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Indian triumphs in Best Young Asian Speaker title

Young learners from across Asia gathered in Cambridge, UK, this month to compete for the title of Cambridge English Best young Speaker from Asia Competition, hosted for the first time in the UK by Cambridge ESOL. The winner, from India, said it presented her with a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Sruthi Vijayachandran won an MBA scholarship with LSBF

The nine winners from the national competitions in Asia were competing for a an MBA scholarship and a Diploma in Business scholarship

The nine winners from the national competitions in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and  Hong Kong were competing for a an MBA scholarship at the London School of Business Finance (LSBF) and a Diploma in Business scholarship at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

The winner was Sruthi Vijayachandran, from India (pictured). “I feel overwhelmed,” she told The PIE News. “I just finished my degree in public relations in India and got married in May. Winning an MBA at the London School of Business definitely changes things.”

Vijayachandran and her eight competitors were required to give a five minute prepared speech on the advantages and disadvantages of the Olympics before an invited audience and panel of expert judges.

Next, they presented a three minute talk on a topic assigned to them just 30 minutes before presenting. In the last phase of the competition, they answered three questions from a question master relating to business practices and professional life.

Eight competitors were required to give a five minute prepared speech on the Olympics

Coming second place and winning a diploma to the University of Australia in Tasmania was the youngest competitor, 16 year-old Trinh Hoang Nam from Vietnam. He stood out in the competition for his lively newscaster-style speech and lucky t-shirt and headband.

“I’m wearing the exact same thing that I wore when I won the national competition in Vietnam, except for the shoes,” he said.

The judges were impressed by both Vijayachandran and Trinh Hoang Nam’s ability to judge their audience correctly and recognise the business oriented formality required by the competition and its sponsors.

Second place winner Trinh Hoang Nam from Vietnam

This is the first time Cambridge English has invited participants to Cambridge to compete. It hopes the competitions will encourage the development of English presentation skills for career enhancement and increased opportunities for studying and working in international business contexts.

Currently only offered in Asia, organisers say if the competition garners a good reception, they hope to hold similar events in other regions in the world.

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