Hong Kong Speech Festival

It's that time of year again! All over Hong Kong, thousands of students are trying to make sense of poetry, prose and bible readings in preparation for the HKSMSA Speech Festival. At Brandon, we have worked with hundreds of students who have been preparing for the competition. Our message is this: prepare, relax and do your best! Only one person may win but everyone who takes part should be proud of their achievements.

So, short of coming to Brandon Learning Centre, how can you prepare? Over the next few weeks, I will be giving advice to help you get ready to impress.

Part one: preparation

1: Read the poem through. Read it to yourself first and then read it outloud.

2: Think about the meaning. What is the poet trying to say? If you aren't sure what certain words mean, look them up.

3: Do you like the poem? If it doesn't grab you straight away, try to find something in the language, rhythm or the theme that speaks to you. A poem you are in sympathy with is a poem you will perform well.

4: Learn your poem.. familiarise yourself with every line.

Next time we will look at ways of warming up your voice.

Remember: there is no such thing as a natural public speaker. Everyone needs to learn and the Speech Festival is a terrific place to get practice!

Have fun, be confident... Jessica

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