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Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School |
English Debating - Highlight of PLHKS’s Gifted Programs
School-based English Speaking Curriculum
English debating is an important gifted education program of Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School. All students who study in Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School have the chance to learn and try English debating since English debating is part of the school-based English speaking curriculum of the school. Having developed the English public speaking skills and critical thinking skills in regular English speaking lessons in junior and senior forms, all students have the chance to try out these skills in mini-debates in class when they are in S5 and two teams are chosen to participate in an inter-class English Debate in front of their fellow schoolmates in a hall assembly every year.
English Debating Team
Our highly-praised best debater in almost all debates in 2015-16, Gordon Mok
Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School’s English Debating Team was formed in September, 2006 and has achieved remarkable results in a number of territory-wide inter-school debating competitions. Our team members have been participating in Sing Tao Inter-school Debating Competition, Lion’s Quest Inter-school Debating Competition, NESTA and SCMP Inter-school Debating Competition and Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition.
Over the past few years, we have beaten a number of prestigious schools, like La Salle College, St Joseph College, St Paul’s Secondary School, and have been the champions of a few territory-wide debates, including the 13th NESTA and SCMP Interschool Debating Competition Division 1A, and Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition Kowloon and New Territories East Division 1 Grand Final 2015-16. We have also entered the quarter-final of the 29th Sing Tao Interschool Debating Contest and got the ‘Most Improved School Award’. What is more, our debaters have won a host of ‘Best Debater’ awards and ‘Best Interrogative Debater’ awards. Winning the best interrogative debater title is not easy at all as the debater has to attack the weaknesses of the opponents’ points on the spot and answer questions raised by the other side sensibly.
To prepare for inter-school debating competitions, the debaters receive professional training given by the experienced coaching teachers at school. Debating workshops conducted by our alumni debaters are run from time to time during the school term to develop the participants’ debating skills. We also hold i-debates at school and friendly matches with other schools to provide students with opportunities to practise their debating skills.
Through debating, students can enhance their fluency in speaking English and written English. At the same time, their research and critical thinking skills are also sharpened. No wonder most of our debaters could get 5* and 5** in the HKDSE English Examination.
Sharing by our star debaters - 6A Chantel Tse and Alf Suen
Great team work of our three star debaters, Gordon Mok, Alf Suen and Chantel Tse
Debate - Cultivate and Motivate
Standing on the podium and shooting off rebuttals is a common scene in debating. Yet, there is more behind the scenes.
The preparation of debates consists of researching, formulating arguments and rebuttals as well as writing speeches. These elements offer debaters numerous benefits, namely fostering critical thinking, effective communication, team spirit, and so on. The aforementioned advantages are lifelong skills for an individual in society. By participating in debating, we are given plenty of opportunities to cultivate the above skills. Take effective communication as an example. As we have to respond to our opponents instantly most of the time, the training of impromptu responses enables us to give a convincing answer whenever someone raises a question. In no uncertain terms, this technique, together with the critical thinking skills, are exceptionally useful for our future studies as well as our careers. Certainly we have the edge over others in project presentations and interviews.
More importantly, debating takes us not only to the podium, but also to a wider world. It is the most practical social networking platform. We can meet different people in different debating competitions and exchange ideas with fellow contenders regardless of the topics. What we share ranges from ideas of the motions and debating skills to personal stories. All these could be our inspiration and momentum to face and weather challenges.
In respect of academic benefits, ostensibly, English debaters are proficient in English. As a result of using English in various ways including reading during the research stage, writing speeches, listening to our opponents for rebuttals and delivering speeches, our English proficiency is undoubtedly boosted. What is more, our performance in Liberal Studies is also better owing to the need to dwell on different social issues during the preparation of debates. Not only do we examine the bright and dark sides of the issue, we also put ourselves into the shoes of different stakeholders to generate ideas. For example, we have debated on nuclear power. First, we had to understand the pros and cons of nuclear power. Then, we needed to know the concerns of different stakeholders, such as the government, residents, enterprises, neigbouring countries, etc. As you can see, it is a must for us to look into the matter from different perspectives. This is why we can generate so many ideas for one issue in Liberal Studies.
