Youngsters impress at Macao English speech contest

14 December 2009

Last month MPI-Bell hosted the final of the 8th Macao-wide English speech contest. Over 300 contestants, from primary school students to adults, battled to reach the final of the competition, which offers prizes worth up to £1200.

This year’s theme was ‘Opportunities and Challenges’ and speeches lasted 2-4 minutes. The judging panel included the Head of Exams from the British Council in Hong Kong, a representative of the US Consulate in Hong Kong, senior academics from mainland China and Bell’s Partnership Scheme Manager, Jo Raskin.
 
‘It was wonderful to see so many participants of all ages,’ said Raskin. ‘I was especially impressed with the younger children, whose composure and ability was outstanding. It was great to see how Bell is involved with projects that bring language to life’.

‘The contest provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase students' English skills, and to build confidence in public speaking,’ explains David Quartermain, Deputy Director of MPI-Bell Centre of English. ‘It also acts as a qualifying round for the 21st Century National English Speaking Competition. Winners therefore have the opportunity to pit their skills against the very best English speakers from all over China.’

The four young winners who so impressed Raskin were Lo Cheng Io, Andy Zhang Jiaxin, Miguel Luigi Enriquez, Nina Veronica Dela Cruz Gutierrez Cortes, The Open category was won by Vinchy Lo Son Chi and the College category by Goodspeed Wu Xiao Ye.

-Ends-

Media and press enquiries:

Caroline Davidson
PR and Marketing Executive
Bell International
Hillscross
Red Cross Lane
Cambridge, CB2 0QU
England

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Notes to Editors

About Bell

Bell is a leading educational charity and one of the largest British-owned providers of English language education services. Each year, Bell helps over 100,000 students, from more than 120 countries through one of its 36 worldwide teaching centres and e-channels, primarily to learn English and other languages. Bell operates 9 centres in the UK, including a boarding school for international students.

The organisation also provides teacher training, educational management, consultancy and project services to international organisations, universities and governments.

About MPI-Bell

MPI-Bell managed by Macao Polytechnic Institute is one of three Bell centres in China. The centre opened in October 2003 and specialises in providing English for Specific Purposes to clients including government departments and the tourism and leisure industry. In 2008, MPI-Bell opened a sub-centre, the Macao-Xinjiang English Centre, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

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