tomemarch28thwasaluckyday.itwasonthatparticulareveningthatifoundmyselfatcentralstage,intheotlight.wiingthe21stcentury·ericoncupseventhnationalenglisheakingcompetitionisamemorythatishalltreasureandonethatwillsurelystay.moreimportantthanwiingthecupisthefriendshipthathasbeenestablishedanddevelopedamongthecontestants,andthechancetocommunicateoffstageinadditiontocompetingotage.alsothecompetitionhelboostpubliceakinginchina,askillhithertoundervalued.forme,though,thecompetitionisamorepersonalexperience.habituallyshy,ihadbeenreluctanttotakepartinanysuchactivities.encouragedbymyfriends,however,imadealast-minutedecisiontogiveitatry.inthecourseofpreparationisomehowrediscoveredmyself,atruerme.ifoundthat,afterall,ilikecommunicatingwithotherpeople;thatexchangingviewscanbesomuchfun—andsomuchrewarding,bothemotionallyandintellectually;thatpubliceakingismosteffectivewhenyouareleastguarded;andthatitiseentialtosucceineverywalkoflife.atamorepracticallevel,irealizedknowingwhatyouaregoingtosayandhowyouaregoingtosayitareequallyimportant.totaketheoriginalideasoutofyourheadandtralantthem,sotoeak,tothatofothers,youneedtohaveanorganizedmind.thisabilityimproveswithtraining.yetthereshouldnotbeanylooradditionordistortionintheproce.thoseideasthatfinallyfindtheirwayintoanotherheadneedtoberecognizablyyours.languageisameatotramitinformation,notameatootructcommunication.itshouldbelucidtobepenetrating.inchina,certainpubliceakingskillshavebeenundulyemphasized.willitreallyhelp,wearecompelledtoask,tobangatthepodiumoryellatthetopofyourlungs,ifyouhavecomewithapoorlyorganizedeech,amuddledmind,andunwillingnetotrulyshareyourviews?aboveall,thesinglemostimportantthingilearntwasthatasapubliceaker,youneedtopayattention,firstandforemost,tothecontentofyoureech.andsecond,thestructureofyoureech:howoneidearelatesandprogreestoanother.onlyafterthesecomedeliveryandnon-verbalcommunication:eedcontrol,platformmaer,andsoon.pronunciationisimportant,yetofgreaterimportanceisthis:isyourlanguagecompetentenoughtoexpreyourideasexactl
ythewayyouintendthemtobeunderstood?iwasinformedafterwardsthatiwaschosentobethewierformyaropriatelywordedeech,excellentpresenceandquick-wittedreoe.insoremarking,thejudgesclearlyshowedtheirpreference:theycometolistenformeaningfulideas,notforloosejudgments,noreasylaughters.somecontestantsfailedtoaddretheirquestioheadon.somewereableto,butdidnotknowwheretostop—thedraggingonbetrayedtheirlackofconfidence.therootcausewasthattheydidnotlistenattentivelytothequestio.ortheywerethinkingofwhattheyhadprepared.asisaidinmyeech,itisvitallyimportantthatweyoungpeopledomoreseriousthinking...totakethem[iueslikeglobalization]onandgivethemhonestthinkingisthefirststeptobepreparedforbothoortunitiesandchallengescomingourway.weneedtoreondhonestly.acompetitionlikethisdrawstalentedstudentsfromalloverthecountry.andofcourse,ilearntmorethingsthanjustaboutpubliceaking.sinceinth