Last Saturday, April 27th, the Villafranca del Castillo campus of the Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) became the epicenter of children’s and youth oratory talent with the celebration of the First CICAE-UCJC Public Speaking Tournament. 240 students from 5th and 6th grade of Primary School and 1st and 2nd of ESO. (from 28 CICAE schools), organized in two categories, were able to compete either in English or Spanish in this face-to-face phase.
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 had the opportunity to participate in eight training sessions, where they received expert instruction on the best communication and public speaking techniques. These sessions not only prepared participants for the competitive challenge, but also provided a space for personal growth and the development of key skills for future success.
In the face-to-face phase, which took place on April 27 in Madrid, the four top-ranked students from each team competed in four individual tests and a joint final test. These tests included the declamation of a prepared historical speech, a speech on a free topic, an improvisation and an argumentative speech on one of the ten current topics previously provided.
Between the tests of the tournament, students from 10 to 14 years old demonstrated their oratory skills by interpreting their personal version of some of the speeches that have made history… From the passion of Al Pacino in “Any Sunday” to the political promise of Adolfo Suárez in the 1977 elections and his famous “I can promise and I promise”, through the inspiration of Rudyard Kipling and the courage of Winston Churchill. The speeches of defense attorney Ernst Janning at the Nuremberg trials in the film “The Conquered and the Vanquished” or the unforgettable Charles Chaplin in “The Great Dictator” add layers of reflection on morality and responsibility. And, of course, the inclusion of Emma Watson’s speech on gender equality in “HeForShe” is a contemporary reminder of the power of the individual voice in the fight for social justice.
The vibrant and energetic atmosphere on the UCJC campus reflected the students’ enthusiasm and dedication to public speaking and the art of communication.“We are delighted with the success of this first edition of the CICAE-UCJC Public Speaking Tournament,” said Elena Cid, CEO of CICAE. ” The level of talent and commitment shown by the students has been truly impressive. We hope that this tournament is just the beginning of a road that we would love to travel with these young speakers in future editions. “.
With the curtain falling on the first act of what promises to be an exciting tradition, the organizers and participants of the I CICAE-UCJC Oratory Tournament look to the future with optimism and anticipation, hoping that this experience is only the beginning of a trajectory full of achievements and successes.
As the tournament reached its climax with the final phase, the participants demonstrated not only their mastery of technical skills, but also their passion for expressing their ideas and their ability to improvise effectively on the issues at hand.
Exciting final phase
After an intense day, finally, the six teams from Primary and Secondary with the best scores, moved on to the final phase of the tournament. Each of the teams was given a topic, just 15 minutes before their turn to prepare the final speech, which they presented collaboratively and sequentially.
The finalists of this first edition of the CICAE-UCJC Public Speaking Tournament were in Primary: San Patricio Serrano, Colegio Mirabal, Alameda de Osuna 1, Los Sauces Pontevedra, Alameda de Osuna 2 and SEK Alborán 1. While the six teams that reached the grand final of ESO were: San Patricio El Soto, Británico de Aragón, Los Sauces Pontevedra, Arturo Soria 1, Arturo Soria 2 and Virgen de Europa.
After an exciting and hard-fought final, in the Primary competition, the winning teams were San Patricio Serrano, Alameda de Osuna 1 and Colegio Mirabal. In the ESO category, the honors went to Virgen de Europa, Arturo Soria 1 and Arturo Soria 2.
The Primary final was marked by the incredible capacity of improvisation of the young participants. San Patricio Serrano – First Classified – defended before the jury and the audience “Why the world should trust children”, Alameda de Osuna – Second Classified – presented their arguments on why “Our families are the best” and Colegio Mirabal – Third Classified – showed an exceptional mastery in public speaking talking about “An incredible future”.
In the Secondary category, the competition was equally enriching, with Virgen de Europa – First Classified – presenting to the audience “Every time in the past was better”, Arturo Soria 2 – Second Classified – highlighted “The importance of small acts of kindness” and Arturo Soria 1 – Third Classified – stood out for his ability to leave “A message for us in twenty years”.
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, with the help of the best professionals, the students attended up to 8 training sessions where they learned the best communication and public speaking techniques with the help of the best professionals.
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 communication experts. This feedback serves as a valuable tool to increase students’ confidence and skills, allowing them to continually improve and grow throughout the tournament.
