Madrid, May 12, 2025 – Last Saturday, May 10, the Villafranca del Castillo campus of the Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) became the epicenter of children and youth oratory talent with the celebration of the II CICAE-UCJC Oratory Tournament.
300 students from 5th and 6th grade of Primary and 1st and 2nd of ESO (from 28 CICAE schools), organized in two categories, were able to compete in English or Spanish in this final phase, with a common objective: to demonstrate that the art of public speaking can be learned and cultivated from the earliest stages of education.
After the success of the first edition, the tournament has returned with more strength, consolidating itself as a pioneering initiative in the training of communication skills, critical thinking and emotional education in the school environment.
The competition, which took place in two phases, began with a telematic qualifier, during which participants sent their individual speech videos to the judges. This phase not only allowed students from different regions to participate, but also demonstrated the adaptability and creativity of young people in a virtual environment.
The students selected to continue in the tournament, among the more than 1,200 videos received, had the opportunity to participate in eight training days, where they received expert instruction on the best communication and public speaking techniques. Their teachers have also received training in public speaking, who have played a key role in the accompaniment and preparation process.
The final face-to-face phase, which took place on Saturday, May 10, included four different tests: declamation of a historical speech, a speech on a free topic, improvisation and an argumentative speech on current issues.
These modalities have allowed students to develop their expressive abilities, learn to defend their own ideas and boost their self-confidence in demanding but motivating contexts.
The event was judged by a panel of experts in education and public speaking, who valued the talent, preparation and passion shown by all the young participants.
Among the tests of the tournament, students from 10 to 14 years old will demonstrate their oratory skills interpreting their personal version of some of the speeches that have made history… From the speech ‘I have a dream’ by Mr. Luther King Jr., the monologue of Robin Williams in ‘The indomitable Will Hunting’ or the soliloquy of Segismundo in ‘Life is a dream’ by Calderón de la Barca.
The vibrant and exciting atmosphere on the UCJC campus reflected the students’ enthusiasm and dedication to public speaking and the art of communication. “We are very excited and really surprised with the talent of all the children who are participating in this second edition of the CICAE-UCJC Public Speaking Tournament,” said Elena Cid, general director of CICAE. “The level of talent and commitment shown by the students has been really impressive. They have given us all a great lesson in courage and passion.”
As the tournament reached its climax with the final phase, the participants demonstrated not only their mastery of public speaking skills, but also their passion for expressing their ideas and their ability to improvise effectively on the issues raised.
After an intense day, finally, the six teams from primary and secondary schools with the best scores advanced to the final of the tournament.
After an exciting final, in the Primary competition, the winning teams were San Patricio Serrano, Alameda de Osuna 2 and San Patricio La Moraleja 1. In the ESO category, the honors went to San Patricio El Soto 1, Virgen de Europa 1 and Arturo Soria 1.
His improvisational skills and presentations captivated both the audience and the judges, reflecting an outstanding level of enthusiasm, preparation and passion for the art of public speaking.
Training, its main value
The primary objective of the tournament is to provide comprehensive training in public speaking and communication skills.. Therefore, under the guidance of the best professionals, the students attended up to 8 training sessions where they learned the best communication and public speaking techniques.
In addition, teachers have received training and tools to support their students in acquiring self-confidence in presenting, nerve management skills, and communication resources to enhance their interventions. This expert training has provided teachers with valuable knowledge and strategies to support the development of their students.
Another pillar of the training to reinforce their confidence and skills has been the feedback they have received after each participation in the tournament from experts in debate and public speaking. This feedback serves as a valuable tool to increase students’ confidence and skills, allowing them to continually improve and grow throughout the tournament.
