SPEECH FESTIVAL: The Shooting Stars – James Carter

Speech 2012 Festival Poem: The Shooting Stars – James Carter

This video is a pronunciation guide for the Hong Kong 2012 Speech Festival poems – it is to demonstrate articulation only, performers should decide on how to deliver the poem!

The Shooting Stars

That night
we went out in the dark
and saw the shooting stars
was one of the best nights ever

It was as if someone
was throwing paint
across the universe

The stars just kept coming
and we ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’
like on bonfire night

And it didn’t matter
they weren’s real stars-
just bits of dust on fire
burning up in the atmosphere

And we stayed out there for ages
standing on this tiny planet
staring at theh vast cosmos

And I shivered
with the thrill
of it all

Here are a few useful tips…

• Make sure you understand your poem. Ask for help if there are any words you don’t know. Think about when and where the poem is set. What is the message? The meaning?
• Try to find out about the author.
• Make sure you can remember your poem well. Read it aloud, practice at home, write it down and learn it line-by-line, piece-by-piece. Perform your poem for your mom, dad, helper, grandparents, cat, dog, me – anyone who will listen.
• Use expression and intonation carefully. This means you should show some emotion and use your voice to match your poem. Express the exciting parts, sad parts and happy parts. However, don’t get over-excited and try to keep your body and hands still – most judges do not like actions or body language.
• Take breaks, relax, don’t be nervous. Take a deep breath before reading!
• Go to howjsay.com for help with pronunciation or download this video as an MP3 to your computer/ipod/phone.
• Find more tips and advice here: http://bit.ly/R0nVwJ and here.

Below is a 2010 presentation on the Hong Kong Speech Festival, shared with permission from HKU’s Gary Harfitt…

Good luck!

– Mr Tom.