English speech competition holds finals

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English speech competition holds finals

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Winners of the 18th ESU Korea Public Speaking Competition gather on stage after the awards ceremony on Saturday at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The prizes were awarded, from far left to right, by Ryu Kwon-ha, CEO of the Korea JoongAng Daily; Park Eun-jung, a manager at British Airways; Prof. Chung Jae-sik, head of Ajou University’s Department of English Language and Literature; Jung Eun-young, CEO and president of HSBC Korea; and Anthony Spaeth, chief editor of the Korea JoongAng Daily. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Some 120 students from across the country gathered at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi last Saturday to compete in the final round of the 18th English-Speaking Union (ESU) Korea Public Speaking Competition.

The 120 finalists were chosen from some 800 elementary, middle and high school students who had submitted written speeches for the biannual competition, hosted by the Korea JoongAng Daily and the British Embassy in Seoul. The official sponsors of this year’s second ESU contest were HSBC Korea and Ajou University.

In the final round Saturday, the finalists were divided into four groups based on their school grade - high school, middle school, elementary upper-level and elementary lower-level - and each presented their five-minute English speeches to a panel of judges, who later asked each of them a few questions.

At the awards ceremony, the top Grand Prize was given to four contestants, one from each group: Kang Eu-gene from Valor International School, Kim Ha-eun from Unam Middle School, Lee Sue-yeon from Simseok Elementary School and No Gyu-min from Chadwick International School.

The Gold Prize, the second-highest honor after the Grand Prize, went to Kim Gyu-ri of Busan Foreign Language High School, Kim Seo-young from Chadwick International School, Park Che-won from Yongin Daedeok Elementary School and Kim Sally from Weerye Elementary School.

The Silver Prize went to Yoon So-yeon from Cheongshim International Academy, Baek Sarah from Seoul International School, Ahn Jeong-hyeon from Korea International School Jeju and Kim Sae-jun from Daegu Dongdo Elementary School.

The Bronze Prize was awarded to An Sun-young from Branksome Hall Asia, Kim Seung-hyeon from Canada Maple International School, Yi Chloe of Seoul Sindong Elementary School and Jung Sophia of Mogun Elementary School.

The winners of the Participation Prize were Jung Hye-yoon of Branksome Hall Asia, Seo Ji-won of Tacoma Baptist School, Oh Eun-sol of Inhwa Girls’ High School, Kim Do-hyun of Taejon Christian International School, Song Eun-woo of Galmoe Middle School, Lee Ja-hyeon from Dongdo Middle School, Lee Seo-yoon of Seoul Galsan Elementary School, Ryu Yi-sung of Munhwa Elementary School, Myung Claire of Seongnam Jeongja Elementary School, Kim Ryu-dam of Bopyeong Elementary School, Kim Min-jae of Wiryepureun Elementary School and Kim Do-yun of Incheondongsu Elementary School.

Those who went home with the Creative Prize were Lee Chae-yeon from The Lawrenceville School, Woo Min-ji from Cheongshim International Academy, Kim Jae-won from Yeouido Middle School, Sung Joo-young from Suseong Middle School, Song Yeon-jin from Wonmyung Elementary School, Heo Si-myung from Seoul Wolchon Elementary School, Lim Seung-a from Dongja Elementary School and Kim Ra-hee of Suwan Elementary School.

Awards were presented by Jung Eun-young, CEO and president of HSBC Korea; Prof. Chung Jae-sik, head of Ajou University’s Department of English Language and Literature; and Ryu Kwon-ha, CEO of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Kang Eu-gene from Valor International School, the Grand Prize winner in the high school division, will face off against Jo Sung-soo from Korean Minjok Leadership Academy, who won the same award in the previous ESU contest earlier this year, to determine who will go to the International Public Speaking Competition in London next year.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]
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