tomemarch28thwasaluckyday.itwasonthatparticulareveningthatifoundmyselfatcentralstage,intheotlight.wiingthe21stcentury·ericoncueventhnationalenglisheakingcompetitionisamemorythatishalltreasureandonethatwillsurelystay.moreimportantthanwiingthecupisthefriendshipthathaeenestablishedanddevelopedamongthecontestants,andthechancetocommunicateoffstageinadditiontocompetingotage.alsothecompetitionheloostpubliceakinginchina,askillhithertoundervalued.forme,though,thecompetitionisamorepersonalexperience.habituallyshy,ihadbeenreluctanttotakepartinanysuchactivities.encouragedbymyfriends,however,imadealast-minutedecisiontogiveitatry.inthecourseofpreparationisomehowrediscoveredmyself,atruerme.ifoundthat,afterall,ilikecommunicatingwithotherpeople;thatexchangingviewscaesomuchfun—andsomuchrewarding,bothemotionallyandintellectually;thatpubliceakingismosteffectivewhenyouareleastguarded;andthatitiseentialtosucceineverywalkoflife.atamorepracticallevel,irealizedknowingwhatyouaregoingtosayandhowyouaregoingtosayitareequallyimportant.totaketheoriginalideasoutofyourheadandtralantthem,sotoeak,tothatofothers,youneedtohaveanorganizedmind.thisabilityimproveswithtraining.yetthereshouldnotbeanylooradditionordistortionintheproce.thoseideasthatfinallyfindtheirwayintoanotherheadneedtoberecognizablyyours.languageisameatotramitinformation,notameatootructcommunication.itshouldbelucidtobepenetrating.inchina,certaiubliceakingskillshavebeenundulyemphasized.willitreallyhelp,wearecompelledtoask,tobangatthepodiumoryellatthetopofyourlungs,ifyouhavecomewithapoorlyorganizedeech,amuddledmind,andunwillingnetotrulyshareyourviews?aboveall,thesinglemostimportantthingilearntwasthatasapubliceaker,youneedtopayattention,firstandforemost,tothecontentofyoureech.andsecond,thestructureofyoureech:howoneidearelatesandprogreestoanother.onlyafterthesecomedeliveryandnon-verbalcommunicatio