How to Organise a Public Speaking Contest and How to Become a Winner

Some Secrets of Proper Speech Making

This year MELTA has celebrated its fifth anniversary, and so has the MELTA Annual Public Speaking Contest traditionally held in the middle of March. It might seem worthwhile, therefore, to recall the impressions of the very first contest. On March 12, five years ago we all gathered at the beautiful (and professionally furnished!) conference hall of the Russian Children’s Library in Kaluzhskaya Square – 40 competitors, our highly-esteemed jury members and numerous supporters: classmates, teachers, parents, friends… Soft music was playing during the registration procedure; those who came in early were privileged to have a look at the current library exhibition. After brief inspiring introductory speeches of hosts, guests and organizers, the contest started. Since the participants drew lots at the registration counter, no questions were ever raised concerning the order of appearance.

And this is where it all began. What to call it – action? Event? Marvel? The audience was held completely spellbound. Indeed, when we set the time limit at three minutes we felt somewhat guilty, since we were unable to imagine how much could actually be expressed within the allotted time, how many emotions conveyed, how many feelings shared… Each time there was something new – either perfect logic, or artistic talent, or a sense of humour reigned supreme.

The jurors were at a loss when the time came to identify the best. However, we were extremely lucky, for we established several nominations. Otherwise, we would have failed to name the best – simply because the majority of participants excelled in some sphere… Everything was taken into account and carefully evaluated – effective introduction, logical sequence of main points, concise ending, correct word use and grammar, producing vivid images, enthusiasm, diction, confidence, sincerity, rate and rhythm, contact with the audience …

Here is a range of themes presented at the contest over the years:

What are Monuments Silent About?

Is Patriotism an Outdated Institution in Our Global World?

Examinations as a Form of Assessment.

A Sense of Humour: the Most Important of All Human Qualities.

Fashion and Style.

Is Loneliness a Fair Price to Pay for “Big City Life”?

Russia and the West: Fruitful Dialogue or Eternal Opposition?

It goes without saying that all topics are subject to modification (either as a result of brainstorming or individual charismatic revelation).

It has become customary to organise local contests in Moscow districts, or circuits, and to allow the winners to continue their triumphal journey further. However, not every circuit succeeds in organising these contests on a proper level; this is why we are still inclined to let everybody come and deliver a speech – provided, of course, that an application is submitted in due form and on time. All the necessary information of organisational character is contained in the “Rules and Regulations of MELTA Speaking Contest” (“Polozhenie”) which can be found in English No. 24, 2008.

As a rule, MELTA specifies not only the themes for the final Contest, but for the preliminary ones as well. This year the themes of the two successive levels (almost!) perfectly matched each other. To the kind attention of our participants and fans the following themes were offered at the preliminary contests:

1. Gogol: A Prophet. A Genius. A Judge (on the jubilee of Nikolai V. Gogol).

2. What Does It Mean to Be a Superpower?

3. Sound of Music.

4. Football forever.

Themes presented at the major contest:

1. “I will be laughing with my bitter laughter” (on the jubilee of Nikolai V. Gogol).

2. Society and the Individual: Mutual Benefit or Bitter Isolation?

3. “Music is Second but to Love… And Love is Melody” (A.S. Pushkin).

4. Sport… Sport? Sport!

As you can see, in the absolute majority of cases themes from the first set were just slightly paraphrased; thus, the “speech continuity” was preserved. It was essential for our main target audience, namely the winners of district contests who by this were given one more chance to perfect their speeches instead of composing new ones (unless they chose to do so).

The contest is designed for students of grades 9–11, first and second year students of higher education institutions and – teachers! Teachers are welcome to participate on a par with their students. Indeed, we can boast of some extremely interesting and dignified performances by teachers. And yet, in the majority of cases teachers are somewhat reluctant to participate. We are working hard to combat this tendency (which we believe is deeply rooted in our mentality and traditional attitudes)! Two years ago a teacher from Tatarstan came to deliver a speech – and eventually got the first degree Diploma! This undoubtedly testifies to the fact that our contest is virtually open! It is open for every person of goodwill disregarding “geographical differences”.

