2023 Forum Competition The diversity of one's thoughts shapes one's voice

        The annual Forum Competition for Senior classes organised by the English Language Centre was successfully held at the YTL Hall on 4th July 2023. The aims of this competition are to promote the use of English, encourage public speaking among students and create students’ awareness on current and social issues. S2 Adelaide bagged the champion in this tight competition! 

        For the preliminary round, it attracted 28 teams in total, and only 9 teams were shortlisted to the finals. The forum topics chosen by students were captivating such as ChatGPT in the Educational World, Legalising the Sale of Human Organs, The Impact of the Metaverse and more. At the end of each presentation, the panellists were required to answer an impromptu question by one of the judges. Aside from assessing participants' in-depth understanding of the issues given, this Q&A session provided an excellent opportunity for participants to demonstrate their critical thinking skills and fluency. 

        This year, we were honoured to have an external judge, Ms Tan Chin Siang. Ms Tan is an alumni and she is currently the treasurer of the Board of Governors of Hin Hua High School, the legal advisor of several primary schools in Klang. Ms Tan has been practising as a lawyer for more than 26 years now. 

        During the finals, the judges were overall impressed with the good chemistry among the teammates which delivered a good team spirit in competing for the finals. The chief judge, Ms Evon gave some constructive feedback on students' performance in terms of strengths and weaknesses in delivering their views during the forum. Overall, all teams performed well during the Q&A session, but responses should be succinct and all panellists should be given an equal opportunity to present ideas. During the Q & A, a few speakers had exceptional confidence and critical thinking skills while others gave repeated ideas. As a result, in order to successfully prepare for the Q&A session, it is critical to gain a better understanding of the topic presented beforehand. Besides, it is important to be clear with pronunciation, especially some scientific terms used when presenting ideas. Additionally, speakers should be mindful of the language used, body language, gestures and actions on stage. All in all, the judges felt that our students did a great job, but there is always room for further improvement.

Best Chairperson:

Fujiana Tanoto (S2 Melbourne)

        This was my second year joining the forum competition, and it felt like a dream come true when my name was called up during the Best Chairperson award! There were so many amazing contestants who were equally talented, and it was thanks to them that I was able to feel the pressure and give my best. I would like to express my gratitude towards my teacher who gave me her best advice and my team members who trusted in me since the beginning. I want to use this opportunity to encourage all those who aren’t confident enough to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone! You don’t know how much potential you have unless you push yourself to the limit. 

Best Speaker:

Tan Yen Jin ( S1 Canberra )

        I'm honoured to have received the title of Best Speaker and honestly did not expect such an achievement at all. I'm most grateful for my teammates as without them, I would never have made it to the finals and been given such an opportunity in the first place. I am thankful for all the support they've given me along the way.