The three months ending December 2011 saw the initiation
of a new learning module at SMB Fatima Jinnah Government
Girls School: Public Speaking. Ehab Ansari, a debate
coach with national and international accolades, spearheaded
the Module which aimed to build the most basic of
communication skills amongst students of Class 7.
Each of the seven sections had two classes of Public
Speaking a week. Within those classes, students were
taught to confront their stage fright, build confidence,
project their voice, modulate their tone and write
the basic components of a speech.
“The module was an uphill climb,” said
Ehab. “Expecting 12 to 13 year olds to rid themselves
of their stage fright in a class or two is naïve.
Most of these students have never been given the opportunity
to speak to a crowd of ten people, let alone a combined
class of ninety. It was their determination and perseverance
that enabled them to rise up to the challenge and
improve in such a short time span.”
The Fall term Module culminated into the first-ever
Inter-Section Declamation Competition, held on the
20th of December. The best speakers from each section
of Class 7 were shortlisted and made to debate amongst
each other to win coveted prizes. The topic for the
Competition was “Zaraay Ablaagh ke Asraat Humaray
Upar” (The Effect of the Media on Us). The event
was a resounding success. Seated in the art room were
not only all two hundred students of Grade 7, but
faculty members and the principal as well.
The winners of the competition, in which a total
of 22 students from Class 7 participated, were Rabia
Zulfiqar (1st), Nazia Akram (2nd), Aisha Tahir (3rd),
along with a special mention going to Areej Maqsood.
The participating students enjoyed the event and were
pleased to have done well enough to be awarded prizes.
“I was delighted to win the 1st prize,”
said Rabia, who won the 1st prize. “This event
and my performance in it have helped to increase my
confidence.”
Another prize-winner, Nazia (2nd prize) felt that
her experience in the competition made her realize
that students like her shouldn’t be shy of speaking
up. She encouraged her fellow students to practice
their speaking skills. She pledged to do so herself
in order to excel in public speaking and make her
school proud.
The goal of the public speaking module as well as
that of this competition was to develop effective
public speaking skills in the students so that they
could effectively communicate their thoughts to others.
The focus was on eliminating the hesitation or fear
of public speaking which becomes an obstacle in their
path to realizing their full potential and making
the best use of their talents, leaving them unable
to voice their precious thoughts and ideas. We hope
that the students who participated in the declamation
contest will step forward to make a name for themselves
and for Pakistan in the future.
We would like to thank our public-speaking coach,
Ehab Ansari, who volunteered his valuable time to
teach our students and help develop their public speaking
skills. We hope that his investment in these bright
young minds will go a long way!
Report by Samina Mohammad Taqi with help from Public
Speaking Coach Ehab Ansari
Declamation Contest held at Fatima Jinnah
School
Date: 20th December 2011
Venue: Art Room, Fatima Jinnah School
Supervisor/Coordinator: Ehab Ansari
Category: Educational