Apart from all the benefits mentioned above, debating also brings the school and debaters glory and honors – the championship. We could not have achieved such great honors without the efforts of our coaches, Ms Winnie Low and Ms Yaniza Cheung. They generated ideas with us, commented on our speeches, trained our delivery and rebuttals, and even accompanied us to the debates to give us encouragement. The time and effort they devoted to debating are very much appreciated. They have successfully cultivated our interest in exploring the world and motivated us to strive for greater accomplishments.
To sum up, debating not only sharpens our thinking skills and communication skills, but also boosts our academic performance. More importantly, it brings us honors and precious memories. No wonder it is a gifted program of our school!
Achievements of the English Debating Team
Achievements in 2017-18
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 1 Round 1 Division 1 Team 1 |
St Francis Xavier College |
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Term 1 Round 1 Division 1 Team 2 |
Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College |
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Term 1 Round 2 Division 1 Team 1 |
Carmel Pak U Secondary School |
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Term 1 Round 2 Division 1 Team 2 |
Kau Yan College |
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Term 1 Final Division 1 Team 2 |
St Francis’ Canossian College |
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Term 2 Round 1 Division 1 Team 2 |
Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 2 Division 1 Team 1 |
HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College |
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Term 2 Round 2 Division 1 Team 2 |
Tak Nga Secondary School |
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Achievements in 2016-17
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 1 Round 2 Division 1 |
HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity |
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Term 2 Round 1 Division 1 |
SKH Bishop Mok Sau Tseng Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 2 Division 1 |
Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College |
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Evangel College |
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32nd Sing Tao Inter-school Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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1st preliminary |
Queen Elizabeth School |
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2nd preliminary |
Our Lady of the Rosary College |
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Achievements in 2015-16
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
Glory of our school - 6 straight wins and Champion in HKSSDC
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 1 Round 1 Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School |
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Term 1 Round 1 Division 1 (Standard Format) |
Immaculate Heart of Mary College |
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Term 1 Round 2 Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
Stewards Pooi Kei College |
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Term 1 Round 2 Division 1 (Standard Format) |
Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School |
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Term 1 Final Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
La Salle College |
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Term 1 Final Division 1 (Standard Format) |
St Catharine’s School for Girls |
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Term 2 Round 1 Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
La Salle College |
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Term 2 Round 1 Division 1 (Standard Format) |
Carmel Pak U Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 2 Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
Madam Lau Kam Lung Secondary School of MFBM |
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Term 2 Round 2 Division 1 (Standard Format) |
Shatin Pui Ying College |
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Grand Final Division 1 (Enhanced Format) |
Marynoll Convent School |
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Grand Final Division 1 (Standard Format) |
The YWCA Hioe Tjo Yoeng College |
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No fear when facing La Salle College and finally getting the Champion Trophy
31st Sing Tao Inter-school Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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1st preliminary |
Kowloon True Light School |
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Our brilliant debaters who contributed to the success in winning so many trophies
Achievements in 2014-15
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
It was our debaters' great effort which brought them success in getting the champion trophy
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 1 Round 1 Senior |
Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School |
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Term 1 Round 2 Junior |
Heep Yunn School |
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Term 1 Round 2 |
Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School |
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Term 1 Final Senior |
SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 1 Junior |
St Rose of Lima’s College |
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Term 2 Round 2 Junior |
Steward Pooi Kei College |
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Term 2 Round 2 Senior |
Chamber of Commerce Hoi Ping Secondary School |
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Term 2 Final Junior |
SKH Chan Young Secondary School |
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30th Sing Tao Inter-school Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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1st preliminary |
Sacred Heart Canossian College |
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2nd preliminary |
Tuen Mun Catholic Secondary School |
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Achievements in 2013-14
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
We are the champion in Hong Kong in 2013-14
Best Debater in the HKSSDC 2013-14
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 1 Round 1 Junior |
Kau Yan College |
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Term 1 Round 1 Senior |
HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity |
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Term 1 Round 2 Junior |
Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) |
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Term 1 Round 2 Senior |
Valtorta College |
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Term 1 Final Senior |
