INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International Public Speaking Competition
On Wednesday, 22 August, two of our international students, Mavis Fang and Wilson Cao, spoke at the inaugural International Student Public Speaking Competition held at Northcote High School.
They had to speak for three minutes on the topic of “Hitting the Bullseye”.
Here are the students plans for the topics:
“My name is Mavis Fang. I’m from China and live in Zhejiang. I’m currently a student at Doncaster Secondary College. I enjoy photography as it has given me an opportunity to share people’s most special moments on a regular basis. I came to Australia two years ago and over this time I have become more and more independent and gotten to know more people. Recently, I have found that many people are confused about their future and have no clue about what they want to pursue. I am here to share why we all need to set goals and how we can individually hit whatever bullseye we set our mind to. “
“I am Wilson from Guangzhou, China. I am currently in year 11. I love History, hence I am doing both modern history and ancient history at school. I am also an animal lover and I care a lot about our precious environment. I am aware that global warming is causing a huge negative impact on both our wonderful planet and our daily lives, that’s the reason I am here to speak to you about why we should hit this bullseye and reduce our impact on the environment.”
Mavis used the analogy of three mason’s building a cathedral to emphasise the need to have long term goals whereas Wilson presented a series of compelling arguments about why we should meet the Paris accords and reduce the impact that we have on the climate.
Both students spoke beautifully. They both memorised their speeches and were clear, passionate and convincing in their discussion. They represented the college wonderfully and have been incredibly dedicated in their approach to this task.
Anna Ditchburn
Year 7 Coordinator
Student Interview with Wilson C.
1. Tell us about your involvement in the public speaking competition?
I was invited by Ms. Mu to participate in this competition. I hesitated a little bit at the start but my friend who was involved in the same competition in 2017 said that it was a really great competition so I decided I would give it a go as this would be a good practice for my English skills.
2. How did the staff here at DSC help you to prepare for the event?
Ms. Ditchburn, my history teacher, has been my coach who supports me throughout the whole process. I meet once a week with her to edit and prepare my speech. She gives me a lot of advice which is really helpful to a beginner speaker like me. I really appreciate the time and effort she has put into helping me prepare.
3. What other clubs have you been involved in at DSC?
I was in SRC last year but this year I have decided to focus more on year 11 studies. I also play badminton on Friday after school with my friends in the stadium supervised by Mr. Liu.
4. What is your home life like?
My home life is not very similar to a general international student as my mum is with me in Australia. It is really good to have your mum by your side when you are living in a new country. Nevertheless, my mum will be leaving next year as I turn 18. By then I will start living independently which is exciting.
5. How is your learning experience at DSC different to China?
In China, I spent most of the time sitting in the classroom. At DSC, there are more group activities where I can be socialising with many different people. Also at DSC, school finishes very early compared to Chinese schools, so I have time to learn Japanese after school which is something I enjoy.
6. What aspect of DSC do you enjoy the most?
I really like the fact that all of the staff at DSC are so welcoming to everyone from different places into this big community. They are always there to help me whenever I encounter difficulties or need advice for my future.
7. How has the International team supported you during your time at DSC?
The orientation helped me to get familiar with the school as the campus is so big that I could possibly get lost. They also gave me lots of support and advice when I was making my subject selections.
Intensive Homework Club
Intensive Homework Club is set up for international students doing English as a second language. This program teaches them how to study English and how to improve their English skills. Sometimes there are two volunteers from the church to support the club. They help with knowledge about the history and cultural things which are different from the other daily classes. It is really helpful for students to develop their critical thinking and obtain knowledge about Western culture.
From my point of view, I joined the intensive homework club because it will help me to learn more about Australia and to learn more English. The students who are in the homework club are quite active. They always ask teachers for help and they finish their homework on time. They sometimes ask me the differences about the courses or study in Australia. I think the Intensive Homework Club is good for the students to join in and solve the problems together.
Silvia G. 10D