上周二、四，初三年级的同学经历了两次特别的英语早读课。他们和美国总统奥巴马，英国著名小说家J.K.罗琳，以及马丁.路德.金等文化政治名人做了一次面对面的精神交流。教室里，同学们聚精会神，时而又掌声雷动；不时为他们的箴言警句所触动。更棒的是，这些表演都来自他们熟悉的声音。

来自每个英语小班的1名同学在这两个早上给全年级同学带来了一次身临其境的“巡回演讲秀”。他们流利的表达，惟妙惟肖的模仿，为新学期的英语学习注入了激情，目标和信心。

以下是几位同学的活动感受：

Last week we had a meaningful activity of English speeches. Every student imitated a famous person’s speech and showed it in the class. And the best ones gave speeches in other classes in turn.

This speech activity was quite different from the ones before. As the speeches were not written by ourselves, it might be a little difficult for us to understand. We were also acquainted with many new words, sentences, patterns and idiomatic sayings. We have learned how to imitate the interesting and special intonation of speeches. This is what we can’t learn from common English learning.

Besides the improvement in English colloquialism and grammar, it also brought us making breakthrough more or less. For instance, I was shy to give speeches in public, with so many other students staring at me. However, if I want to finish this speech homework successfully, I mustn’t be so shy like that, for famous people are never shy or speak with shutter when giving a speech. Therefore, I practiced again and again, and when I was on the platform, I felt calm and did my best. This activity helped me solve a problem and made me become more confident.

We did get a lot from this activity. It enriched our English learning and made us have fun learning English.

Dora 初三8班 贾姝

Today our English class is crowded with celebrities. As soon as “Martin Luther King” had finished his inspiring speech, “Abraham Lincoln” took control of the stage. Silence and applause took turns to blur. That’s because the speech imitation show for Junior 3 is starting a fire.

During the whole winter vacation, students worked really hard to get their speeches well-prepared. At the beginning of this semester, each student was given an equal opportunity to perform as a celebrity. After a furious competition, each small class selected one best student to present in the grade, and therefore, students had a chance to learn from others.

I was very fortunate to be both an audience and a presenter. Being a presenter, I gained experience and exercise. I chose a speech from TED and shared ideas of “English mania”. I made a PowerPoint and prepared some aids, helping to show the best of me on stage. Standing in front of the whole class, staring in the curious eyes of my audience, I felt confidence expanding in my heart. The words might be tough to understand but it never matters. Speeches are about delivering your ideas to the others with your language and manner, and therefore this activity trained us in confidence and manner.

Being an audience, I learnt from others. Speeches range from “Yes We Can” from Brack Obama, “I Have A Dream” from Martin Luther King, as well as J.K. Rowling’s commencement at Stanford University, and a ten-year-old girl’s talk in the UN. Through the activity, we not only had a glimpse of those outstanding celebrities, but also learned from presenters’ fluent English. They gave perfect performances and established good examples of out study.

For all of us, this activity is a great chance to enhance our language skills and left an unforgettable influence. Just like the slogan of TED --”Ideas worth spreading”. They are speeches worth communicating.

Leila 初三5班 李佳迅

Last week, we had a special activity called Speech Show. In order to improve our pronunciation and intonation, and help us broaden our horizons and widen our English knowledge, the students in junior three were supposed to recite some speeches which were delivered by some favorite people during the winter vacation. Every student prepared a speech and delivered it in his own class, and the best student in every class was chosen to recite the speech to students from other classes. It would be a great chance for the student to show himself.

Now let’s take a look at some of the wonderful speeches which were delivered by the students.

William：I urge all Americans... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.

William from 3A delivered the speech from Senator McCain. As we can see, although McCain lost the campaign, he showed his congratulations to Obama and urge the Americans to support Obama. As a loser, he is so graceful that he really impressed us. Also, William did a good job and we were impressed by his fantastic imitation and sensational delivery.

Lucille: Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called childish? For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish, which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these events: Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself: Who's responsible? Adults.

Lucille from 8B is a really powerful speaker and she was so confident that we were all impressed by her performance.

Valentina: Two days ago here in Brazil, we were shocked when we spent time with some children living on the streets. This is what one child told us, ‘I wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the street children food, clothes, medicines, shelter and love and affection’. If a child on the street who has nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything still so greedy? I can’t stop thinking that these are children my own age that it makes a tremendous difference where you are born. I am only a child, yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on finding environmental answers and ending poverty, what a wonderful place this earth would be.

Valentina from 1B delivered a speech from a child who asked people to save the environment and save our world. Her sweet voice gave us a great impression.

Carlos: I am nearly finished. I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children's godparents, the people to whom I've been able to turn in times of trouble, friends who have been kind enough not to sue me when I've used their names for Death Eaters. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.

Carlos from class 3B’s speech was delivered by J. K. Rolling at Harvard University’s graduation. We appreciate that he imitated British accent very well.

Rocky: Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that Nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who gave their lives that Nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Rocky from class 4B and a student from class 1A recited this speech which was delivered by Abraham Lincoln. Rocky is a powerful speaker and he had very good body language.

Every student did a wonderful job. We applaud for their marvelous performance.

This Speech Show helped us make a great progress in delivering an English Speech. Not only could we improve our pronunciation and intonation, but also learn the way to write a speech. I hope we will have more activities like that.

Kitty 初三3班 张丽君

优秀演讲名单：

2A  寿天艺  Valentina  柳昊天  Dick

2B  邵  钰  Blanche

3A  周  臻  William

3B  周艺博  Tom  张晨曦  Carlos

4A  孔翊蘋  Gilgamesh

4B  叶章忆  Rocky

5A  柴梓晗  Jerry  柯世坤  Barry

5B  何应琛  Ross

6A  周超杰  Phoenix

6B  唐  诗  Halie

7A  吴笑翠  Tracy

8A  林加訸  Lucy  季莹莹  Sophie

7B  陈庭羲  Steven 

8B  黄楚梵  Lucille