The English Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition 2025
Final in Hungary 11th April 2025
We were very pleased to have the British Embassy second secretary Mr Leslie Hayler to address the company and open the competition. He spoke of his 20 year association with Hungary and the necessity of the language enabling students to extend their expertise worldwide and his own experiences.
Photo above: Leslie Hayler, right, 2nd secretary at the British Embassy from the Embassy website.
The Senior Competition
Hungary’s final was held in Budapest on 11th April 2025 at Vörösmarty Mihály Gimnázium (Budapest, Horánszky u. 11, H-1085) and the theme for Hungary Final was: ‘Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking.’ (Mahatma Gandhi)
We are very grateful for the continuing support of the school for the competition as both the venue and as a sponsor. Their interest in the competition enables us to create an atmosphere which very much enhances the standard of the competitors.
The Winner and Runner-up
The winner of the competition was Papp Emma from Vörösmarty Mihály Gimnázium and the runner-up was Barancsikova Veronika also from Budapest. The winner will travel to London for the ESU International Public Speaking Competition from 12 to 16th May 2025.
Photo above left to right: Judges Viki Horvath and Lilla Nagy (winners in 2023 and 2024), Papp Emma (winner), Barancsikova Veronika (runner-up) and judge Jackie Das from Toastmasters (via USA but born in Manchester UK) – Background left Steve Jones sponsor and MC and the other competitors
The participants in the senior competition were: Barancsikova Veronika (Xántus János Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium, Budapest), Benő Kristóf (Nyíregyházi SZC Széchenyi István Technikum és Kollégium), Dallos Molina Mária Viktória (Szent II. János Pál Óvoda, Általános Iskola és Gimnázium, Budapest), Dömötör Boglárka (Baksa Kálmán Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium Győr), Fülöp Zsombor (Verseghy Ferenc Gimnázium, Szolnok), Maráczi Zsolt (Comenius Két Tannyelvű Gimnázium, Székesfehérvár), Papp Emma (Vörösmarty Gimnázium), Zelovics Domonkos (Szigetszentmiklósi Batthyány Kázmér Gimnázium)
Left to right above: Barancsikova Veronika , Benő Kristóf , Dallos Molina Mária Viktória , Dömötör Boglárka, Fülöp Zsombor, Maráczi Zsolt , Papp Emma, Zelovics Domonkos and Ms Szilvia Eged (from the host school judging the junior competition)
The winner will also receive a plaque (below – the 2023 winner’s plaque) as a souvenir of the competition and their visit to London.
The Junior Competition
The aim of this part of the competition is to expose the participants to the conditions of the senior competition until they are old enough to take part. The standard was very high and any of these students could have performed in the senior section with distinction. After their 3 minute speech Steve Jones and Szilvia Eged commented on their performances and gave some positive advice. The participants were Blazsó Regina (Xántus János Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium, Bp.), Hargitai Zsombor Kerecsen (Xántus János Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium, Bp.), Virág Adél (Baksa Kálmán Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium Győr), Tóth Zsófia (Baksa Kálmán Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium Győr), Csábi Marcell Viktor (Verseghy Ferenc Gimnázium, Szolnok) and Den Hertog Patrik (Verseghy Ferenc Gimnázium, Szolnok).
Photo above left to right: Blazsó Regina , Hargitai Zsombor Kerecsen, Virág Adél , Tóth Zsófia, Csábi Marcell Viktor, Den Hertog Patrik
The Organisers
The organiser of events for the International ESU in Hungary is the chairman, Steve Jones (steve@singlish.hu). Information on the ESU can be obtained on the website www.singlish.hu. The organiser to whom all entries are sent and enquiries are made is Judit Borszéki (borszekijudit@gmail.com). Her continued work for the ESU is much appreciated as, without her input, the competition would not be able to continue.
The Awards
The competitions will award certificates for all participants (this acknowledges the high standard of English required to take part), a medal for each participant (GOLD for the winner of the senior competition, SILVER for the runner-up and BRONZE for all finalists. SILVER medals will be awarded for each participant in the junior competition).
The winners name will also appear on the competition shield alongside the other winners from 2003 as shown below.
A bit of good advice for PSC participants
The Main Competition
This will follow the pattern each year i.e. a 5-minute speech (minimum length 4m 30s, maximum 5m 30s).
Speeches are to be given without ‘props’, displays or other devices (If in doubt ask the organisers in Budapest), however the speaker may use prompt cards to indicate the speech point by point. A speech should never be read from a prepared sheet.
Prizes will be awarded and the winner will present their speech at the International competition organised by the ESU in London in May. The winner must be available for the London final.
The subject of your speech is of your own choice but based on the title given. (You should announce your own title before you begin your speech, along with your name and your school)
Try to make your speech …
- Of length 5 minutes (minimum length 4m 30s, maximum 5m 30s)
- Supported by crib cards indicating (using single words or brief phrases) the next point
- Without the use of props other than your crib cards
- Personal to you – perhaps with an anecdote or based on your own experience.
- Exciting with a good beginning designed to get the audience’s attention
- Well structured with sound logic and explanations
- In a clear voice at a good tempo with suitable breaks and silences
- Humorous in parts and serious in others
- End in a suitably memorable way – related to the topic and your personal aims
Questions will be asked at the end of your speech so be prepared and know your subject. Try to anticipate questions which might be asked but don’t repeat the question before answering as this may annoy judges. Try to structure your replies clearly.
When preparing all of this, try to get your friends or teachers to question you on your speech so that you can get used to answering the question asked, briefly and precisely. Make your answers short and to the point. It will not help your case if you ramble on and around the topic.
There are some things you should try to do:
- Dress in an appropriate manner and make sure you have everything you need.
- Try to remain calm throughout the speech.
- Use movement to illustrate your speech – but remember too much movement may be distracting.
- Identify several people in the audience and direct your speech to them, not to the judges.
- Practice speaking to a person or group of people and make sure you can be heard clearly.
- Answer the person asking the question but remember everyone wants to hear the answer so keep your voice up.
- Use appropriate language throughout both the speech and the questions – the use of slang might be part of your speech but should not be part of questioning