One might suggest that such freedom should be regarded as a violation of the rules – after all, MELTA exists for Moscow teachers… Nothing can be further from the truth since MELTA is for everybody. Besides, it is united by a solid publishing body – the newspaper English (where the speeches of our winners usually appear in print) whose range of influence is certainly far beyond Moscow and Moscow region.

“When there is a will, there is a way”. Unnecessary restrictions may lead to something much more serious, namely to losing people’s trust and confidence. Hopefully, we shall continue working along these lines, with an emphasis on the benefit of the individual. Indeed, this is what the genre of public speaking is after – bringing out personal traits, personal opinions, personal development. Later we will be discussing at some length the ways and means of perfecting a speech. This refers to the sphere of methods and techniques. And yet, it is our firm belief that “unless you trust in what you preach”, unless you are 100% determined and sincere, your efforts will be lost, your vigour – diminished, and the output of your oratorical event, alas! – low.

Apart from Diplomas of I, II and III Degree, quite a few nominations have been established. A mere glancing at the list of nominations will give us a chance to realise what is usually estimated and praised by the jury:

brilliant/successful usage/display of visual/presentational aids;

using emotional appeals;

displaying/demonstrating qualifications;

knowledge of the topic;

concern;

dynamic delivery skills;

credibility;

humour;

effective persuasive strategies;

clarifying the goals of the speech;

brilliant setting up;

engaging the audience in …(a story, a discovery, a quest, a conflict…)

holding the audience’s attention;

maintaining contact with the audience;

adducing examples/making parallels (analogies, comparisons…);

being creative;

introducing timeless themes;

brilliant introduction;

brilliant conclusion/final statement;

identifying with the audience;

keeping the audience in suspense;

expressing original or important ideas;

expressing artistic talent/gift;

outstanding rhetorical skills;

creating a … (romantic etc.) mood;

dynamic speaking voice;

using proper facial expressions and gestures;

using eye-contact;

using proper body language;

vocal delivery skills (minding rhythm, rate, pauses, volume, speech diapason);

specific/clear/economical language;

creating images; etc.

Indeed, their name is a legion. However, we have a good chance “to identify” with our presenters, “to tune” into the overall mood and spirit of their presentations, to concentrate on the details – and, eventually, either to choose the best nomination or even to create a new one based entirely on the unique character of the performance. Just be unique, and we’ll adjust to it! Not a single effort will be wasted, misinterpreted or misunderstood!

So far, we have been trying hard to maintain this “above average” approach. A tradition has been established to start each contest with the reference to our motto: “Come, give us the taste of your quality!” – and – following the great Shakespeare’s words: “Present the best of yourself!” We do believe that making considerable effort to sustain your public address on a proper level in the final account turns you into a slightly different personality – wiser, more aware of the power of the spoken word and more responsible for whatever might be happening around us…

We all are good theoreticians, but is it possible to turn an art into a skill? At this stage a question is naturally bound to arise: how to become a good speech-writer and speech-presenter? We hope that if you follow our pieces of advice, you will eventually succeed in teaching your students the fundamentals of oratorial skills.

1. Start with the definition of rhetoric! Discuss the already existing definitions and descriptions! That will help you to get rid of at least half of the existing difficulties!

2. Teach your students to structure their speeches properly. A good speech usually consists of three parts: I. Introduction. II. Body. III. Conclusion.

What MIGHT each part possibly consist of? For example, Introduction may contain an attention-getter, or a rhetorical question, or a startling statement, or… The list is open! In fact, it all depends on the type of the speech – it may be informative, it may be persuasive, or eclectic – or – any other! And again the choice is entirely yours!

3. Do not forget about at least two main points to be commented on in Part II and about “smooth bridging” between the parts. Quotations and references (both direct and indirect) are welcome.

4. An unforgettable final statement is obviously no less valuable than an effective beginning.

5. How to teach all the above-mentioned things? In the first place, present good examples borrowed from well-known orators. Make a jig-saw puzzle out of it! Perhaps, a sample of a not very successful speech will be even more appropriate in this case…

6. Encourage them to create their own speeches! Choose a simple (not yet challenging) topic, discuss the content, the structure, the vocabulary – and possible variations. Specify requirements to the language (which should be: a) clear, b) vivid, c) personalised, d) effective).

