Andrew Aigner-MuehlerChapter 14..My day at judging the English competition
March 23rd 2009 06:14
This past weekend gone seen students from Chengde city and county schools fight it out for places to go up and against other students from other cities and/ or counties.
The CCTV Star of Outlook English Talent is a very recognized and well supported competition for school students of all ages learning the language of English.
I was lucky, this weekend to be asked to be one of three judges to select the students who would go on to represent the school and Chengde in the national championships.
The Chengde selection this past weekend was the second round, which was held over Saturday 21st of March and Sunday 22nd of March, obviously in Chengde.
The other two judges for round two was a teacher from the tourism college, as well as the medical college. I was the only foreign teacher to judge round two.
I was asked earlier on the week to see if I could judge, and since it was part of my contract, if there is a school activity, I should really take part and as well as it is for a good cause, as these students who entered the competition, really want to win, and do their best to win, as it means a lot to them. I thought why not.
The students who registered to take part in the English competition were senior school students from middle schools, and students from primary schools. The students came from city, but most of them came from the counties which surround the city of Chengde.
The senior school students had a three minute time limit, where most of the students talked about a topic ie the environment or sport for around two minute, and for the final minute they had to perform a talent show where they sung a song.
The primary school students from grade one to six had a bit more of a time limit, roughly they had 3 minutes for a speech, which was either about their teacher or family, and then for the other two minutes roughly they had to describe a picture which was either the months of the year, the season or a English party. The grade one students who were around the age of 9 years of age, briefly introduced them selves, saying what school they were from and then had to say what was on the cards that I was holding up, as well as answering a question from myself. These students, who were in their first year of English, spoke really good English. Yeah, the grammar could have been better, but their pronunciation was very good. The words they came out with, even surprised me, even my middle school students struggle with the words.
The thing that I noticed from the English competition is that the students from the primary school handled themselves better on stage than the students front he senior schools. The way they were standing on stage, nice and still and straight. They did not fidget or were strangling the microphone like the senior school students. I also think the primary school students were less nervous on stage. I am not sure if that is because it was fun to them, they had nothing to strive for in such, and did not take it as serious as the senior school students. But, on the other hand the primary school students were much bitterly dressed than the senior school students, especially the younger students in Primary school.
On Sunday, the young kids around 9 years of age who were in their first year of English, obviously have not had the opportunity to have a foreign conversational teacher to teach them in their classrooms, as in the break, these students surrounded me at the judges desk to ask me questions, and have the chance to speak to me and for me to speak to them which then followed me to stand up and go to the stage for a very huge number of photographs with these children. I am a person who does not like the attention, I hate being fussed over, but seeing the smile on these students when I had my photo taken with them actually made me feel really good.
Anyway, the students on stage were judged on their pronunciation, grammar, ability, time, content etc and scored out of ten.
After each group which was around 20/25 or 30 one or two of the judges had to give comments on their performance, give them a bit of advice which would help them to get past round three. It was the same advice given each time.
There would have been around 300 students judged over the two days, which only 60 percent of them making it to round three.
My tips for any student entering one of these competitions is too:
 Prepare a written speech, make a rough copy, check it, make another rough copy, check it again, leave it over night, make another rough copy, check it again, and then this should be your final copy or speech to take to stage or presentation.
 Prepare for the speech firstly by talking into a mirror, so it looks like you are talking to someone.
 A lot of students, when they enter a competition like this, have never got up on stage to present in front of people. The best way for the students to overcome this is too get up in front of the class and do regular talks. Ask their teacher if they could prepare them for the moment by giving 5 minutes a week or lesson to their preparation
 On the morning of their presentation, do something that will relax them.
 Before going on stage, take a nice deep breath.
 Once on stage stay nice and still and look straight ahead (or to the sides), do not look down (to the ground or the stage) this will make you nervous. Just like if you were walking a tight rope, high above the street and when you look down you see the fall.
 Also, stand up straight with your chin up, this will free up your vocal cord which will make your speech more clearly, if you talk with your chin down, your speech will not be clear.
 Do not fidget with the microphone or with anything. This will distract you and take away from your presentation. I noticed that the students who stood there with their hand straight down either side of their body performed much better.
 If you do not want to stand there with your hands straight down then use your hands to talk. Describe things with your hands.
 One important thing when on stage, DO NOT say you are nervous, or you will be nervous. The judges already know you would be, saying that only damages you, and also drops your confidence, which will give you a bad presentation.
 If you do forget something, say sorry, then take a deep breath to relax and then continue. You are more than likely to remember what you were going to say.
