The ESU-BC October Workshops

From the Ateneo's Dr. Marlu Vilches comes this recap of the ESU-British Council debate and public speaking workshops in October 2006:

Our guest workshop facilitators were James Probert (Deputy Director of
Education and Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate of the English
Speaking Union) and his student James Dray. Their visit had been
arranged by Gill Westaway, former British Council Director, before she
left for her new post in Sri Lanka in August. Thank you, Gill!

Both half-day workshops took place in the Far Eastern University
Conference Center. The debate workshop (12th October) and the public
speaking workshop (13th October) had 53 and 101 participants,
respectively, from Metro Manila schools. The two Jameses--as I realized
they had been fondly called!--were reported to have been truly
impressive in handling the workshops despite technical difficulties. They
only had a whiteboard and pens (no computer!) but they got the
participants' full attention through their use of various games. They
also skillfully introduced the procedures of the British Parliamentary
Debate and staged a simulation activity (on the subject: "private
vehicles should be banned") which was participated in by debaters from
FEU ORADEC, as well as students from Holy Spirit High School and EAC
Manila. Drawing from their vast and varied experience in public
speaking, James Probert and James Dray also devised exciting games and
challenging exercises to show proper techniques of oral presentation
before a crowd and gave practical tips on how one could improve speaking
skills through daily practice.

Both workshops were graced with the presence of Andrew Picken, OBE, the
new British Council Director, and the FEU co-hosts: Dr. Lourdes
Montinola, Chair, FEU Board of Trustees; Dr Lydia Echauz, FEU President;
Dr Jaime An Lim, Dean, FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences; Dr Isagani
Cruz, Director, FEU Teachers Academy; Prof May C. Garin, Chair,
Communication Department. The FEU Chorale sang the Philippine National
Anthem at the open ceremonies for each of the workshops.

Now, a word of thanksgiving ...

ESU Philippines is grateful to Dr. Montinola and the FEU team for their
great support for the event--especially for making the FEU conference
center available on short notice and for making the guests feel warmly
welcomed (beginning with lunch on day 1).

ESU Philippines is also grateful to the British Council for giving ESU
this rare opportunity to co-sponsor an event that is close to its heart.
Special thanks go to Andrew Picken for hosting lunch (see attached photos)
on 11th October in honor of our special guests, members of ESU Philippines
(Krip Yuson, Kat Legarda, Jimmy Abad, Linda Panlilio, Marlu Vilches), and
representatives of local university debate teams (Patricia Evangelista,
Glenn Tuazon, Ryan Buenafe). Spanish cuisine at Casa Armas wouldn't be
complete without its paella and lengua which most if not all had an
appetite for! Thanks to Nannette Mercado and Alec Ladanga for a good
restaurant choice!

Many thanks, also, to Linda Panlilio who escorted our guests to the Ayala
Museum after lunch. They both appreciated the kind gesture as well as
the book on the Dioramas of Philippine History.