Making a Difference: How Our Speaking Schools Cup Champions Inspire Us All
1 December 2022
Last weekend was an exciting one for Speaking Schools Australasia, as we held our very first internal public speaking competition. With 22 finalists being selected from 75 registered competitors across three age divisions, the competition was fierce. The theme of the speeches was ‘making a difference’ and the finalists were asked to deliver their speech on a topic related to this theme.
Our two judges, Adrian and Nida, had a big job selecting only three winners from each age division. The judges had a tough time deciding between all the exceptional speeches, but in the end, we found our three winners from each division— Josiah (Stage 1), Samouel (Stage 2), and Mar (Stage 3). We would like to thank everyone who came along to support these amazing young speakers. Congratulations to all finalists—you made us so proud with your passionate speeches on making a difference!
What Is The Speaking Schools Cup?
The Speaking Schools Cup is a public speaking competition that encourages students to practice their speaking skills and express their ideas in front of an audience. This year’s theme was “Making A Difference”, which gave contenders the opportunity to explore how they can use their voices to bring positive change in their schools or communities.
The competition was divided into three divisions: Stage #1 (Years 1 & 2), Stage #2 (Years 3 & 4) and Stage #3 (Years 5 & 6). All participants were judged on criteria such as manner (body language, eye contact, vocal variety and overall delivery), matter (the content of their speech) and method (speech structure). Stage #3 students were also judged in an Impromptu Category, in which they were given 5 minutes to prepare a speech on the topic ‘The Power of a Smile’. And while there can only be three winners per division, everyone who competed shone brightly with their remarkable speeches. Make sure to keep reading to see the full lists of finalists and winners from this year’s competition!
Making A Difference Through Public Speaking
Public speaking is an invaluable skill that can help you make a lasting impact in your community. Not only does it give you confidence and self-assurance, but it also teaches you how to effectively communicate your own unique point of view. By learning how to articulate your message in an effective way and reach out to others through your words, you can truly make a difference and inspire change in your community.
Public speaking is a critical skill that helps children build confidence as they grow up. It teaches them to take risks, think critically about complex topics and share their thoughts in front of an audience—all important skills that will serve them well for years to come. Even if your child isn’t competing in talking competitions like this one, you can still help them hone their public speaking abilities by encouraging them to talk about something they’re passionate about or ask questions during class discussions at school.
At Speaking Schools Australasia, we believe that every child should have access to public speaking education as part of their schooling curriculum. We strive to provide children with the tools they need for success by teaching them how to speak confidently in front of an audience, how to organize their thoughts into logical arguments or stories, and how to use language effectively when delivering their speech. Our aim is for every student enrolled at our schools to become not just proficient speakers, but confident communicators too!
The Speaking Schools Cup
The Speaking Schools Cup was created with these values in mind. We wanted this competition not only to be fun and rewarding for participants but also to be a chance for students who are passionate about public speaking to hone their skills even further. Through this competition we wanted students to learn about different topics related to ‘making a difference’ whilst also having fun discussing them with others who share similar interests. There were some fantastic entries from each division which made judging especially difficult! Congratulations again to our winners Josiah, Samouel and Mar—we hope you continue pursuing public speaking opportunities in future!
Finalists and Winners of the SSA Cup 2022 (Full List):
Stage #1 (Year 1 & 2)
Congratulations to the 8 Finalists Selected for the Stage #1 Division of the SSA Cup 2022!
Josiah – First Place
Chloe – Second Place
Avyan – Third Place
Hugo – Special Award
Gemma – Finalist
Jeevan – Finalist
Tara – Finalist
Joanna – Finalist
Stage #2 (Year 3 & 4)
Congratulations to the 8 Finalists Selected for the Stage #2 Division of the SSA Cup 2022!
Samouel – First Place
Sarvesh – Second Place
Lydia – Third Place
Jessica – Special Award
Leon – Special Award
Timothy – Finalist
Anna – Finalist
Catherine – Finalist
Stage #3 (Year 5 & 6)
Congratulations to the 6 Finalists Selected for the Stage #3 Division of the SSA Cup 2022!
Mar – First Place
Chrissa – Second Place
Ian – Third Place
Aditya – Special Award
Hazel – Finalist
Namie – Finalist
Making A Difference Through Public Speaking is an incredibly powerful way of creating real change within communities. It requires hard work and dedication but provides huge rewards both personally and professionally. At Speaking Schools Australasia we believe that every child should have access to public speaking education as part of their schooling curriculum so that they can develop into confident communicators who can make meaningful contributions within their community. Congratulations again to our winners Josiah, Samouel and Mar—we hope all our finalists take away something valuable from this experience! Thank you again for supporting us during this event – here’s looking forward to many more successful competitions yet to come!