7. Pass on to speech delivery. Comment on the major prosodic parameters, namely: TEMPO, VOLUME, INTONATION, PAUSATION, and SPEECH RANGE. Teach them proper intonation contours and “How to avoid monotony”. All “phonetic bits and pieces” will be more than useful (consider tongue-twisters – or just what we actually come across in texts, e.g. “contemptuously”, “on an uninhabited island”, or just the word “clothes”).

8. A few words about the descending scale, i.e. the ideal scheme of English intonation, where you start with the high level tone, then you gradually “go down the ladder” until you finally glide down to the bottom of the chosen range; however, your sentence may happen to be long enough to require certain changes “in the middle”. The students might be reminded of the use of low-rising tones within longer sentences (at the end of breath-groups), and also of the necessity to occasionally break up the monotony by using some “unexpected device”, like a mid-falling or a even a high-falling tone, within a longer stretch of the text – primarily with the aim of attracting and sustaining listeners’ attention.

9. Posture, gestures, eye-contact, body movement, facial expressions, and dress code… Nothing should be sacrificed or neglected!

Good luck! We are waiting for you and your students!

ПОЛОЖЕНИЕ О КОНКУРСЕ ОРАТОРСКОГО МАСТЕРСТВА МОСКОВСКОЙ АССОЦИАЦИИ ПРЕПОДАВАТЕЛЕЙ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА (MELTA) 2009–2010 учебный год Цели и задачи конкурса: Конкурс ораторского мастерства Московской ассоциации преподавателей английского языка (MELTA) ставит своей целью повышение общего уровня свободного владения английским языком среди московских школьников и студентов (прежде всего – в области ораторского искусства), развитие навыков письменной и устной речи, умения слушать и понимать устную речь, повышение уровня духовного потенциала и эрудиции, поощрение личностного начала и внутренней свободы в ребенке и Человеке. Участники конкурса: Учащиеся школ 9–11-х классов Студенты I–II курсов ВУЗов Преподаватели школ и ВУЗов Внимание! В Конкурсе 2010 также принимают участие выступающие на немецком, французском и испанском языках! Темы для представления на Конкурсе 2010 года: 1. “Man is what he believes” (Anton Chekhov) 2. “At the door of every happy person there should be a man with a hammer whose knock would serve as a constant reminder of the existence of unfortunate people” (Anton Chekhov) 3. “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it” (George Santayana) 4. To be, or not to be...a blogger? Продолжительность исполнения: 3 минуты. “Power point presentations” и групповое участие не допускаются. Критерии оценки: 1. Соответствие выбранной теме. 2. Структура речи. 3. Сила убеждения; способность воздействовать на аудиторию всем имеющимся в наличии арсеналом риторических средств (power of persuasion). 4. Язык. Стиль. 5. Грамматическая и фонетическая правильность речи. 6. Речевое поведение. 7. Своеобразие исполнения. Награждение победителей Победители и призеры Конкурса награждаются грамотами и ценными подарками. Оргкомитет оставляет за собой право учреждать дополнительные номинации и награды. Форма заявки: 1. ФИО конкурсанта 2. Год рождения и класс/курс 3. № ОУ или название ВУЗа с указанием факультета 4. Тема выступления 5. Контактный телефон и электронный адрес 6. ФИО учителя и его контакты (для школьников) Заявки присылаются на адрес электронной почты председателя оргкомитета Машковой Ларисы Александровны: la.mashkova@gmail.com до 1 марта 2009 года. Контактный телефон: 8 915 3019800. Конкурс состоится в середине марта 2010 года. Место и время проведения будут объявлены дополнительно (для зарегистрировавшихся участников). Внимание! Обязательно иметь с собой текст речи и диск! Планируется публикация лучших выступлений (в газете “Английский язык” ИД “Первое сентября” и на диске). You are cordially welcome! We look forward to seeing you. Contact MELTA Coordination Council: melta@1september.ru