 And finally have fun. You are there. You are making a attempt. You are doing something that many are too afraid to do or do not want to do. This will make you a better person and will help your confidence for the next time.
The CCTV Star of Outlook English Talent is a very recognized and well supported competition for school students of all ages learning the language of English.
I was lucky, this weekend to be asked to be one of three judges to select the students who would go on to represent the school and Chengde in the national championships.
The Chengde selection this past weekend was the second round, which was held over Saturday 21st of March and Sunday 22nd of March, obviously in Chengde.
The other two judges for round two was a teacher from the tourism college, as well as the medical college. I was the only foreign teacher to judge round two.
I was asked earlier on the week to see if I could judge, and since it was part of my contract, if there is a school activity, I should really take part and as well as it is for a good cause, as these students who entered the competition, really want to win, and do their best to win, as it means a lot to them. I thought why not.
The students who registered to take part in the English competition were senior school students from middle schools, and students from primary schools. The students came from city, but most of them came from the counties which surround the city of Chengde.
The senior school students had a three minute time limit, where most of the students talked about a topic ie the environment or sport for around two minute, and for the final minute they had to perform a talent show where they sung a song.
The primary school students from grade one to six had a bit more of a time limit, roughly they had 3 minutes for a speech, which was either about their teacher or family, and then for the other two minutes roughly they had to describe a picture which was either the months of the year, the season or a English party. The grade one students who were around the age of 9 years of age, briefly introduced them selves, saying what school they were from and then had to say what was on the cards that I was holding up, as well as answering a question from myself. These students, who were in their first year of English, spoke really good English. Yeah, the grammar could have been better, but their pronunciation was very good. The words they came out with, even surprised me, even my middle school students struggle with the words.
The thing that I noticed from the English competition is that the students from the primary school handled themselves better on stage than the students front he senior schools. The way they were standing on stage, nice and still and straight. They did not fidget or were strangling the microphone like the senior school students. I also think the primary school students were less nervous on stage. I am not sure if that is because it was fun to them, they had nothing to strive for in such, and did not take it as serious as the senior school students. But, on the other hand the primary school students were much bitterly dressed than the senior school students, especially the younger students in Primary school.
On Sunday, the young kids around 9 years of age who were in their first year of English, obviously have not had the opportunity to have a foreign conversational teacher to teach them in their classrooms, as in the break, these students surrounded me at the judges desk to ask me questions, and have the chance to speak to me and for me to speak to them which then followed me to stand up and go to the stage for a very huge number of photographs with these children. I am a person who does not like the attention, I hate being fussed over, but seeing the smile on these students when I had my photo taken with them actually made me feel really good.
Anyway, the students on stage were judged on their pronunciation, grammar, ability, time, content etc and scored out of ten.
After each group which was around 20/25 or 30 one or two of the judges had to give comments on their performance, give them a bit of advice which would help them to get past round three. It was the same advice given each time.
There would have been around 300 students judged over the two days, which only 60 percent of them making it to round three.
My tips for any student entering one of these competitions is too:
 Prepare a written speech, make a rough copy, check it, make another rough copy, check it again, leave it over night, make another rough copy, check it again, and then this should be your final copy or speech to take to stage or presentation.
 Prepare for the speech firstly by talking into a mirror, so it looks like you are talking to someone.
 A lot of students, when they enter a competition like this, have never got up on stage to present in front of people. The best way for the students to overcome this is too get up in front of the class and do regular talks. Ask their teacher if they could prepare them for the moment by giving 5 minutes a week or lesson to their preparation
 On the morning of their presentation, do something that will relax them.
 Before going on stage, take a nice deep breath.
 Once on stage stay nice and still and look straight ahead (or to the sides), do not look down (to the ground or the stage) this will make you nervous. Just like if you were walking a tight rope, high above the street and when you look down you see the fall.
 Also, stand up straight with your chin up, this will free up your vocal cord which will make your speech more clearly, if you talk with your chin down, your speech will not be clear.
 Do not fidget with the microphone or with anything. This will distract you and take away from your presentation. I noticed that the students who stood there with their hand straight down either side of their body performed much better.
 If you do not want to stand there with your hands straight down then use your hands to talk. Describe things with your hands.
 One important thing when on stage, DO NOT say you are nervous, or you will be nervous. The judges already know you would be, saying that only damages you, and also drops your confidence, which will give you a bad presentation.
 If you do forget something, say sorry, then take a deep breath to relax and then continue. You are more than likely to remember what you were going to say.
 And finally have fun. You are there. You are making a attempt. You are doing something that many are too afraid to do or do not want to do. This will make you a better person and will help your confidence for the next time.
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