SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS’
ENGLISH SPEECH CONTEST
英文科
粘淑珍
Nowadays many universities or technical colleges ask their graduates to pass
General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) as the necessary terms of their
graduation. In addition, our school will also claim all complimentary high
school students to pass the basic test of GEPT. Among these tests, all examinees
needs to be checked the abilities of listening, reading, writing and speaking. I
think the speaking ability is the item that requires more learning space. And
luckily in recent years, I have the chance to be one of the judges of our school
English speech contests. The contests include one assigned topic and one
instant speech. All students have some time to prepare their instant speeches.
From the students’ presentation, I would like to propose some suggestions for our
students.
Let me address some mistakes that the students often make. First, most
competitors are girls. Without any assistance of microphone, girls’ volume is
not so loud as that of boys’. It will give the judges the impression that they are
lack of confidence. In addition, intonation without any change makes the
speeches less attractive. It is all right for most students’ pronunciation except
for some individual sounds and words such as noodles, boxes,…etc. However,
some students pause speaking because of some words or sentences and forget
how to continue their speeches. Perhaps they are nervous, but it’ s something to
do with the students’ poor imagination, observation, and creation.
Secondly, most students’ speeches are full of grammatical mistakes. The
following are some mistakes that the students often make:
1.
The dancer show[shows] us how to dance well.
2.
There is[are] one book, two pen[pens] in the book bag.
3.
I think [a] book [is] like a pretty girl……
I think mostof the students are too sensitive to their grammatical mistakes.
Though the students try their best to correct their mistakes continually, their
speeches become less fluent. Such behaviors make the judges pay more
attention from their contents to their grammatical mistakes. In fact, if the
frequency of grammatical mistakes is not too high, it has little to do with a good
speech. But the pause will overreach itself.
Thirdly, a speech with abundant contents is better than monotony.
Well-designed plots can lead people into a wonderland and win the contest.
Furthermore, a speaker must win the audience’s trust to convey his concepts. It
is important for the speaker to make good use of body language such as facial or
emotional expression and gestures. In addition, wearing adequate clothes and
deportment is important. Do remember all speakers are students. Neat and
tidy clothes and shoes can win extra bonus points. Good manners are also
important. Most students have noticed this part at the beginning of their
presentation, but they are likely to forget to keep sincere and natural smiles in
the end.
After illustrating some mistakes of the students’ English speech contest, I would
like to propose some suggestions as the following:
I.
Though girls’ volume is not loud enough as boys’, they can speak more clearly
and attractively.
II.
III.
How to attract the listeners’ attention and curiosity can
make their presentation more charming.
Pauses will result in fatal mistakes. Without any consideration of formal
mistakes, the speaker’s fluent presentation is much more important. That is
to say, fluency is one of the key points of a successful speech.
Rhetorical techniques are necessary.
All students need the chance to
speak English and widen their global knowledge.
Teachers are not the
only sources of information. Through the internet, the students can get
IV.
V.
as much information as they can. If the students justy copy what their
teachers say without their own ideas, what they learn is nothing but
passive knowledge.
Creating interesting and solid plots can help the students present
powerful speeches. Widen and deepen the students’ knowledge through
extracurricular assignments. Then it’s possible for the students to create
new and original opinions by means of strong imagination.
Self-confidence is also important in a speech contest. It comes from the
students’ adequate preparation. Although an instant speech is up to the
students’ swift responses, there is still one assigned topic that they can
arrange in advance. If the students have full prepared, they will be not
so neverous and be as cool as a cucumber. That is to say, they will
perform more perfect than those who without enough preparation.