Vilva Vignesh. R. K. K
I CIVIL
The Department of English at our college provided an excellent opportunity for the first-year students to showcase their speaking skills and talents through the ‘Block and Tackle’ competition organised by the English Literary Association on September 26, 2024.
The very first opportunity came to us freshers in the name of ‘Block and Tackle’. With a preparation time of less than a minute, students had to prepare themselves to talk ‘For’ and ‘Against’ a given topic. Some may think this isn’t a big deal, but here’s the twist: students had to switch between their arguments on the judges’ command, adding an extra layer of challenge.
The competition started with 58 participants, waiting anxiously to present. The topics were both common and unique, enabling the students to think differently. The main objective of this competition is firstly – bringing out and encouraging students to become public speakers and to teach students how to view a topic objectively (reviewing the pros and cons), how to prepare and present ideas in a few minutes, and how to think quickly with sharp reflexes (switching to pros and cons on command).
In the student notes; Some felt nervous and mentioned that this competition boosted their confidence. Others learned valuable lessons about public speaking and presenting ideas. Some realized that while they knew how to speak, effective public speaking requires special skills. Overall, it was a new and memorable experience for all first-year students. It left us first-year students with a sense of curiosity and excitement for future competitions.
