Public speaking student competition

Erin Tanti and Lara Dean from De La Salle College, Cottonera, came first and second respectively in the recent Malta area final of the Catenian Association centenary public speaking competition. The students will go on to represent Malta in an inter-national public speaking com-petition in Manchester next month.

Mr Tanti and Ms Dean were competing against six other students nominated by St Aloysius College, Birkirkara, Ġiovanni Curmi Higher Secondary, Naxxar, and Mcast, Paola. Each student had to deliver a speech on any serious or humorous subject of their choice. Erin gave a speech entitled 'Who will watch the watcher-men?' in which he argued against Malta's censorship of theatre and film. Lara came runner-up with her speech entitled 'Life is Beautiful', which dealt with happiness in life.

After the result was announced, Mr Tanti was overjoyed. The final was ajudicated by a panel of judges chaired by Dr Margaret Marwick and including Prof. Peter Vassallo and George Camilleri.

Dr Marwick said "it was a very impressive competition, and the standard of speaking was high. It is encouraging to see that students in Malta can achieve such excellent results and we wish the winners good luck for the grand final."

The Catenian Association in the UK has been running these competitions for many years to give Fifth and Sixth form students the experience of preparing and delivering a four-minute speech to an invited audience. Since the association is celebrating its centenary this year, all four circles of the Malta area were invited to take part.

The Catenian Association is a lay organisation of Catholic professional and business people. There are over 300 Catenian groups around the world, including three in Malta and one in Gozo.