FIS Victor Segalen Speaking Competition 2022-2023
Dear School Community
The French Stream Secondary is organising a speaking competition, in partnership with the Consulate.
Congratulations to Mr. Descambs, Head of the French Literature department and his team for this excellent initiative to help our students succeed.
Please find below the details of the project, as described by Mr. Descambs.
FIS Victor Segalen Speaking Competition 2022-2023
Public speaking and a mastery of eloquence are skills that are evaluated as early as the “brevet des collèges” (high school diploma) and at the Baccalaureate with the “Grand Oral”. They are essential when entering higher education, private schools or in professional life. It is also about celebrating the richness of the French language, bringing to life the French spirit of conversation and debate. The objectives are to encourage eloquence, reflection, the spirit of challenge, audacity and creativity in the field of speech.
(This proposal is inspired by the eloquence contest organised by the Ministry of Armed Forces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X69FcgDSUVk)
The contest is open to all students in Première and Terminale classes and is supported by the Consulate General of France, which is fully associated with it.
Subject Matter
Candidates are free to deal with a previously given topic. All candidates will be offered a topic in the form of a quotation from the work of Victor Segalen.
This quotation will be used in the candidate’s performance and will be integrated into his or her reflection on the theme or themes it suggests; once this minimal framework has been established, there are no limitations on the treatment of the subject (types of discourse, registers, etc.). It is not a matter of reciting an essay.
The quotation from Segalen that was chosen in agreement with Mr. Cabouat, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action for the Consulate General of France, this year is the following: “Does the imaginary fall apart or is it strengthened when it is confronted with the real?”
Preparation
Pre-selections will be organised in the form of an interview with two teachers from the Humanities Department. The 7 best candidates selected for the competition will receive training in public speaking to enhance their commitment.
Procedures
- Each performance will last a maximum of 10 minutes: 5 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes of discussion with the members of the jury.
- The final will feature 7 students who are free to use or not use personal notes.
- At the end, a vote will be held to determine the winner as well as the 2nd and 3rd place.
Judging Panel
The judging panel will be open to anyone from charitable, professional or political worlds for whom public speaking is essential (lawyers, opinion leaders, public or institutional figures…). One representative of the judging panel will be designated to lead the deliberations and to arbitrate if necessary.
Prize
The winning candidate will win a prize.
Provisional Calendar
- Presentation of the competition to the students: from 16th January.
- Registration: 30th January – 17th February.
- Pre-selections: from 13th February.
- Final: end of April – beginning of May (date to be determined).
Contact : odescambs@g.lfis.edu.hk
