It is not necessary to
have had experience to be interested in a position on a team. Teachers with Junior teams try to provide
opportunities for as many pupils as possible.
Top Senior teams, however, are usually comprised of pupils with
experience.
Gold Coast LOTE Speech
Contest
The Gold Coast LOTE Speech Contest gives pupils the opportunity to speak their studied language in a competitive environment. There are divisions for primary and secondary pupils.
Mooting is presenting a
legal argument in front of a judge or judges.
There are four speakers, known as barristers. Two barristers argue for the person who took
the case to court. The other two
barristers argue for the person who has been taken to court. Each team is given a brief outline of the
facts, and a statement about what each side claims happened. The judge has to decide which side's argument
is correct. He/she has to apply the law
from past decisions, called precedents.
Each mooting team must read those past cases and work out arguments to
show why these cases should or should not be applied in the present situation. As they speak the judge can interrupt to ask
questions. They must answer these
questions, to the best of their ability.
They are marked on how well they speak and how well they answer
questions. The judge also evaluates the
legal argument presented.
There are two levels of
involvement in mooting at
Pupils also have the opportunity to compete in the Beenleigh/Logan District Mooting Competition and the Griffith University Mooting Competition.
There are many
opportunities for pupils to be involved in public speaking and debating. Every year the College is offered places in
the following local, state and national competitions which have a strong public
speaking component:
- Lions Youth of the Year Competition in early
March
- Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition in late
March
- Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition in
May
- Plain English Speaking Competition in May
- Jaycees Youth Speaks for
- A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition in
October
Many of these competitions
also require pupils to have a considerable knowledge of and interest in current
affairs and to be able to demonstrate their involvement in a wide range of
school and community activities. Many
competitions include an interview with a judging panel and pupils are often
required to present both prepared and impromptu speeches. Winners of these competitions can proceed
through local, regional and state and national levels.
Pupils taking part in
these competitions gain much from the experience and meet many other pupils and
members of the community.
The overall co-ordination
of these competitions is conducted by the Debating/Public Speaking Co-ordinator
and includes the organisation and allocation of places in various heats. Other staff assist and will advise details of
upcoming competitions, closing dates for entries and distribution of entry
forms in the daily bulletin.
The closing dates for
entry into many of these competitions is often very early in the year, in some
cases at least one month before the actual date of the heats. Pupils who are interested should contact the
Debating/Public Speaking Co-ordinator to ensure they are registered as entrants
as early in the year as possible.
Pupils should be prepared
to spend time in preparation for these activities and teachers will give
guidance in a number of different ways.
The Public Speaking
Competition involves pupils from Years 4 to 7 participating in the competition
with experienced senior debaters and public speakers acting as officials and
adjudicators.
The Public Speaking
Competition is conducted in June/July for the