International Public Speaking Competition
The purpose of this annual competition is not only to showcase the very highest standard of public speaking by young people from around the world, but also to give the students an opportunity to understand each other’s different backgrounds and cultures.
International Public Speaking Competition 2010: Speculation on Our Future
For more information please refer to the downloads at the bottom of this page where you will be able to access the competition Handbook.
International Public Speaking Competition 2009: Regeneration and Renewal
The final of the 28th annual International Public Speaking Competition was won by Sebastien Ng Kuet Leong from Mauritius with the interestingly entitled speech Colouring Grey Matter, Brain Boosting. Sebastien’s presentation, given at the HSBC Headquarters in Canary Wharf, brought to light the issues associated with Alzheimer’s and how we can be constantly regenerating and renewing our own minds. His success in claiming the International Public Speaking title endorses the truly global reach that the contest has attained since it was launched back in 1981. Recent winners have come from China, Russia, Yemen and the Philippines.
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IPSC 2009 finalists with the judges
Later this year, Sebastien will return to London to receive a certificate from HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. The runner-up was Roos van Ees from the Netherlands, the prize for Best Non-native English-Speaker was presented to Siti Khadija Jaafar from Malaysia and the Audience’s Choice Award went to Tevivi Daniel Tama from New Zealand who struck a chord with his humorous speech on Identity: Search for Self in a Global Village. Regeneration and Renewal was the theme for this year’s speeches and the diversity and quality of responses to this brief impressed the judges of both the Grand Final and the heats, which took place in the morning at Dartmouth House.
Seventy two participants from forty three different countries took part, each of whom had already achieved success in their own national competitions. The Final was judged by Sir Peter Heap, Richard Barrington Brooke and Dame Mary Richardson, Deputy Chairman of the English-Speaking Union and founder of HSBC Global Education Trust. The winners were announced by Edward Gould, Deputy Chairman of the ESU.
Sebastien receives his prize.
The programme opened with a morning at Dartmouth House, the International Headquarters of the ESU. Valerie Mitchell, the Director-General of the ESU, welcomed the students and gave them a few words of encouragement and support before they embarked on the four-day programme which lay ahead of them.
In addition to competing in the public speaking competition itself, the delegates took part in debating workshops and role plays, led by Andrew Fitch, ESU Debates & Education Officer. The students had to take on the roles of various lobby groups attempting to influence the imaginary government of Scrovovia’s decision to build a new airport. Fulfilling roles as diverse as government MPs, captains of industry and environmentalists the delegates threw themselves into the exercise and their roles with amazing vigour in an attempt to cajole and charm their fellow lobbyists into siding with them. The role play ended with a debate as the newly formed coalitions attempted to convince the audience (playing the role of the people of Scrovovia) to either build, or not build the proposed airport. The skills learnt in the session of quick thinking, negotiation and compromise will be of real value to the delegates as they take up their roles as world leaders in the future.
As part of the four day programme, the participants have also enjoyed several visits to some of the top attractions in London. Their first stop was the House of Commons, where they witnessed the resignation of the House of Commons Speaker, Rt. Hon. Michael Martin MP and a heated discussion on Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The group then went from seeing our British MPs perform in the House of Commons to the Fortune Theatre for a performance of The Woman in Black. Director, Robin Herford, ESU Alumnus, kindly gave a pre-performance talk setting the scene for the participants. The students were given a unique tour of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square before preparing their speeches for the Grand Final.
Some of the students proceeded after the final to spend the weekend with several ESU Branches outside London. Homestays were kindly provided by ESU Branch Chairmen and members who have so generously agreed to open their house for the weekend giving some of the group a great opportunity to sample English life. This is a highly valued part of the programme, and we would like to thank the host families and branches for their generous hospitality. We would also like to thank branches who gave financial support to the participants, those who judged during the heats.
Special thanks are due to HSBC Global Education Trust, which supported the International Public Speaking Competition and without whom, it would not take place. The ESU would also like to thank HSBC and their staff for hosting the Grand Final which was an absolute success and especially to Paul Sinclair who has been an immense support throughout.
ESU International Public Speaking Competition 2008 "New Horizons, New Frontiers" at its 27th Anniversary
IPSC 2008 Winner Gian Karlo Dapul with Lord Hunt
The final of the 27th annual International Public Speaking Competition took place on 9 May at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, and was the culmination of a week long programme of events. The winner’s trophy was lifted by Gian Karlo Dapul from The Philippines, whose speech Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus highlighted some of the environmental problems facing The Philippines. He will return to London later in the year to receive a certificate from HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
The runner up was Kanyanat Piticharoen from Thailand, the prize for Best Non-native English-Speaker was presented to Dobri Dobrev of Bulgaria and the Audience’s Choice Award went to Martin Racimo of Argentina. The theme for speeches in this year’s competition was New Horizons; New Frontiers, and the diversity and quality of responses to this brief impressed the judges of both the Grand Final and the Heats, which took place in the morning at Dartmouth House.
