Now we're talking

THE Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia English Language Public Speaking Competition 2016 culminated with the presentation of awards, Sunway College bursaries, cash prizes and certificates of commendation from the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia.
PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION
This year was the 14th year the competition has been running. Participants were from 29 secondary schools around the Klang Valley, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Ipoh and Malacca. Present at the prestigious event were Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia English Language event chairman Margaret Hall, Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia president Mark Disney and representatives of Sunway College, participating schools and education institutions.
A WAY WITH WORDS
Taking home the champion’s trophy was 16-year-old Sri Yamuna Permaloo (pix) of SMK Methodist Girls’ School Ipoh. She wowed the judges with her prepared speech titled “Identity is Never Static”. Sharing her own experience of procrastinating in her studies as an example, Sri Yamuna highlighted the fact that one can change their identity and drove home the message that identity is never static with this quote “All of us are masters of change”.
Sri Yamuna won for her school the challenge trophy. She was also presented a full bursary at Sunway College, RM600 as cash prize, and a certificate of commendation from the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia.
The first runner-up was Chantal Vaune Augustin of SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4), Petaling Jaya, and the third spot went to Umy Marshita Mohamed Azhar of SMK Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.
Consolation prize winners were Chrystal Foo of SMK Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur; Davin Singh Sukhbir Singh of SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur; and Matthew Ernest Paul of SMK Seksyen 1 Bandar Kinrara, Selangor.
RAISING THE BAR
Sunway Education Group and Sunway University senior executive director Dr Elizabeth Lee commended the students for their participation and oratory skills. “Today, some of you have demonstrated the ability to relate to the audience and deliver messages that have managed to strike a chord or two. You have clearly demonstrated the thought process behind words that interpret, analyse and evaluate a message to greatly impact the audience and the judges,” she said. Judges for the event were Dr Abhi Veerakumarasivam, Sharifah Bakar Ali and Steven Fung, members of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia. Speakers for the day included Dr Ian Hall, Emma Davidson and Patrick Helson, also from the society.