Events
The ESU International Public Speaking Competition 2008
Tuesday 6 - Friday 9 May
Supported by HSBC Global Education Trust
The English-Speaking Union has active representation in over 50 countries. Most of these countries run programmes to encourage the effective use of English as means of international communication, as well as a variety of current affairs and cultural activities aimed at improving international understanding.
The International Public Speaking Competition is run annually by the English-Speaking Union and is one of the ESU's most successful and far-reaching international programmes. It has three overall objectives:
- To give young people practival experience in the fundamental skills of public speaking.
- To provide a focus for the learning of effective English and communication skills among young people in countries where English is not the first language.
- To give students from a variety of countries and backgrounds a chance to meet, exchange views and form friendships.
The first competition was held in 1981 and included speakers from three countries. Since then the competition has expanded rapidly, especially since the early 1990s; our rapid expansion - especially in South East Asia and in East and Central Europe - is a result of the popularity of the competition as a way of promoting English.
The programme
Participants in the international competition will spend four days in London from Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 May 2008.
Competitors will meet and make friends with their fellow competitors from the different countries taking part, as well as experienceing London and practising public speaking and debating. The programme will include:
- a trip to the theatre and the Houses of Parliament
- free time to explore London
- a preliminary public speaking skills workshop on Wednesday
- an extended debating workshop on Thursday, involving the formation of a mock Parliament where newly created "political parties" will try to resolve a problem of national importance
- preliminary heats of the competition on the Friday morning
- the Frand Final of Friday afternoon, to be held at the USA's Embassy
In addition, some participants will be able to stay with members of the ESU and their families outside London in order to give them a first-had experience of life in the UK (see under 'Homestays' opposite).
A detailes programme will be sent to all participants in April 2008.
The theme for 2008
The theme for the 2008 competition is "New Horizons, New Frontiers'".
- Speakers may interpret the theme in any way they see fit, but they should not use the theme as their title.
- In choosing their title, Speakers should not be afraid to be provocative, hard-hitting or humorous, as long as their intention is constructive and the speech is not offensive to other parties present.
- Speakers must avoid speeches that are likely to be perceived as doctrinal of political.
Entrance and eligibility
- The closing date for registering entrance to the compettion is Friday 14 March 2008. Late entries are at the discretion of the competition organiser.
- The deadline for participant entry forms for the compettion is Friday 11 April 2008, unless otherwise arranged with the competition organiser.
- The Speakers must all be students who have won ESU national public speaking or similar competitions in their country. Taking part in this competition is therefor a considerable mark of success and Speakers can be proud of their achievement.
- The competition is open to students aged between 16 and 20 in full-time education at the time of the competition (i.e. the oldes possible competitor would have thier 21st birthday on the day after the competition).
- Each participating country may enter a maximum of two Speakers.
- Competitors must be passport holders aor deemed nationals of the country which they are representing.
- If, in the opinion of the Competition Convenor, a competitor acts in a manner that would bring themselves, the ESU or ESU staff into disrepute they will not be entitled to participate in the Competition on Friday 9 May 2008 and the competition organiser in their country will be informed.
Competition structure
Speakers will be devided into four heats by the competition organisers.
The heats are streamed. All native English Speakers will be in the same heat. Countries will then be streamed according to the following criteria:
- previous success in the competition
- number of years a country has been taking part in the competition.
Where a country is represented by two Speakers, both will be in the same heat.
The number of Speakers from each heat selected for the final by the Judges will normally be two. Only one Speaker may reach the final from each country, they are competing against each other as well as the other Speakers for a place in the final.
Finalists should speak on the same theme and argument which they presented in the heats. There will be a different panel of Judges for the final.
There will normally be two Judges for each heat and a minimum of three Judges for the final.
The Judges' decision is final.
Timing and sequence of speakers
- Each Speaker will be allocated 5 minutes. Judges may penalise Speakers who overrun. Marks will be deducted for speeches which bary more then 45 seconds either side of 5 minutes and at the end of 6 minutes Speakers will be asked to finish their speech immediately.
- A Timekeeper will record the lengths of speeches and give these to the Judges. The Timekeeper will also give an audible signal after 4 minutes 15 seconds, 5 minutes and 5 minutes 45 seconds.
- Each speech will be followed by two minutes of questions from members of the audience and the judging panel.
Sequence
- The sequence of Speakers within a heat will be selected at random by the organisers prior to be competition.
- The Chari will introduce each Speaker, giving their name, country and the title of the speech.
- After the Speaker has delivered their speech the Chair will invite questions from the Judges and audience. These must be addressed through the Chair.
- The question time will last for only two minutes so questions need to be answered briefly and to the point.
- All Speakers should be asked at least one question. If is the responsibility of the Judges to ask a question if there are no questions from the audience.
- Supporters/compatriots of the Speaker may not ask questions.