Since it began in 1981 with just three participants the International Public Speaking Competition has gone from strength to strength. This year we welcomed 58 students from 33 different countries, each of whom had already achieved success in their own national competitions.
Participants were welcomed to the Embassy by the Mr Richard LeBaron, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States of America, who congratulated the finalists on their achievement and wished them luck. Valerie Mitchell, ESU Director-General, opened the proceedings and, at the conclusion of the event, Mr Edward Gould, Deputy-Chairman of the ESU presented each competitor with a certificate and a copy of the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, kindly donated by Macmillan.
Judging the Grand Final were Mr Peter Kyle, Chief Executive, Globe Education Trust, who chaired the Panel, Dame Mary Richardson, President of SOS Children’s Villages UK and Mr Tony Byrne, Director of The Royal Academy Trust.
The ESU would like to thank the Ambassador and his staff for allowing us to use the Embassy as the venue for this year's final.
During their week in London, participants enjoyed the chance to learn more about our supporters during a tour of HSBC’s global headquarters in Canary Wharf. They also took part in a mock parliamentary debate, visited the House of Commons, and attended a performance of The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre, which was preceded by a talk from the show’s director, Robin Herford, a former ESU scholar.
Two thirds of the participants went on to spend the weekend following the final with ESU members in different parts of England. This is a highly valued part of the programme, and we would like to thank the host families and Branches for their generous hospitality. We would also like to thank Branches who gave financial support to the participants, those who judged during the heats, and ESU Colchester Branch member David Watson who kindly filmed the Grand Final.
IPSC 2008 Finalists
ESU International Public Speaking Competition 2007 “Dynamic Earth”; at its 26th Anniversary
Ali Hussein Saleh Mohammed collects his certificate from HRH Prince Philip
Ali Hussein Saleh Mohammed from Yemen was the winner of the 26th International Public Speaking Competition on Thursday 17 May 2007 with his speech entitled Planning for a World with Light Water.
Ali returned to London later in the year to receive a certificate from HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Ali Hussein Saleh Mohammed Winner ESU IPSC 2007
This year’s Competition was once again sponsored by HSBC Holdingsplc and the ESU is grateful for their continued support without whichthe Competition could not take place.
Ali with Sheik Tariq Abdullah, Chairman, ESU Yemen Steering Committee
The runner-up was Vikram Joshi from Australia, and the BestNon-native English-Speaker prize was awarded to Xing Chen from China.
The participants took their speech titles from the theme “Dynamic Earth”;,and from the comments by the judges at both the Heats and the GrandFinal the standard was higher than ever. Valerie Mitchell presentedeach participant with a Certificate and a copy of the Macmillan EnglishDictionary for Advanced Learners, kindly donated by Macmillan.
The proceedings were opened by Valerie Mitchell who introduced theHon. Robert H. Tuttle, The Ambassador of the United States of Americawho welcomed the participants and the ESU. The Judges for the Grand Final were Sir Brian Fall, former Ambassador to Russia, who chaired thePanel, Professor Stanley Wells, England’s foremost Shakespearianauthor, Lady Boyd, Author and Chairman of the Winston ChurchillMemorial Trust and Mr Robert Rowland, former Editor of Panorama. MrEdward Gould, ESU Deputy Chairman gave the closing remarks.
The Grand Final took place at the U.S. Embassy, Grosvenor Square.The ESU would like to thank the Embassy for donating the venue free ofcharge.
The Competition began in 1981 with just three participants, and has grown over 26 years to participants attending from over 30 countries. This year 60 participants took part from 34 countries, marking the considerable expansion and success of the English-Speaking Union worldwide. The Competition is not only a showcase for some of the most exceptional public speakers from around the Globe but is also an opportunity for young people to meet and gain an understanding of each other’s background and beliefs.
During their week in London participants see The Woman in Black, visit the House of Commons to see a debate and during the workshops at Dartmouth House they form their own political parties and take part in a mock parliamentary debate relating to the Constitution of a fictional country. Some of the participants spend the weekend following the competition with ESU members at their homes outside London. We would like to thank these families, and also the host Branches, for organising wonderful programmes for this weekend which is a highly valued part of the overall Competition. We would also like to thank the Branches who give financial support to the participants and those who judge during the heats.
For more information please contact your national ESU, or Annette Fisher, Head of International Programmes.
Annette Fisher
Head of International Programmes
Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7529 1550