Pupils face daunting test of English

Ten students who have made it to the final of the Hong Kong English Public Speaking Contest face the daunting task tomorrow of exchanging views with three of the city's most prominent public figures. They will have to deliver a five-minute speech on the topic 'differences and diversity' followed by a two-minute question-and-answer session with former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, former chief justice Sir Ti-liang Yang, and the executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Rosanna Wong Yick-ming. The event, organised by the federation and the English-Speaking Union, will take place at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Jockey Club Building, in Aberdeen. The winner will represent Hong Kong in the union's international public speaking competition in London next month. On the eve of the final, the judges share their experiences of learning English and how they mastered the art of public speaking.

'Speaking aloud gave me confidence'

ROSANNA WONG YICK-MING

There is no need to pay English oral experts a ransom to be fluent in the language. In Dr Wong's case, active participation in school activities was the key to her success as a public speaker.

'It gave me an opportunity to speak my mind in front of different audiences and build up my confidence,' she said. When studying sociology and social work at the University of Hong Kong she always volunteered to be master of ceremonies or organiser for all sorts of events, including musicals, seminars and international conferences.

'At the beginning, I got very depressed every time after making mistakes. But my exposure helped me overcome my fear,' she said. Her experience also taught her to be prepared for hiccups every time she spoke.