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Regular version of the site

"HSE Talks format is very interesting and modern!"

HSE Talks was organized by the HSE-Perm School of Foreign Languages together with MAEI GSS №12. The competition was conceived not only as a language and public speaking practice, but also an opportunity for students to express their opinion on topical issues, and to create a community of people who are passionate about learning foreign languages. The winners of the main (intramural) stage were determined by the competition committee, which consisted of the lecturers of the HSE-Perm School of Foreign Languages. The winners and prize-winners were given HSE certificates and merch, and all the participants received positive emotions, made new acquaintances, and were inspired to improve their language learning and public speaking skills.

 

HSE Talks-2023 Winners

  • English language section

    1ST PLACE – ALEXEY KATAEV, SCHOOL № 7

    Supervisor – Tatiana Zakirova

    2ND PLACE – KIRA OZHGIBESOVA, GYMNASIUM № 4

    Supervisor – Larisa Ovtsyna

    3RD PLACE – OLESYA CHUDINOVA, GYMNASIUM № 4

    Supervisor – Larisa Ovtsyna

  • German language section

    1ST PLACE – DMITRY VERSHININ, SCHOOL № 12

    Supervisor – Natalia Shakirova

    2ND PLACE – MARIA WOLF, SCHOOL № 12

    Supervisor – Olga Merkuryeva

    3RD PLACE – MARIA LITVINOVA, STUDENT OF THE "FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS” PROGRAMME

    Supervisor – Tatiana Moshanskaya

Alexey Kataev, school № 7

Alexey Kataev, school № 7

My English teacher recommended me taking part in the contest. About five pupils from our English group took part in the first round, and only I managed to pass it. It's a pity that others didn’t.

 

I liked the topic "Do technologies increase students’ motivation to learn?" because, on the one hand, it was clear that there was no need to go far to get the answer but, on the other hand, it was original and not the most obvious as modern technologies were more often studied in terms of their influence on the quality of teaching and learning than on students’ motivation. The contest was interesting and well arranged. Personally, I was not familiar with such contests, and that one attracted me immediately.

 

The presentation was not easy. I had trained my memory, and learnt the speech the evening before the presentation, but since I had no public speaking experience, I was very nervous about giving a speech in front of a new audience. Fortunately for me, the contest was held in a quite welcoming atmosphere. Frankly speaking, I will be glad if the contest expands and gathers even more listeners. I think this experience of performance will help me in the future.

 

I was satisfied with the text prepared for the speech and thought that I would perform well and, perhaps, become a prize-winner. However, I did not really hope to become a winner, I mean I did not have high expectations. I would like to thank other participants of the contest for interesting presentations and the organizers for a well-arranged contest.

Olesya Chudinova, Gymnasium № 4

Olesya Chudinova, Gymnasium № 4

I learnt about the contest from my teacher. When choosing a topic, I tried to consider different options and take the one that is not often discussed and not obvious in arguments. The topic of motivation that I chose was resonating with me at that moment. So, I thought it would be the most interesting topic to discuss.

I think the contest format is really successful: you do not have to follow strict rules and make extra preparations. All you need is your speech, your opinion, the mood you create, and love for the audience. It was easy and comfortable: in such a friendly atmosphere, the anxiety fades away during the performance.

Kira Ozhgibesova, Gymnasium № 4

Kira Ozhgibesova, Gymnasium № 4

I am in awe of the contest! I found out about it from my English teacher. I chose the topic in accordance with my interests and knowledge so that I would have something to say to the audience. The HSE Talks format is very interesting and modern. I liked the idea that we had to speak from our hearts without any presentations and pictures, just a speech. It was not hard to perform, but I was a little worried. Thanks a lot for the opportunity to participate in such an unusual event!

Maria Litvinova, student of the "Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication in Business” programme

Maria Litvinova, student of the "Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication in Business” programme

I made up my mind about participation in HSE Talks as soon as I learnt that there was an opportunity to prepare a speech in German. Despite I had been studying it only for a year and a half and was not so fluent as in English, I thought it would be a great challenge to myself to make up quite a long speech and present it in the second foreign language in front of a new audience. Moreover, to get the most out of participation, I chose the most interesting topic for me – "How Technology Affects Student Motivation to Learn”.

In the end, everything turned out to be not as hard and scary as it might have seemed at the beginning of the preparation. The main thing is to believe in yourself and understand that no matter what happens, you are very well.

Tatiana Moshanskaya, Professor of the School of Foreign Languages at HSE Perm, German Language Section

Tatyana Moshchanskaya

The talks were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The audience received the presentations of all the participants with great interest. The most popular topic of the presentations was "Will computers be able to replace teachers”. All the section participants showed excellent command of the German language. Dmitry Vershinin, a student of school №12, was ranked first. In addition to his excellent pronunciation and rich vocabulary, he came up with the most convincing arguments. Maria Wolf, also a student of school №12, was ranked second with her highly informative presentation based on deep reflection. Maria Litvinova, a student of the Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication in Business programme was ranked third. She talked about the problem of students’ motivation in foreign studies.

Both schoolchildren and students emphasised that they really liked the talks format and exchange of opinions.

Igor Serebryakov, Professor of the School of Foreign Languages at HSE Perm, English Language Section

Серебряков Игорь Андреевич

The participants demonstrated not only a high level of language skills, but also an ability to argue their position. All participants’ talks were highly appreciated by the jury, but Alexey Kataev (MAEI GSS №7), Olesya Chudinova (Gymnasium №4) and Kira Ozhgibesova (Gymnasium №4) were absolute leaders.

Public speaking skills are among basic communication skills of the XXI century and key elements of language training. Public speaking in a foreign language does not only allow to level up language skills, but to get a powerful incentive for further in-depth language learning.