Introduction to the English-Speaking Union (ESU) International Public Speaking Competition

Introduction to the English-Speaking Union (ESU) International Public Speaking Competition

Introduction to the English-Speaking Union (ESU) International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC)

The ESU International Public Speaking Competition has now been running for 36 years. The competition reaches over 600,000 young people in around 50 countries across the globe. Recent winners of the competition include Mauritius, The Philippines, Yemen, Lebanon, South Korea, Iceland and Mexico.

The purpose of the IPSC is to bring together the best speakers from all over the world for a week of international cultural exchange and public speaking competition. It showcases the very highest standard of public speaking from around the world, while giving delegates an opportunity to meet and engage with other young people of different backgrounds and cultures.

The competition operates over two stages. Feeder competitions to the IPSC take place around the world, either for the specific purpose of providing participants for the finals in London, or as national public speaking championships.

The winners of these competitions are then invited to London to participate in a week of cultural exchange and competition.

This document serves primarily as a guide to the expectations of national feeder competitions to the IPSC, and the support that can be offered by the ESU.

If you would like further details on the IPSC for the coming year, as well as more information on the experiences of those who reach the finals in London, please visit our website esu.org/ipsc, or contact the convenor of the competition.

Criteria for Feeder Competitions to the International Public Speaking Competitions

The following criteria represent the requirements for a national public speaking competition to be recognised as a legitimate feeder competition to the IPSC. Criteria may be waived or enforced at the discretion of the convenor of the IPSC. Failure to comply with these criteria may result in an entrant being disqualified from the competition.

The convenor may request evidence to support applications to the IPSC to prove that feeder competitions comply with these criteria. Failure to supply evidence may result in an entrant being disqualified from the competition.

(1)National Organisers should, as a general rule, come from one of the following origins:

  1. A recognised English-Speaking Union International Branch
  2. A recognised charity, registered in the country from which the registration originates
  3. An existing recognised public speaking competition. This could include:
  4. Rotary International
  5. Toastmasters
  6. Any other similar competitive format which adheres to the criteria below
  7. A government, or local government, organisation

(2)Entrants to the IPSC Feeder competition should comply with the eligibility criteria of the International Finals, which state:

  1. That the participant is aged between 16 and 20 at the time of the week of the International Public Speaking Competition (i.e. the oldest possible participant would turn 21 the day after the competition ends)
  2. That the participant must be a permanent residentof the country which they are representing.
  3. This does not require the representative to be a national or passport holder of the country
  4. The representative should however be resident in the country they are seeking to represent for a significant proportion of their educational career. This includes:
  5. Two or more years of an undergraduate degree
  6. Two or more years of secondary education
  7. The period normally taken to complete recognised national examinations

If you have a candidate who you believe falls outside of these criteria but should be eligible for the IPSC then please contact the competition’s convenor.

(3)Feeder competitions should seek to be as accessible as possible to the population of the country that they are representing. In regards to this, they should adhere to the following:

  1. Feeder competitions should include representatives from at least two or more recognised educational institutions, with a general commitment to including more schools or universities each year.
  2. Entrants are not required to enter via their educational institution, but should still be in full time education
  3. Competitions should, in the medium term, be seeking to accept entrants from all socio-economic groups and from all regions of the country. This includes taking reasonable steps to promote and disseminate information on the competition in educational institutions of all relevant types, and making the competition accessible to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  4. Whilst it is recognised that many competitions will start on a smaller scale, plans should be in place to expand the competition to all regionsas a priority

(4)All feeder competitions to the IPSC should comply with the principles of equality and inclusivity within the broader work of the ESU, as well as the code of conduct outlined for all participants in the IPSC. Discrimination in entry criteria, the proceedings of the competition, or adjudication, will not be accepted. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination on the grounds of

  1. Race
  2. Gender
  3. Religion
  4. Sexuality
  5. Political ideology
  6. Accent (Regional, or specific to the learning of English in an area)

(5)Feeder competitions to the IPSC should be structured around an understanding of the range and depths of skills required to provide a good public speech.

  1. Competitions are not required to be in the format of the IPSC, but should include an understanding of the importance of
  2. Expression and Delivery
  3. Reasoning and Evidence
  4. Organisation and Prioritisation
  5. Listening and Response

(6)The format for feeder competitions can take on a range, and a mixture, of forms. These can include

  1. Video entries
  2. Impromptu speaking
  3. Pre-prepared speeches

Support and Resourcesprovided by the ESU

(1)The ESU willprovide a range of written resources which have been created for the IPSC Week in London. These resources are property of the ESU and should not be used for other profit or charitable purposes without prior permission from the ESU. These resources include

  1. Format guides
  2. Guidance for Speakers
  3. Judging criteria
  4. Marking sheets

(2)In advance of the IPSC Week in London, a number of materials and resources will be supplied to feeder competitions to help prepare participants, accompanying guests and national organisers for the finals week. These will include:

  1. The IPSC Handbook
  2. Participant Handbook
  3. Visa invitations (as required)
  4. Participant Code of Conduct

(3)Where possible the ESU seeks to provide financial support to IPSC feeder competitions to allow them to participate in the competition, and to assist in the continued running and expansion of feeder competitions. Applications for grants are considered and awarded by the convenor. The primary basis for awarding grants is necessity. Where it is not possible for a feeder competition to be held without financial support, or it would be impossible for the winner of a feeder competition to attend the competition in London, grants may be awarded to allow participation.

1

Top View