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pleasant surprise, and a form of recognition. by the poem.
Most importantly, it’s a new source of
encouragement. I’m grateful to the judges and How do you handle performance
my mother, who has always been my biggest anxiety or stage fright?
supporter.
Tan Yee (3 Zhong): Since this was my first time Evonne (5AC Zhong):
winning champion i an English poetry recital
competition, it’s very meaningful to me. I only I whisper words of affirmation to myself before
joined because no one else from my class was stepping on stage. It boosts my confidence.
interested, so winning showed me that I can do
well in this and it has motivated me to participate Chloe (3 Lian):
again next year. I try to avoid looking directly at the judges while
The management team of the Department of English Language the organising committee and reciting my poem.
student volunteers from English Language Society
Can you walk us through your process I did. I made a few changes to my body Is there a particular moment in your
of interpreting the poem? How did you movements and adjusted how I delivered the performance that you are especially What advice would you give to your
connect with its emotions and theme? final lines of the poem to emphasise the pride proud of? friends who want to participate next
of the civilian character I portrayed. year?
Dameera (4S Xin): Yi Ming (5AC He):
I started by reading the poem several times to :DV WKLV \RXU ¿UVW SRHWU\ UHFLWDO Yes, it was when I recited, “CANON TO THE Eugene (6S Zhong):
understand its meaning and subtleties. Then, I RIGHT, CANON TO THE LEFT, CANON RIGHT Just go for it! No matter the outcome, taking
connected with it emotionally by reflecting on competition? If not, how did this IN FRONT OF THEM.” It had that robust and that first step is what counts. Give it your best
my own feelings. I imagined Mother Nature experience compare to others? intense energy that felt just right for me. effort and good luck!
as a living being and thought about how she
would interact with the four seasons, deepening Eugene (6S Zhong): Jordania Lily (3 Li): Mikhaeyla (2 Ren):
my understanding of the poem. No, this wasn’t my first competition. The biggest I’m proud of how I delivered the line, “and no My advice is to just do it. Let your passion and
difference this time was the lack of preparation longer forget who robbed me last year, who emotions flow through you. There’s no right or
Jordania Lily (3 Li): time. I had only two days and the morning of played me for a fool.” My voice quivered, adding wrong in poetry, and that’s the beauty of it — you
can express yourself however you like. You’re the
I first worked on understanding the poem and its the competition to get ready, which made it a dramatic effect of anger and frustration that captain of your own ship.
message. Then, I analysed the emotions needed challenging but ultimately rewarding. I’m proud of. It delivered the emotions portrayed
for each sentence. Watching videos of poetry
recitals helped me improve my pronunciation Jordania Lily (3 Li):
and acting. No, I participated once in JM1 and received
a consolation prize. I worked harder this year,
hoping to place in the top three, and I am
Did you make any last-minute happy I did.
adjustments before going on stage?
Yi Ming (5AC He): What does winning this competition Winners of the Junior Category
Yes, as an introvert, expressing emotions doesn’t mean to you personally? and the management team of the
come easily to me. So I focused on holding onto Department of English Language
my emotions and remembering to smile. Dameera (4S Xin):
Having won Champion in the Senior Category
Mikhaeyla (2 Ren): means a lot to me. It was an unexpected but
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