English teacher Mrs McLarnon took some students from Debate Club to take part in a public speaking event. She tells us about the competition:
Tuesday January 22nd saw Heart of England’s annual trip to the Rotary club in Meriden to take part in this year’s Youth Speaks public speaking competition. The participants present arguments and points of discussion, before taking questions from the judging panel who are, themselves, skilled orators. Participants can select a topic which is important to them, giving them an opportunity to delve deep into research, formulate ideas and build confidence.
Our eager participants this year are Hannah, Katarina and Seren and their subject was one close to their hearts: music.
All play, listen to and generally extol the virtues of music for all purposes: lifting one’s mood, exercising, raising IQ, creating long lasting world peace – you name it and the students covered it. All spoke with great confidence and gusto, once again impressing the members of the Rotary club and thus securing themselves a place in the next round, to take place in March.
Over a three-course dinner, the girls mentally prepared themselves for what was their first formal public outing for their performance. The talk went swimmingly for it was entertaining, thought provoking and mildly pun-tastic!
I and the team want to send our thanks to the Rotary club and the girls’ parents for sitting through what has probably been hours of practice. Public speaking is a vital skill in the 21st century and one which Heart of England students seem to excel at.
Will you be our next entrant? Perhaps try out your verbal skills in Debate Club before wowing the world on a bigger stage. Who knows where it might lead but one thing’s for sure – our team has their sights set on the nationals!
Debate Club meets every Wednesday lunchtime in M 201 and anyone is welcome.