In line with STI College-Muñoz EDSA’s mission of building empowered communities through the youth, the institution held its first-ever “Public Speaking for Teens and Giving Constructive Evaluations for Language Teachers” last February 5, 2016 at the school’s Audio-Visual Room. The said event was graced by 13 students and three teachers from our neighboring High Schools – Ismael Mathay High School and Balingasa High School.

The Empowerment Affairs Head and an English Coach Erika M. Ilagan, guided the students with the basics of public speaking. To engage the students in communication opportunities, a breakout session followed where the students were subdivided into different groups facilitated by the officers of STI College-Muñoz EDSA’s English for Power Club. Led by its President Danimae Reataza, a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) student, together with Vice President for Education Mike Janus Lopez, another BSIT student, and Sergeant-at-Arms Roniel Caezar Tecson, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology student, each member of the group was given a chance to pick for a topic that they can discuss, expound with their ideas and personal stories. On the other hand, while the students are on their breakout session the teachers had their workshop on how to give constructive evaluations, still with Coach Erika, a National Champion on Evaluation Speech Contest of District 75 Toastmasters International.

In order to boost the self-confidence and thinking skills of the students while providing the teachers for avenues on additional skills in preparation to k-12, a battle on impromptu speech among students and evaluation speech among the teachers were held to practice what they learned from the previous activities. The students chose one representative from their group who delivered a two-minute speech on the topic: “Good things come to those who wait”. On the other hand, our very own Communications Head Lyzane L. Acal served as the test speaker with her speech entitled “Unstringed Puppet” which was the piece evaluated by the teachers.

The said activity would mark the ongoing partnership between the STI College-Muñoz EDSA and our neighboring schools towards better communication skills that will be at par with the upcoming globalization posted by ASEAN2020.

By Rachel V. Diano and Erika M. Ilagan