm.wʌn kənˈsɪs.tənt.li ʃeəz nəʊts ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪ.zɪz rɪˈvɪʒ.ən ɡruːps ænd juː nəʊ ʃəʊz ʌp ɒn taɪm fɔː læb wɜːk ˈpiː.pəl trʌst ðem/

I suppose conscientiousness and emotional intelligence matter more than loud charisma: they listen, remember your deadlines, and include quieter classmates.
/aɪ səˈpəʊz ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs.nəs ænd ɪˈməʊ.ʃən.əl ɪnˈtel.ɪ.dʒəns ˈmæt.ə mɔː ðæn laʊd kəˈrɪz.mə ðeɪ ˈlɪs.ən rɪˈmem.bə jɔː ˈded.laɪnz ænd ɪnˈkluːd ˈkwaɪ.ə.tə ˈklɑːs.meɪts/

In my physics cohort, the lab rep who coordinates equipment bookings and mediates small conflicts is well liked because he reduces everyone’s friction costs.
/ɪn maɪ ˈfɪz.ɪks ˈkəʊ.hɔːt ðiː læb rep huː kəʊˈɔː.dɪ.neɪts ɪˈkwɪp.mənt ˈbʊk.ɪŋz ænd ˈmiː.di.eɪts smɔːl ˈkɒn.flɪkts ɪz wel laɪkt bɪˈkɒz hiː rɪˈdʒuː.sɪz ˈev.ri.wʌnz ˈfrɪk.ʃən kɒsts/

At the end of the day, reliability plus inclusivity translates into reputational capital.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ rɪˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti plʌs ˌɪn.kluːˈsɪv.ɪ.ti trænzˈleɪts ˈɪn.tuː ˌrep.juːˈteɪ.ʃən.əl ˈkæp.ɪ.təl/

Do you think a good teacher should become popular?

I’d say a good teacher may become popular, but only as a by-product of instructional quality. In my programme, the lecturer who’s most “popular” designs clear learning objectives, gives timely formative feedback, and holds office hours that genuinely reduce cognitive load before labs. That reputation attracts motivated students and even helps secure resources—social capital can translate into better learning environments. But, to be honest, the metric should remain learning gains, not follower counts. At the end of the day, popularity is useful when it reflects effectiveness, not when it replaces it.

I’d say a good teacher may become popular, but only as a by-product of instructional quality.
/aɪd seɪ eɪ ɡʊd ˈtiː.tʃə meɪ bɪˈkʌm ˈpɒp.jə.lə bʌt ˈəʊn.li æz eɪ ˈbaɪˌprɒd.ʌkt ɒv ɪnˈstrʌk.ʃən.əl ˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti/

In my programme, the lecturer who’s most popular designs clear learning objectives, gives timely formative feedback, and holds office hours that genuinely reduce cognitive load before labs.
/ɪn maɪ ˈprəʊ.ɡræm ðiː ˈlek.tʃər.ər huːz məʊst ˈpɒp.jə.lə dɪˈzaɪnz klɪə ˈlɜː.nɪŋ əbˈdʒek.tɪvz ɡɪvz ˈtaɪm.li ˈfɔː.mə.tɪv ˈfiːd.bæk ænd həʊldz ˈɒf.ɪs ˈaʊəz ðæt ˈdʒen.ju.ɪn.li rɪˈdjuːs ˈkɒɡ.nə.tɪv ləʊd bɪˈfɔː læbz/

That reputation attracts motivated students and even helps secure resources—social capital can translate into better learning environments.
/ðæt ˌrep.jʊˈteɪ.ʃən əˈtrækts ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd ˈstjuː.dənts ænd ˈiː.vən helps sɪˈkjʊə rɪˈzɔː.sɪz ˈsəʊ.ʃəl ˈkæp.ɪ.təl kæn trænzˈleɪt ˈɪn.tuː ˈbet.ə ˈlɜː.nɪŋ ɪnˈvaɪ.rən.mənts/

But, to be honest, the metric should remain learning gains, not follower counts.
/bʌt tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst ðiː ˈmet.rɪk ʃʊd rɪˈmeɪn ˈlɜː.nɪŋ ɡeɪnz nɒt ˈfɒl.əʊ.ə kaʊnts/

At the end of the day, popularity is useful when it reflects effectiveness, not when it replaces it.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ ˌpɒp.jəˈlær.ə.ti ɪz ˈjuːs.fəl wen ɪt rɪˈfleks ɪˈfek.tɪv.nəs nɒt wen ɪt rɪˈpleɪ.sɪz ɪt/

Why are some celebrities not popular?

I think some celebrities lose popularity when reputational capital is eroded. Ethical lapses, tone-deaf endorsements, or a mismatch between public persona and private conduct create a credibility gap that audiences won’t overlook. Even when apologies are issued, the recovery can be slow because trust, once depleted, is costly to rebuild. To be honest, fans today expect consistency, accountability, and social responsibility; when those are perceived as performative, disengagement follows. At the end of the day, it’s not only talent but also perceived integrity that sustains a fan base.

I think some celebrities lose popularity when reputational capital is eroded.
/aɪ θɪŋk sʌm sɪˈleb.rə.tiz luːz ˌpɒp.jəˈlær.ə.ti wen ˌrep.juːˈteɪ.ʃən.əl ˈkæp.ɪ.təl ɪz ɪˈrəʊ.dɪd/

Ethical lapses, tone-deaf endorsements, or a mismatch between public persona and private conduct create a credibility gap that audiences won’t overlook.
/ˈeθ.ɪ.kəl ˈlæp.sɪz ˌtəʊnˈdef ɪnˈdɔːs.mənts ɔː eɪ ˈmɪs.mætʃ bɪˈtwiːn ˈpʌb.lɪk pəˈsəʊ.nə ænd ˈpraɪ.vət ˈkɒn.dʌkt kriːˈeɪt eɪ ˌkred.ɪˈbɪl.ə.ti ɡæp ðæt ˈɔː.di.ən.sɪz wəʊnt ˌəʊ.vəˈlʊk/

Even when apologies are issued, the recovery can be slow because trust, once depleted, is costly to rebuild.
/ˈiː.vən wen əˈpɒl.ə.dʒiz ɑː ˈɪs.juːd ðiː rɪˈkʌv.ər.i kæn biː sləʊ bɪˈkɒz trʌst wʌns dɪˈpliː.tɪd ɪz ˈkɒst.li tuː ˌriːˈbɪld/

To be honest, fans today expect consistency, accountability, and social responsibility; when those are perceived as performative, disengagement follows.
/tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst fænz təˈdeɪ ɪkˈspekt kənˈsɪs.tən.si əˌkaʊn.təˈbɪl.ə.ti ænd ˈsəʊ.ʃəl rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti wen ðəʊz ɑː pəˈsiːvd æz pəˈfɔː.mə.tɪv ˌdɪs.ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ.mənt ˈfɒl.əʊz/

At the end of the day, it’s not only talent but also perceived integrity that sustains a fan base.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ ɪts nɒt ˈəʊn.li ˈtæl.ənt bʌt ˈɔːl.səʊ pəˈsiːvd ɪnˈteɡ.rə.ti ðæt səˈsteɪnz eɪ fæn beɪs/

Words