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Public Speaking Competition - Rules and Guidelines
Public Speaking Competition - Rules and Guidelines
1.1 The standard of English among students in Malaysia in a cause for concern.
This is reflected by the low academic achievement of students in the public
examinations. The percentage of passes for the English Language subject in
the said examination has always been around 60%. As compared with the
other subjects, the percentage of English Language passes has always been
the lowest. There has been a hue and cry among members of the public over
this issue.
1.2 The Ministry of Education has been sensitive about the manner. Various steps
have been taken to arrest the situation and these include activities carried out
in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Various Divisions of the
Ministry of Education and the State Education Departments implement their
own projects and programmers to help raise the standard of English among
students. School too conduct their own activities for the same purpose.
1.3 In this context the Schools Divisions of the Ministry of Education also carries out
a number of support programs to help the students achieve better results in
the English Language subject. Some of the activities carried out by the said
Divisions are debates, choral speaking, story telling, English-in-camp and essay
writing competition. However, it is felt that more activities are needed for
students to get better and more exposure to the language.
1.4 Starting the year of 2000, School Divisions, Ministry of Education has decided to
introduce public speaking competitions for students in the primary as well as
the secondary schools. Speaking is one of the four main language skills for
students to be proficient in. As we advance into the new millennium students
are expected to be able to master at least two languages, namely Bahasa
Melayu and English Language, This would make it easier for them to function,
as they are able to play a more relevant and functional role in their daily life.
In the new millennium too the world becomes smaller and more global in
nature. Technology too gets more advanced. Computers jwill be the order of
the day. This proficiency in the English language becomes a necessity, as one
need ot interact withone another and keep abreast with the latest
developments in technology. One who does not master the English language
in the new millennium will be at the losing end.
2. Aim
3.2 For the seconday school category, students form Forms 1 – 5 of all
Government aided seconday school in Malaysia including the Mara Junior
Science Colleges can take part.
3.3 For the primary school category, only students from years 4 – 6 of all
Government aided primary schools in Malaysia can take part.
3.4 It is a condition of entry that contestants who reach the national final present
acopy of their speech to the Principal Assistant Director, Schools Division,
Ministry of Education two weeks before the date of the competition.
4. Competition
School
District
State
National
International
4.3 The winner of the competition at the district level will represent the district at
the state level competition.
4.4 The winner of the competition at the state level will represent the state at the
national level competition.
4.5 The winner of the competition at the national level (secondary school
category) will represent Malaysia at the Roy Morgan Plain English Speaking
Awards which is held in Melbourne, Australia at the beginning of the second
week of September every year. Participants of this award include
representatives from countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan,
Japan, Tonga, Hong Kong, India, Sri Langka, the Solomon Islands, the United
Kingdom, South Africa dan Australia.
5. Incentives and Prizes
5.1 The reward is in the participation! Additional incentives are provided at each
level of the competition as follows:
Placing Prizes
2nd RM150.00
Replica
Challenge
Trophy
Certificate
3rd RM80.00
Replice
Challenge
Trophy
Certificate
2nd RM300.00
Replica
Challenge
Trophy
Certificate
3rd RM200.00
Replice
Challenge
Trophy
Certificate
**Additional Information
6.1 The dates and schedule of the various levels of the competition are as follows:
7. Competition Format
7.2 For Section 1 (Prepared Speech) contestants are to observe the Following
rules:
7.3 For Section 2 (Impromptu Speech) contestants are to observe the following
rules:
Coontestants are given a topic four minutes before they are due to
present the speech;
All contestants speak on the same topic;
While one contestant is presenting his/her speech, the other speakers
must be quarantined
The time allowed for the impromptu speech is three minutes; (timing
must be followed strictly)
A warning bell sounds at two minutes and a final bell at three minutes.
8. Adjudication
8.2.1 The judging criteria for both the Prepared Speech and The Impromptu
Speech are on two aspects as follows:
a. Subject Matter
8.2.2 Additional judging criteria for the impromptu Speech also include the
following:
1. Urus Setia and rank the position of contestants will total all marks up.
2. Urus Setia will then give the list to the chief judge.
3. Judges will be given 15 minutes to discuss and decide the 5 best to
enter the finals.
4. This procedure applies to the final round, too
9.3 As judging is bound by strick criteria, students and teachers preparing for
participation should pay careful attention to the following aspects of speech
making:
Is on topic of importance
Has decisive openings and conclusions
Avoids clichés, buzz words and colloquial expressions
Uses words which are carefully chosen
Uses accepted pronunciation (e.g. Oxford or Macquarie Dictionary)
Pays attention to use of correct grammar
Contains a limited use of quotations, if any
Is original
Does not plagiaries the work of others