Romanian named runner-up in the English-Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition 2023

Eighteen-year-old Beatrice Maria Paun from Romania has been named runner-up in the English-Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition 2023.

Following 12 competitive heats involving participants from over 30 countries and regions around the world, the grand final of this year’s International Public Speaking Competition took place on Friday, May 12, with the six winners addressing the concept that ‘Relations between nations are too important to be left to governments alone’.

With hundreds from all over the world watching live at the Royal Institution in London and via the live stream, Mohammed Suhail An-Naas Hussain Thawkalkan from Mauritius, Maria Trinidad Guzmán Schmidt from Chile, Valeria Fonseca from Mexico, Beatrice Maria Paun from Romania, Shaakya Nathavitharana from Sri Lanka and Egsheglen Javkhlan from Mongolia all gave excellent performances.

The judges selected Egsheglen Javkhlan from Mongolia as the overall winner, with Beatrice Paun as the runner-up.

“To have confidence in how to construct an argument, how to tell stories, how to interact with an audience, and how to feel grounded in your delivery, is always going to be an asset going forward. More than that though, this competition allows participants to realize that there are people from halfway around the world who they may have more in common with than someone who’s in the same class as them at home. You start to see all the richness of difference and diversity, and how valuable that is. […] My public speaking skills have improved so much and I’ve made so many friends,” says Beatrice, quoted in the press release.

The International Public Speaking Competition brings together oracy, cultural exchange, and a hefty dose of friendly rivalry. The competition brings together the best young speakers from all over the world for a week of cultural exchange and public speaking contests. Established in 1980, it now reaches over one million young people, showcasing the highest standard of public speaking, while giving delegates an opportunity to meet and engage with other young people of different backgrounds and nationalities.

Grants are available to help widen participation in the IPSC and this year both ESU Mongolia and ESU Romania received such assistance. ESU Mongolia used the funds to support engagement with rural, nomadic communities, with the grant enabling it to provide internet access for participants to access the country heats. ESU Romania used the grant for teacher CPD to support more schools engaging with the program.

(Photo source: English Speaking Union)