WE ARE THE CHAMPION: (Standing from 10th left) Ngelamblong, Lim, Chieng (standing thirteenth left) and students of SMK St Joseph, Kuching celebrate their win.
SIBU: Choral speaking has been recommended as a tool for students to improve their command of English.
In suggesting this, assistant divisional education officer Lim Chun Len yesterday said choral speaking had its value if students wanting to improve their language skills would approach choral speaking enthusiastically and systematically.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the state level inter-primary and secondary school choral speaking competition at SMK St Elizabeth yesterday.
“It provides essential learning of English vocabulary in a group, thus reducing pressure on individuals to perfect English speaking.
“I personally believe that choral speaking is one of the activities that can assist in developing human capital.
“Through this kind of competition, it is our fervent hope that awareness is created among the students of the importance of upgrading themselves in the English language.”
Lim believed that choral speaking competitions could be a catalyst for students to start using and learning English in a more serious manner.
The benefits of choral speaking, as Lim noted, included the inculcation of the spirit of cooperation as it directed the participants towards a common goal.
“As a group activity, it enables the shy ones to speak out and be corrected in the aspect of right projection of the language,” he said.
SJK Chung Hua, Miri emerged champion in the primary school category which saw SK St Joseph, Kuching in second place and SJK Wah Man Sarikei, third.
The best conductor award went to SK St Joseph, Kuching.
For the secondary school category, SMK St Joseph, Kuching won the first prize with SMK Chung Hua, Miri winning the second prize and SMK Tiong Hin, Sibu, third.
The best conductor for this category went to SMK Chung Hua, Miri.
Among those present at the function was SMK St Elizabeth principal Clement Chieng and the assistant director of the co-curricular unit of the state Education Department, Ngelamblong Anggik.