Event Announcement
On November 26, the Department of Liberal Arts English Education at Kyungnam University (KU) hosted the first English Speech Contest in the International Language Hall lecture room. The contest was open to all students, excluding exchange students from English-speaking countries. It was organized to improve students' English communication skills and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their ability and passion for public speaking in English.
Event Overview
The first annual KU English Speech Contest was a resounding success, drawing 48 students from 27 different majors. Starting with a preliminary round on Tuesday, November 19, the event captivated both participants and attendees, highlighting the English public speaking abilities of the entire student body. Participants were divided into four groups of 12 speakers. As part of the University Innovation Support Project, the contest saw many students apply, and through a fierce preliminary round and judging process, a total of 20 finalists advanced to the final. They delivered speeches on three designated topics: (1) Unsung Heroes: Everyday People Who Inspire Me, (2) Introducing My Hometown: What Makes My Hometown a Great Place to Live, and (3) What is Your Personal Definition of ‘Success’?
Awards
The awards ceremony was the highlight of the event, recognizing the top performers with prizes. The Grand Prize winner received 500,000 KRW, the second-place winner received 300,000 KRW, and two third-place winners received 200,000 KRW. In addition, six participants received honorable mentions, each receiving 50,000 KRW. All participants, except for the award presenters, were awarded 5 extracurricular activity credit points.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Hyeon Su-ho, a second-year student from the Department of Physical Therapy, for his speech on “What is Your Personal Definition of ‘Success’?” He received high scores from the judges based on presentation content and structure, delivery, audience response, and time adherence. The Best Presentation Award went to Kang Min-joo, a fourth-year student in the Department of Psychology, for her speech on “Unsung Heroes: Everyday People Who Inspire Me.” The Excellence Award was presented to two students: Hwang Do-young from the Department of English and Zhao Jin-xuan from the Department of Korean Language and Literature.
Reflections on the English Speech Contest
Professor Hwang Soon-hyang, the head of the Department of Liberal Arts English Education, reflected on the contest’s success, stating, “The great success of the first English Speech Contest this year showed just how eager students are to improve their English communication skills. To continue fostering students' desire to enhance their communication abilities, we will actively expand and develop the English Speech Contest in the future.” Professor Stephanie Downey echoed this sentiment, saying, “This year’s speech contest was a great success, and its popularity emphasizes the importance of providing students with opportunities to develop and showcase their communication skills in a supportive and engaging environment.”
