An evening of celebration at Sharonlea Primary

SHARONLEA – Schoolchildren at Sharonlea Primary School entertain guests at the school's annual public speaking evening with speeches centred around this year's theme, 'Lets Celebrate.'

Omphile Motale says that the people of South Africa are worth the celebration. Especially her beloved father whom she says she looks up to.

It was a night of total celebration at Sharonlea Primary School when it held its annual public speaking evening by grades 4 to 7.

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This year’s theme was, Let’s Celebrate, which was a call to all speakers to share with the public what they thought was worth celebrating. Though the Grade 4s prepared speeches were not included in the adjudication, it did not stop them from giving their best.

Adjudicators for the evening, Lourens Erasmus, Kgosi More, Rachel Naidoo and Andrea Pather look for a speaker who interacts with the audience and is confident on stage.

The evening was opened by Grade 7 Katlego Mokgosi who said public speaking not only helps you gain self-confidence, it also extremely fun. “What makes public speaking fun here at Sharonlea is the teachers in charge of it,” said Mokgosi.

Paul Harber captivates the audience with his speech on South African-style.

One of the judges for the evening, Andrea Pather, said she was thoroughly impressed by the level of speeches the speakers gave.

“Though prepared speeches might not seem like much to the audience, to the Grade 7 speakers it means everything.”

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Adding that she judged speakers on eye contact, body language, content of their speech, voice projection and how they engaged with the audience. She also said what sets a great speaker apart from a good one, is someone who can engage with their audience.

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Fellow judge Kgosi More said he was impressed by the level of confidence and professionalism each speaker exuded. “It’s not to stand up on stage in front of so many people,” said More, adding that a great speaker is someone who goes on stage and is natural and they are in their element.

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Grade 5 speaker, Paul Harber, who spoke about celebrating South African-style, had the audience’s full attention when he with a vuvuzela. In his speech he said South Africans celebrate with their hearts, adding that any occasion for us calls to dance.