Korean Job Discussion Forums

peacemaker · Joined: 19 Sep 2006

My co-teacher has asked me to find three speeches for students to choose from for our upcoming speech contest. Her only guidance was that they should be "not too long". I've searched on the internet, but all I'm finding is long, long, boring speeches by American or British politicians. Besides the fact that they're far too long, I just can't imagine my students standing up and reciting (for example) Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration address. Who is Frankling Roosevelt to them, right? I want to find something a bit lighter in nature and something that would be more relevant to the students. Anyone have any suggestions?

I work at a boys' high school by the way.

paquebot · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Location: Northern Gyeonggi-do

Do they need to be political speeches?

The first thing that came to mind - and I don't know that this satisfies your hope of finding something relevant - was Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Maybe if you found a website or book with monologues from plays that could be a good source for material?

passport220 · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province

Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen), Baz Lurhman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iXfNDu1xc5o

peacemaker · Joined: 19 Sep 2006

No, they don't need to be political. Both suggestions so far are great. I think I'll use them both. As a bonus, I can give the students the links to the youtube videos (I found Kenneth Branaugh doing to Hamlet soliloquy on youtube too) so they can watch for pronunciation. Now I just have to find one more good one.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

See my Public Speaking folder on my batcave link below. You should find lots. Use the karafun to play Martin Luther king jr (its a downloadable karaoke player at www.karafun.com ).

I like Bono's speech and also Oprah's has a transcript.

DD