Let’s celebrate Junior Speaking Contest!

Every year since 2004, second and third year students of bilingual schools in the Netherlands have been writing and delivering speeches in front of their peers and a jury. The annual contest, which has exciting umbrella topics, provides a forum for students to develop and hone the skills of speech writing and delivery. This year’s theme, Let’s celebrate, aptly describes the many reasons to celebrate, that the contest has given us: such as students becoming more confident and convincing speakers; working together in teams; carrying out research etc.

On Thursday, 15 December, the bilingual school students – with original, inspiring, interesting and passionate speeches, explored celebration from all angles. While we celebrate the efforts of all the participants, the conventions of competition dictate that there can only be one winner. This year, the second years’ winner, Jinthe Smits, focussed on Mental Matters and declared, “While youth care has recently known some upheaval about situations where children unfortunately received additional trauma and got worse instead of better, we should celebrate those youth care workers who spend day and night trying to improve children’s lives and often do make a positive difference.” For year three, winning first place, Stelios Creusen delivered a stellar speech titled: ‘The Man Who Killed Millions but Saved Billions.’  Finn Triebels and Tessa Klaas were first runners-up for the second and third years’ respectively.

We congratulate all our winners and wish them all the luck in the world as they attend the regional round in the new year!