Ho Fung Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 1 Junior |
Homantin Secondary School |
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Term 2 Round 1 Senior |
Tak Oi Secondary School |
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HKSSDC 2013-14 Term 1 NT Senior Champion Trophy Winners
NESTA-SCMP Inter-school Debating Competition
Great honour to us being NESTA-SCMP Debating Grand Final Champion 1A Division 2013-14
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prize won |
|---|---|---|
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Round 1 Division 2A |
HKTA Tang Hin Memorial Secondary School |
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Round 2 Division 1A |
SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School |
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Round 4 Division 1A |
Elsa High School |
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Semi Final Division 1A |
POCA Wong Siu Ching Secondary School |
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Grand Final Division 1A |
SKH Chan Young Secondary School |
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29th Sing Tao Inter-school Debating Competition
Best Debater 4D Kenny Chan and Best Interrogative Debater 6D Peter Yau
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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1st preliminary |
T.W.G.Hs Kap Yan Directors’ College |
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2nd preliminary |
St Joseph’s College |
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3rd preliminary |
St Paul’s Secondary School |
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Quarter Final |
South Island School |
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CityU Discovery and Innovative Debating Challenge
Trophy Winners with 5B Sally Chiu being the best debater
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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CityU Discovery and Innovative Debating Challenge |
Sing Yin Secondary School |
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Achievements in 2012-13
Hong Kong Secondary Schools Debating Competition
The 1st Champion Trophy our junior team got in HKSSDC in 2012-13
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Term 2 Round 1 Senior |
St Catherine's School for Girls |
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Term 2 Round 1 Junior |
Kowloon Tong School Secondary Section |
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Term 2 Round 2 Senior |
Valtorta College |
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Term 2 Round 2 Junior |
SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School |
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Term 2 Final Junior |
SHK Chan Young Secondary School |
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Term 2 Final Senior |
CCC Mong Man Wai College |
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NESTA-SCMP Inter-school Debating Competition
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Competition |
Opponent |
Prizes won |
|---|---|---|
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Round 1 |
Immaculate Heart of Mary College |
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Round 2 |
SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School |
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Round 3 |
Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School |
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Round 4 |
Creative Secondary School |
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Public Speaking
PLHKS’s English Gifted Program
PLHKS Public Speaking Group
PLHKS’s Public Speaking Group was founded in 2012 and is a strong and sustainable student body that nurture competent English student speakers who have performed excellently in contests, education occasions and quality meetings. We have a very profound establishment throughout years. Our signature program is Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program where students are well equipped with competent public speaking and leadership skills. Our Group has been expanding for providing students with a variety of speaking experiences at the school level, university level and contest level.
We continue to fulfil our mission in transforming our students into confident speakers that shake the world.
The Path To Public Speaking
Sherie Ma (4B)
Myself
I’m Sherie Ma, the President of our school’s Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program, a global programme which trains gifted youngsters to become great speakers and amazing leaders. I’ve been in the programme for 3 years now, and this year I’ve had the honour of serving as President. This is also my year - my efforts paid off by winning the First Runner Up in Senior Division of Hong Kong Region, China Daily National English Speaking Competition 2018. I was also invited to be one of the change-making speakers in Toastmasters District 89 Youth Leadership Program (YLP) Convention 2018.
My Journey
When I began my public speaking journey 3 years ago, I was an introvert. I still remember in the first few meetings I would use the agenda to cover my face, while I sank in my chair and hoped nobody would notice me. Eventually however, the atmosphere of the club moved me. Everyone enjoyed the meetings, everyone cheered, everyone supported and learnt from each other. The committee members were really helpful and offered me tons of advice, and gradually I started to improve. At one of the meetings, the English public speaking teacher Ms. Tam looked me in the eye and said, “Sherie you’ve got potential, you’ve got talent.” I was shocked coz I never thought I had any sort of talent in public speaking. It was from that moment that I started to believe in myself and have faith.
My Milestone
During the second year I became a committee member, and began to compete more. It was in this year that I won my first championship in the HK Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo competition. Not only did my speaking improve, but I began to know myself better.
My learning
This year, I became the President and have led our club. My role hasn’t been to boss everyone round, but instead to help them develop and make their own personal breakthroughs. I’ve learnt to take by giving. It’s here I’d like to thank my amazing committee members, who have offered me unfailing support and helped me push my own limits.
My future
Next year, I’ll become an advisor to help nurture our next generation of YLP students. Looking back on my public speaking journey, I really need to thank those amazing seasoned speakers who pulled me up to become what I am today. My wish for the future is that I can become one of them. My sincere hope is that students in our school will try out public speaking and fall in love with it, just as I have. If you can speak, you can influence; if you can influence, you can change lives. Let’s become change makers!
