Today I got to judge an English contest along with Peter and Connor, the two other foreign English teachers at my school.
Just over fifty 8th grade students are competing for the opportunity to spend the summer in either Australia or the USA. The competition consisted of one-minute speeches (in English) on any topic, an exam, and a talent competition. Less than 20 students actually get to go, so my scores on their speeches were very important—quite the responsibility.
I thought it was going to be a boring afternoon, but I actually really enjoyed it. The speeches were adorable. ADORABLE. I wish I could have video taped them. And some of them were really good. They ranged from short "About Me" speeches to impassioned pleas to save the whales, littered with subtle political undertones; this kid was really pissed at the Japanese whaling industry. Most of the kids were really impressive. They want to save the environment, meet Kobe Bryant, become doctors and economists. Some also either wanted to escape their parents or were forced into competing by their parents.
They quoted Martin Luther King. And Eleanor Roosevelt; "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Seriously. And a lot of old English proverbs— a friend in need is a friend in deed, all that glitters is not gold, knowledge is power. I wish I could remember them all... and ask where they learned them.
They told jokes. What kind of table grows in a field? A vegetable.
One student told us the key to happiness – help poor people, help elderly people to cross the street, and learn English.
Now imagine all of this coming from shy 14 year-olds with strong Chinese accents.
It was precious.
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