Public Speaking

PESA

On Monday 24 May, St Bede’s College, Mentone hosted one of the Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) State Heats. This public speaking competition is run by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and encourages participants to use ‘plain English’ to speak for 6 minutes on a topic of their choice. 

Two students represented our school in this competition. Chris Bufalo (Year 11) spoke on the topic “But, what can I do?” encouraging people who don’t fit into a group that is marginalised and discriminated against to still act with the three R’s in mind – Recognise, React and Reassure – to reduce harassment and remind victims that they don’t deserve to be treated with disrespect. Lachlan Doyle (Year 12) asked everyone to “Listen and Learn”. He encouraged the audience to push themselves to listen to opposing arguments and to be brave enough to talk to and reflect on the opinions of other people in order to reduce fear and ignorance clouding people’s opinions and causing hate or violence.

Chris and Lachlan delivered their prepared speeches with a rehearsed confidence and excelled in coming up with a cohesive speech with only 4 minutes preparation on the topic ‘Don’t leave home without it’. Participants from McKinnon Secondary College, Dandenong High School, Sacred Heart Girls’ College Oakleigh, Salesian College and Toorak College also participated. The winner of the heat was from Toorak College with the runner up from McKinnon Secondary College.

Hunter Trumble and Leighton Miller (Year 11) assisted on the day and Elijah McEvoy (Year 12) was our student host. English teachers and their classes were able to participate as audience members in preparation for their oral presentation assessments later in the year.

Laura Matthews

Public Speaking Coordinator