First timer had to overcome sore throat to win
Thursday, May 1, 2008
ST GEORGE'S School's Nur Hafizah Yati Noorhaizamdin won the first English Language Oratory Competition for private schools yesterday.
With her speech entitled "The pen is mightier than the sword", the 15-year-old expressed her amazement in winning the competition, after overcoming a sore throat during the competition.
The Secondary Three student told The Brunei Times that this was the first time that she had participated in an oratory competition.
She said that she always had an interest in speech competitions but it was her teachers who discovered her talent.
Nur Hafizah Yati won a $200 prize money, a token of appreciation as well as a challenge trophy sponsored by the Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong.
Sophie Friedman from Jerudong International School was the first runner-up, while Eddie Chu Mohd Hariz from PDS Secondary School took the third prize. Both won $100 and $50 prize money respectively as well as a token of appreciation and a trophy each.
Dr Haji Loji Roji Haji Saibi, principal of Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School, said that the primary purpose of the competition was to promote the development of the English language among private school students.
He hoped the competition would provide an opportunity for students to excel in oral presentation in the form of speeches, thereby developing their self-confidence.
The principal further said that the aim of schooling is not just gaining knowledge, but to acquire skills which could be used to pursue work in life.
The theme of the competition, "Towards Educated Intellectuals" was based on His Majesty's titah during the National Teachers' Day Celebration 2007, he said.
Dr Haji Loji Roji said that the competition was a form of facilitating the government in its efforts to ensure that the English language plays a critical role in the country's development.
At the same time, the competition aimed to promote collaboration among all private schools, set up a networking system and a strategic partnership.
This collaboration was also hoped to create a ground for common areas of interest namely in curriculum matters, such as school based evaluation, staff development programme, teaching and learning mode under SPN21, he added.
Dato Paduka Hj Ali Hashim Hj Daud, the managing director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, was also present at the competition.
The competition took place at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School Hall.
The Brunei Times
With her speech entitled "The pen is mightier than the sword", the 15-year-old expressed her amazement in winning the competition, after overcoming a sore throat during the competition.
The Secondary Three student told The Brunei Times that this was the first time that she had participated in an oratory competition.
She said that she always had an interest in speech competitions but it was her teachers who discovered her talent.
Nur Hafizah Yati won a $200 prize money, a token of appreciation as well as a challenge trophy sponsored by the Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong.
Sophie Friedman from Jerudong International School was the first runner-up, while Eddie Chu Mohd Hariz from PDS Secondary School took the third prize. Both won $100 and $50 prize money respectively as well as a token of appreciation and a trophy each.
Dr Haji Loji Roji Haji Saibi, principal of Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School, said that the primary purpose of the competition was to promote the development of the English language among private school students.
He hoped the competition would provide an opportunity for students to excel in oral presentation in the form of speeches, thereby developing their self-confidence.
The principal further said that the aim of schooling is not just gaining knowledge, but to acquire skills which could be used to pursue work in life.
The theme of the competition, "Towards Educated Intellectuals" was based on His Majesty's titah during the National Teachers' Day Celebration 2007, he said.
Dr Haji Loji Roji said that the competition was a form of facilitating the government in its efforts to ensure that the English language plays a critical role in the country's development.
At the same time, the competition aimed to promote collaboration among all private schools, set up a networking system and a strategic partnership.
This collaboration was also hoped to create a ground for common areas of interest namely in curriculum matters, such as school based evaluation, staff development programme, teaching and learning mode under SPN21, he added.
Dato Paduka Hj Ali Hashim Hj Daud, the managing director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, was also present at the competition.
The competition took place at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School Hall.
The Brunei Times
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