What will you do and learn in Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program (YLP)?
During club meetings, you will build “quick thinking” skills as you give one-to-two-minute speeches on general subjects during Table Topics. You will introduce speakers, conduct meetings and perform other roles that will give you plenty of practice in a variety of communication experiences. But your great learning will come from preparing speeches and presenting speeches based on the skills you have acquired in various Toastmasters’ workshops.
Sherie invited to be a speaker of Toastmasters YLP Convention 2018
Sherie winning 1st runner up of HK Region China Daily National English Speaking Competition 2018
Thomas Chow (5A)
You are standing in front of thousands of people. You walk, you stand and you speak. Everyone was amazed by your performance and you know, you have achieved your dream --- capturing people’s eyes in International Public Speaking Contest.
This has always been a childish dream of mine and I never really imagined it would happen. Still, 2017 was a year of grace and joy which broadened my horizons and made me all over the moon.
Till now, I have joined 3 contests in this academic school year and though I did not receive any prize in the category of team, I would like to thank my teammates Pearl and Yuki for giving me such joyful and playful speech experiences in the final year and I wish them all the best in their ongoing journey in Public Speaking.
Taking part in Speech Festival Solo this year was fresh - requiring a 5-minute prepared speech and Q@&A section right after. In the group of N195, having good public speaking skills could not help me stand out, in fact, most contestants’ speeches were well written. In this challenging task, it required a noble and globalized answer in the Q&A section. I told the judges I believe that Hong Kong students could think more about their goals in life instead of setting a university offer as a dream. Hence, I was so blessed to become a champion among all these great speakers and it’s such a great honor for me to compete with them.
What is beyond my anticipation is that I was even selected to participate in the audition for the International Public Speaking Contest 2018 in London. I have never imagined to compete for the chance of being the only HK representative to IPCS. The tasks I was required to do have become more precise, including 5-minute prepared speech, a Q&A section, a 3-minute unprepared speech and an interview section. The 3-minute impromptu speech was an uphill task for me. Though I have so much experience in speaking impromptu in my school’s Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program, (YLP), I still found it difficult. Training for this section was like walking on a single wire linking the edge. I always have to make sure I’m on the right track.
As an older member of the team, I would like to thank Ms Tam for all the efforts in training an ordinary guy like me. I would like to thank Mr Yau, Ms Pochwyt and Ms Lai for the tremendous support in speeches and YLP. I wish the other members could go on to take the challenges. Public Speaking is a lifetime investment and competing for the chance to London prepared me and broadened my horizons. I wish one day I could stand on the stage to compete for a world championship and I wish everyone in this team can surpass me.
PLHKS Toastmasters Youth Leaderhip Program Excom 2017-2018
Thomas Chow granted an audition for representing HK in IPSC 2017
Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program
PLHKS has launched its very first Toastmasters International’s Youth Leadership Program in 2014. We also have the privilege to be the first and only school in Shatin to provide this internationally-recognized program. The Youth Leadership Program is designed to develop the English public speaking and leadership skills of young people.
By developing these skills, our students are better prepared to meet the demands and challenges of today’s world. There are eight sessions and each of the two-hour sessions features one English communication workshop conducted by seasoned Toastmasters including champion speakers and professionals speaking coaches in Hong Kong. The student participants learn how to prepare and present a speech in English, how to conduct meetings, and how to evaluate and develop effective listening skills. By the end of the eighth session, our student participants have developed public speaking skills, self-confidence, interpersonal skills and communication skills that are useful for the rest of their lives.
