My GEO Speech Contest Experience Part 4

Seung Eun Lee, an avid learner of the English language

My name is Seung Eun Lee and I major in culture contents. People might think my major is not that related to English, but I think learning English is important. I was a GEO Level 3 student last summer vacation. In our life, we need to gain confidence in using the English language and that’s why I joined the English speech contest. I participated in that contest with no hesitation because I thought it would be really helpful to me. I spent almost 2 weeks preparing for the speech. Whenever I am confronted with difficult problems such as choosing proper words, writing a script, and making visual effects, I used to try to solve them with my speech partner. This is the third year of school for me, and I am pretty busy nowadays. But if I am a freshman or sophomore, I will definitely join the speech contest again. I can say that it was a really special experience for me. I learned a lot throughout the whole process and I definitely cherish the memories that I had during the speech contest. Let me tell you a funny episode I went through. To attract audience’s attention, I and my partner made face masks. But the thing was my partner’s face is too big to fit the size of the mask. So we struggle making masks. I hope GEO students will also have these kinds of good experience by joining in English speech contest. I highly encourage everyone to join the English speech contest. It’s a great opportunity to practice your English skills and at the same time learn from others as well. You will definitely become a better person, a more confident individual by joining this activity.

Seung Eun during the English Speech Contest. She is standing second from the right

from GEO Class 4-1 (Prof. Nigel James Power and TA Sarah Kwon)

My GEO Speech Contest Experience Part 3

Ji Min Choi with her partner TA Sarah (Class TA of GEO Level 4-1)

I’m Ji Min Choi and I completed the GEO program. I graduated from GEO level 5. Since I’m interested in learning English, I participated in GEO courses and English contest organized by International Language Education Center (ILEC). It was last GEO spring semester this year when I was taking the level 5 class that I asked my friend to join me in the contest. I expect to learn many things from the speech contest experience. There was a certain topic and I also had to make a power point materials. My partner and I really tried our best to make a good script, an informative and entertaining power point materials. We even practiced many times so that we can deliver a great speech to audience. One thing I remember is that I was really nervous so it was really hard for me to keep focusing on my part of speech. But I can say confidently that I truly cherish the experience. Indeed, I learned a lot. It was a wonderful opportunity. How can I forget my speech contest experience!

from GEO Class 4-1 (Prof. Nigel James Power and TA Sarah Kwon)

My GEO Speech Contest Experience Part 2

Chul Woo hopes to win the GEO English Speech Contest

Let me introduce myself shortly. I’m Chul Woo and I’m majoring in life science. Now I’m taking GEO level 4 class and my homeroom teaching assistant (TA) is Sarah. When I was a middle school student, I had experience participating in speech contest with my friends. That is why I decided to join the English speech contest this semester. I also want to become a GEO TA someday so I thought if I join this speech contest, it would be helpful for me when I become a TA. Moreover, there are some prizes for participants. That’s why I joined the speech contest. It took me about two hours to make a script for my speech. While I was preparing for my speech, I had difficulty figuring out the flow of the speech. I also tried to find proper English words and make correct sentences and I ensured that everything is accurate grammatically.

I thought I could ask help from TAs, but I just searched my dictionary because I know that TAs are busy too. If prizes gets better in the future, I would like to join the English speech contest again. Now I’ve just got through preliminary round. So I’m still practicing for the final round. I wish I could get good results.

from GEO Class 4-1 (Prof. Nigel James Power and TA Sarah Kwon)

