Page 33 - ES MAG 2018 dig

Debating, Safari and Everything in between

by Ada Athanasiadou 6G

Sweaty palms, shortness of breath, a pounding heart and a experienced each other’s very best and worst. With the help of
quivering voice are the result of one and only thing, Public Speaking. our two coaches, Ms Mason and Mr Corkhill, as well as our Debate
Considering that there could be nothing more terrifying than Club Presidents, Maria Christina Achilleoude and Aris Messios, the
having to stand in front of an audience and express your way Cyprus Team arrived in Cape Town possessing the basic tools
through to persuade, to rebut, to argue, to support. The symptoms to compete. Each of us had to participate in all 4 categories of
of public speaking anxiety are more than justiable. They’re real. the competition--Parliamentary Debating, Impromptu Speaking,
Interpretive Reading (Mr Corkhill’s favourite) and Persuasive/After-
And yet! Despite this nerve-racking experience that is public Dinner Speaking--making our debating journey an all around one.
speaking, a group of 6 English School Students, including Michael
Hadjivasiliou, Jason Hadjiloizou, Michalis Kypridemos, Leonie Kallis, However, debating was only one part of the spectacular experience
Nayialena Avraam and myself, were able to qualify for the World our team witnessed during our time away. We were, after all, in
Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC) South Africa! Before the beginning of the competition, the 8 of
which was hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, in April. Despite us were lucky enough to witness a full “Lion King” experience,
awareness of the immense competition we would have to face through a day and night safari, where we became familiar with
at WIDPSC, the thrill of deploying language in such a way as to elephants (whom we also got to hug!), lions, zebras and giraes.
have an impact on an audience was simply too alluring to ignore. Moreover, our free afternoons during the competition were
lled with numerous excursions to interesting places such as
Being a life-changing opportunity to engage with bright people Table Mountain and traditional South African markets. Through
from all across the world, to discuss and argue about current these events, we were able to gain a deeper appreciation for
topics as well as to gain and develop useful public-speaking South African culture and history, including the dicult period
and critical-thinking skills, WIDPSC, I can condently say, was of apartheid.
one of the most terrifying yet remarkable experiences of my
life. Not only were we able to meet new people, but we were Sweaty palms, short breath, a pounding heart and a quivering
also able to form strong bonds between the 6 of us, since we voice; it was all worth it.

This year was the largest MEDI.M.UN conference ever with 34 schools participating
from across Cyprus as well as schools travelling from Greece, Jordan, Israel and China.
Throughout the conference weekend more than 500 students and teachers
engaged in discussing current aairs issues
The opening ceremony featured as guest of honour an old girl of the school,
the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mrs Egly Pantelakis.
The closing ceremony on Sunday 11th February, included remarks from guest
speaker Major General Mohammed Humayan Kabir, Force Commander of UNFICYP.