The learning activities of the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program are as below:
• Evaluate present speaking ability
• Organize and give speeches
• Give impromptu talks
• Control voice, vocabulary and gestures
• Give constructive feedback and more
Ten Tips for Public Speaking
1. Know your materials
2. Practice, Practice, Practice!
3. Know your audience
4. Know the room
5. Relax
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech
7. Realize that people want you to succeed
8. Don’t apologize
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium
10. Gain experience
Achievements 2017-2018
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
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Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
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Champion |
5A |
CHOW HO YEUNG |
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3C |
CHAN YU KWAN JERRY |
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1st runner-up |
5A |
HOR PAK HO |
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4A |
FAN LOK YI |
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2nd runner-up |
4A |
CHIK YAN KIU |
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4A |
FAN LOK YI |
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4B |
MA HIU CHUN |
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3A |
MOK DICKENS |
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Merit |
4B |
YU BAO |
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3A |
CHENG CHUNG HO |
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Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
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Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
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Champion |
2A |
AU PAK HEI |
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2A |
JULIAN FONG LEUNG |
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2A |
LEE YEUK LAM |
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2nd runner-up |
3A |
CHAN YU HIN |
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3A |
CHOW WING YAN |
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3A |
MOK DICKENS |
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Merit |
5A |
CHOW HO YEUNG |
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5A |
WONG CHUN HIN |
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4A |
CHIK YAN KIU |
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4A |
FAN LOK YI |
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4B |
MA HIU CHUN |
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4B |
YU BAO |
Achievements 2016-2017
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
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Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
3C |
MA HIU CHUN |
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2nd runner-up |
4A |
CHOW HO YEUNG |
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|
2A |
MOK DICKENS |
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Merit |
5A |
YUEN CHING HIN |
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4A |
HOR PAK HO |
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4A |
LO LONG HIN |
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4A |
WONG CHUN HIN |
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Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
5A |
AU YEUNG SZE UEN |
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5A |
WONG CHING YAN |
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|
5B |
CHAN PUI MAN |
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1st runner-up |
3C |
MA HIU CHUN |
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3D |
YU BAO |
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|
2A |
MOK DICKENS |
|
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2nd runner-up |
4A |
CHOW HO YEUNG |
|
4A |
HOR PAK HO |
|
|
4A |
LO LONG HIN |
Achievements 2015-2016
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
5A |
CHAN YIN KIU ADELINE |
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1st runner-up |
4B |
LI YUET |
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Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
1st runner-up |
4A |
AU YEUNG SZE UEN |
|
4B |
CHAN PUI MAN |
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|
4A |
WONG CHING YAN |
RTHK The Speaker English Public Speaking Contest
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Participation Award |
5A 5B 5C |
Adeline Chan Yin Kiu Joel Lau Chun Yin Kyle Cheuk Siu To |
Standard Chartered Hong Kong English Public Speaking Contest
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Certificate of Good Performance Top Ten in Session |
5A |
Adeline Chan Yin Kiu |
Achievements 2014-2015
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
6C |
Ng Wan Chung, Arick |
Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
3A 3A 3A |
Au Yeung Sze Uen Chan Pui Man Wong Ching Yan |
|
First-runner up |
5C 5C 4A |
Matthew Kong Otto Tsang Kyle Cheuk |
Achievements 2013-2014
Standard Chartered Hong Kong English Public Speaking Contest
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Certificate of Good Performance
|
3A |
CHAN YIN KIU ADELINE |
|
3A |
SIT SAU YUNG ELLA |
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3D |
NG TSZ KIT |
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3D |
SZETO SIU HIN |
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4C |
CHING YU PO |
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|
4C |
KONG HIN LONG |
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|
4C |
KONG WING YAN |
|
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4D |
CHAN LONG HEI |
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|
5B |
CHAN YUEN YAN |
|
|
5B |
WONG MAN LOK |
|
|
5C |
NG WAN CHUNG ARICK |
|
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The Most Interesting Topic award |
4C |
WONG YUE |
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
5C |
Ng Wan Chung, Arick |
Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
2A 2A 2A |
Au Yeung Sze Uen Chan Pui Man Wong Ching Yan |
|
1st runner up |
3A 3A 3A |
Chan Yin Kiu Adeline Cheuk Siu To Sit Sau Yung Ella |
|
2nd runner up |
4C 4D 5B |
Kong Hin Long Chan Long Hei Chan Yuen Yan |
Achievements 2012-2013
Speech Festival Public Speaking Solo
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion |
5C |
Winnie Leung Nga Ting |
Speech Festival Public Speaking Team
|
Result |
Class |
Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Champion (Senior) |
4C 4B 4A |
Arick Ng Timothy Wong Leo Chan |
|
First-runner up (Junior) |
2A 3A 2A |
Adeline Chan Kenny Chan Tiffany Wong |