ICS English Speech Competitions, held at Hodeidah University [Archives:2004/744/Education]
June 7 2004
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Demonstator, Education Faculty
Hodeidah University
Under the sponsorship of the International Community Services (ICS), the department of English in the faculty of education, Hodeidah university held its annual speech competitions on May 12,2004.
Out of a large number of participants in the first round of the competition, only 18 students of different levels (1 to 4) were screened to take part in the final round, thanks to the careful choice of the topics by the selection committee comprising Prof. Ashok Sinha, Head ,English department, DR.I.B.Sharma, Mrs.Shefali Bakshi, Mr. Fahed Al-Ogeli and Miss.Looloo Mohd Saleh who were also the organizers of this competition. There were three sections namely, English debate, poetry recitation and speech, for each of which 6 contestants were selected. An important sidelight of the recitation section was that all the poems recited were composed by the students themselves.
Dr. Abbas Alharazi ,Vice Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Ali Khairat, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof. Ashok Sinha, Head English dept., Mrs. Amanda Plooy, Mr. Jason Clegg of the ICS, Hodeidah and a number of teachers and students graced this occasion. In the fitness of things, the British Institute sent Mr. Ahmed Alwusabi and a group of students to audit this function. Prof U.S. Dubey of the Hodeidah university, Mr. Marius Postimus of the ICS head office, Sanaa and Mrs. Fatoum Othman Head English Dept., APTECH institute constituted the panel of judges.
The function began with a recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran rendered by Mr. Abdulla Qazal a fourth year student. This was followed by a welcome address by Prof. Ashok Sinha in which Prof. Sinha highlighted the significance of the event in generating volumes of self confidence among the students. Dr. Abbas Alharazi and Dr. Ali Kahirat also spoke on the occasion and stressed the importance of such a competition.
In her speech, Mrs. Amanda Plooy of the ICS Hodeidah wished the contestants all the best in their performance. Mr. Jason Clegg introduced the competition judges time keeper Dr. I.B. Sharma and the moderator.
Asmaa Ahmed Dayl, a final year student, who spoke on the internet in Yemen and the role it plays in the diffusion and dissemination of knowledge, won the first prize in debate. and Mohd Ali Alhammadi, a second year student, who spoke on the prospects of Yemen's export of oil won the second prize. Eman Ali Altairi, a third year student, with her highly animated and illuminating recitation of her touching poem on 'No more war' bagged the first position in the poetry section, and Ibrahim Ali Gibreel, a third year student, who thoughtfully spoke about the exuberance of beauty and its aesthetic appeal in his beautiful poem entitled 'Beauty' bagged the second position. In the speech section, Hamza Ali Khairat, a first year student, who held the audience spell-bound by his wonderful performance dilating upon the steps that Yemen should to get rid of poverty, won the first prize and the second prize went to Ahmed Ali Hassan a second year student who analyzed the same topic from a different perspective.
The outstanding performances of the competitors in the three sections of the competition were highly appreciated by the three judges, as well as by the packed audience.
In his comments, Prof. Dubey congratulated the winners and asked them to keep it up. He also boosted the morale of those who did not win the prizes to smile and try again, exhorting them for their spirit of participation that mattered the most.
Mrs. Shefali Bakshi proposed a vote of thanks. She thanked the ICS team without whose help the said competition would not have been such a spectacular success. She also lauded the efforts of the competitors who evinced a keen competitive spirit evidenced by the fact that since the first day of the announcement, they met her asking for suggestions and guidance.
In all fairness, a word of appreciation is due to Mrs. Shefali Bakshi who played a key role in making the competition a grand success. As the curtains were drawn on this grand celebration, everyone hoped that more of such competitions will be organized in quick succession, for the larger interests of the student community in Hodeidah University.
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[archive-e:744-v:13-y:2004-d:2004-06-07-p:education]
