"Try your best, Ivy!" I said to myself before I confidently got on the stage of "21 Century National English Speaking Contest". On that evening, unsatisfied with the third prize, I was upset in my room. Lily, my coach came and said to me: "Ivy, the process is much more important than the outcome." Looking back on the process of my preparation and participation in this contest, I found it is more like a learning journey for me. Here I would like to share with you something I've learned about public speaking and English learning.
First and foremost, the importance of public speaking should never be ignored. Some students told me, "Public speaking and those speech contests have nothing to do with me. I'm not interested in joining such competition, and never in my life will I give a speech like a president!" Come to think of it, you may often make presentations in class; you may tell the classmates about your plans in a monitor election; you may give a project report when you go to work. Those are all public speaking, and you will have to face it all through your life. In the speech contest this year, I found out that those contestants who are excellent speakers on the stage are also good, eloquent talkers off stage. Seize very opportunity to speak English in front of people and you will benefit a lot from it.
Second, a good speech is more than correct grammar and received pronunciation. The message and your delivery of the message are more important. Take the speech contest this year as an example, many contestants have good pronunciation. But if their ideas are general and unattractive or they failed to express the ideas effectively, they probably could not impress the audience. Today, people are surrounded by so much information, only when you make your message creative and catchy, can you get people's attention and hit the mark. Don't get unconfident or afraid when you cannot pronounce every word well. You can still try to make you message clearer and more attractive. However, remember good pronunciation can perfect your speech. So keep practicing.
Another valuable thing I've learned from the speech contest is that accumulation of knowledge is crucial not only for public speaking, but also for English learning. This is what I expect myself to improve after this contest. In public speaking, you have to get much information related to things you talk about and be ready for any unexpected question from the audience(including the judges). Learning a language is not an easy task. We have to memorize the vocabulary, grammar, idioms as well as know about the cultural background. As the old saying goes: "Many a little makes a mickle." A good habit is to be careful with every detail of life that make you think. With this habit, we can make great progress in forming opinions and logical thinking.
The above are what I gained from this cherished experience. After those reflections, I realize that this speech contest is a window for me, through which I get a deeper understanding of public speaking and English learning and clearly see the goal that I am going to strive for. Learning is a never-ending process. I am on the way of learning for all my life.
Last but not least, I owe many thanks to my dear coaches and all the people who have helped me improve in such a short time. I am grateful and happy for all the memory of practicing, group meeting and simulative exercise with you.
