Competitions Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) (August 2006) Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) (August 2006)
This keenly contested annual event is for students to sharpen their skills and build confidence in public speaking from young. The YMCA of Singapore is the main organiser, with the Ministry of Education, National Library Board and the Speak Good English Movement as co-organisers.
The 18th Plain English Speaking Awards Presentation was held in August 2006. The event saw the best speakers in their age categories get rewarded for out-talking the competition. Last year’s event saw more than 150 students from local and foreign schools taking part. The skilled student orators kept participants and observers enthralled throughout the months of competition!
PESA is a public speech competition for upper primary, secondary, pre-university and tertiary students from local as well as international participants from foreign system schools and private schools in Singapore and overseas.
The PESA has enjoyed a strong following among schools and students here since it began in 1987. It is held annually to:
- Allow students to sharpen their speaking skills and to build confidence in public presentation
- Give students an opportunity to learn by observing proficient speakers
- Promote public speaking in plain English as an important social and academic skill
In 2006, the YMCA School organised the PESA competition with the Ministry of Education, The National Library Board and the Speak Good English Movement.
Some History
The Plain English Speaking Award is part of an international competition. It first made its way to Singapore in 1987. It is a highly prestigious competition held in about 20 other countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand as a premier public speaking event.
