CHIC English Humorous Speech Contest - Insider notes from CHIC reporter

Reporter: Meco

Four brave souls eventually embraced the challenges to compete for the most humorous CHICer on Wednesday August 25, 2010. After enjoying good laughter that night, the audience must be keen to know their non-disclosed feelings about the contest. This is one purpose we do the interview – witness their courage and learn from them.

Two questions were asked: 1. What was the biggest challenge you had when preparing for the contest? 2. What advice would you give to people who didn’t participate the contest?  Let’s see what they shared in our first ever CHIC interviews.

Jessie: The biggest challenge for me was choosing a suitable topic. My advice for non-contestants: this is a good chance to accumulate experience. It is just like doing one more project. Grasp it.

Luca: The biggest challenge was preparing for the contest while I was on holiday around China! I was traveling with some friends and I could draft and rehearse my speech only during dead time like on bus or airplane. People often saw me speaking and laughing alone.

I think that the difficulties in preparing the speech and the tension in participating were well worth. I feel I have passed a mile stone with this contest, even if I wouldn't have won, because I challenged myself in many ways.

Janet: Insist! (Due to time constraint only asked Janet the second question, her answer was brief but powerful)

Lisa: My biggest challenge was I had too many funny details to share in this one story but I had to cut many down to fit in the required time. Before I talk I also worried “what if people don’t laugh?” But then I said to myself, just carry on and make it an inspiring speech instead!

My advice: don’t care so much about the result, just share your story no matter it is humorous or not.