My GEO Speech Contest Experience

The author, Seong Hyun Park, during the Speech contest presentation

My name is Seong Hyun Park and my major is social science. This is my first year in the university. I’m glad that I joined the Global English Outreach (GEO) program and the GEO English speech contest during the summer vacation. I participated in GEO 12. We were required to join the speech contest. Good thing that I was also interested in delivering speech. So I together with my friends made a team and registered in the speech contest as a group. I and my other teammates prepared for our speech everyday so as not to get nervous in front of many audiences. Although, it took us almost a week to practice our speech, nonetheless we enjoyed the whole process. Finally, we finished our speech successfully and we won the first prize. I was so happy at that moment. I am so pleased that I participated in the activity. It was so memorable for me. I think it was really great experience that is why I like to participate in GEO program and English speech contest again. If I join once more, I think I will improve a lot and I can do better than before. Of course, there was a funny episode during the time we prepared for the contest. We bought a soju to use it as part of our speech props, but we found that we can’t use props that are against educational purposes and moral conduct. So we bought a lemon juice instead of soju. (Laugh) I can still remember that clearly! I was extremely satisfied with that experience.

Seong Hyun and teammates during their speech delivery

from GEO Class 4-1 (Prof. Nigel James Power and TA Sarah Kwon)

Remarkable English Skill Revealed in OBF Speech Contest

Last November 17, 2010, O.B.F. hosted an English Speech Contest in the Global Lounge. Applicants applied during October 19 and had their first orientation day last November 4. A preliminary assessment was also done last November 10 to 11 to gauge the English speaking ability of the contestants. For the preliminary speech contest, the topic for intermediate level was "What is the most important thing in a relationship?", whereas for the advanced level the topic was "What do you think the roles of husband and wife should be in a contemporary family?" Participants were screened and those that emerged victorious were able to join the final part of the contest. The final topic for intermediate and advanced level were as follows: "If you are the president of this country, what kind of foreign policies would you have?" and "How can we foster a better relationship with North Korea?"

There were a total of 80 applicants during the first round of screening. Participants rendered their speeches and underwent preliminary evaluation. After the preliminary evaluation, a total of 16 finalists and 11 finalists were chosen for the intermediate and advanced level respectively . Those who were able to make it to the intermediate speech contest were as follows: Kwon Soontaek, Kwon Taeho, Noh Garam, Do Jiseon, Park Junho, Park Jiyoung, Bang Haesun, Seo Beomsang, Seo Jeonghee, Shou Qing, Shin Eunsu, You Jin, Jung Narae, Jo Jaeyeong, Joo Kyeongmin and Wang Wen. For the advanced level, the finalists were the following: Kim Min Kyo, Kim Jun Yeob, Ma Min Jae, Park Chun Yong, Bae Hyung Ryeol, Sung Ji Eun, Song Kyoung Hyun, Yun Dawn, Lee Yo Han, Lee Eun Ji and Jo Yu Jin. All of them presented on the O.B.F. Speech Contest Finals Edition last November 17, 2010.

The judges for the event were Dr. Victoria Jo (International Language Education Center/ ILEC Director), Professor Nicolaas Le Roux (ILEC Vice-Director) and Professor Peter Kim (GEO Professor). The event was spearheaded by Jin Yong, an OBF Master.

O.B.F. Speech Contest posters around the campus

O.B.F. Masters in charge of registration

O.B.F. Masters in charge of orderliness during the contest proper

Speech contestant intensely delivering his speech

Song Kyoung Hyun, Speaking about fostering a better relationship with our North Korean brothers

towards the unification of Korea

Dr. Abagat with her daughter, Renz attending the Speech Contest

Attendees of the speech contest

During the Speech Contest Break time. Audience enjoy some snacks courtesy of O.B.F.

TA Stephanie with GEO Student

O.B.F. masters during the break time session

Dr. Abagat chatting with GEO student

TA Kat with some of her students in GEO Class

O.B.F. Masters anticipating the results of the speech contest

Dr. Victoria Jo, thanking the audience and the organizers and praising the contestants for their outstanding performance

Woman of the hour, Jin Yong, the organizer of the O.B.F. Speech Contest

Advanced level contestants and winners with Dr. Victoria Jo, Professor Nicolaas Le Roux and Professor Peter Kim

Advanced level first prize winner Lee Eun Ji - Her English skills and singing prowess mesmerized the audience and judges alike

From the editors desk.