New pictures from the Public Speaking Competition

Here we have some new pictures from the Public Speaking Competition of Estonia, 2009.
Thanks to our great photographer Okeiko.
Hope you enjoy them!

The ESU of Estonia Public Speaking Competition 2009

The first ESU Schools public speaking competition was held on 12th March. 13 competitors took part from 6 schools. Toomas Vitsut, Chairman of the ESU of Estonia welcomed all-competitors, judges, teachers, members of the ESU and others.

Riina Altpere took the chair and explained the background to the competition. She then introduced the Judges-HE Peter Carter, British Ambassador acting as Chairman of the Jury, Michael Wynne-Parker Member of the ESU of Estonia Committee, Former Governor of the ESU of the Commonwealth, Suliko Liiv Professor, Tallinn University, Institute of Germanic- Romance Languages and Cultures, Director, Tuuli Oder Tallinn University, Language SchoolDirector, Gustaf Hertsius Member of the ESU of Estonia Committee

Riina Altpere introduced the Convenor Zinaida Jevgrafova Member of the ESU of Estonia Committee and Timekeeper finally calling all contestants to come forward to select a number 1-13 in a ballot to decide the order of speaking.

13 competitors took part from 6 schools: Karl-Jakob Jürna, Tõnis Veispak and Paap Urbanus from Tallinn English College, Mari Pever and Trinu Lepp from Tallinn French School, Kristen Gilden and Ott Ilves from Gustav Adolf Grammar School, Ingrid Teesalu and Klarika Feldberg from Tallinn Kuristiku Gymnasium, Peeter-Paul Hallaste and Ken Kõrve from Viimsi Secondary School, Ekke Piirisild and Hendrik Kaju from Tallinn Secondary Science School.

Following the 5 minute speeches 2 minutes was allowed for a variety of interesting questions. Although many of the competitors chose the topic of the threatened environment, many were very creative and argued for topics ranging from "man should move to mars", "The human race has to stop breeding to come in balance with the available resources" to "We have to save the smaller and endangered languages".

The jury was looking for an outstanding candidate to represent Estonia in a completion against youth from over 60 countries ( is this the correct number). The main points in the assessment of each candidate was:
· Subject, reasoning and evidence
· Expression and delivery
· Establishing credibility
· Responding to questions

After the final speech the jury retired. Following their return and after a great deal of suspense Mr Carter announced the overall winner was Ingrid Teesalu from Kuristiku Gümnaasium closely followed by Triinu Lepp ja Mari Pever from Tallinn French School .
Mr Peter Carter the chairman of the jury motivated their choice by saying that Ingrid Teesalu was not only able to communicate her message clearly but held the audience in the grasp of her hand from the beginning until the end of her speech.

This luck winner will now go to London in May to participate in the International Finals a daunting task. She will need a great deal of luck but with all our support and encouragement she will represent Estonia with distinction!

photos by Okeiko

The Frist ESU of Estonia Schools Speaking Competition

In preparation for the first English Speaking Union of Estonia Schools Speaking Competition a meeting of English teachers from participating schools was held on 22nd January in Tallinn.

The meeting was addressed by Michael Wynne-Parker, a former Governor of the ESU of the Commonwealth who has had a long experience of the Schools Speaking Competition both in the UK where he has been Chairman of a local branch, Regional Chairman and Deputy National Chairman and Sri Lanka where he co-founded the ESU and held office as Chairman during which period over 5000 young Sri Lankans aquired a communicative skill in English and finally participated in and won the International Final of the Schools Competition in London against 43 other National teams.

Mr Wynne-Parker spends part of each year in Estonia which he uses as his writing base.
He is the author of four books and at present working on his fifth-a biography.
At the teachers meeting Mr Wynne-Parker outlined both something of the 80 year old history of the ESU and also the background to the Competition.
He described the Theme, aims and rules of this years Competion and provided constructive ideas relating to speech content and delivery.
Following his presentation many questions were asked and arrangements for the Tallinn heat to be held on March 12th were discussed.


Contact person: Zinaida Jevgrafova
E mail: zinaiday@hot.ee