Alumni stories reveal how developing oracy skills can change lives
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Hear from our alumni about the difference the ESU has made. Their stories reveal how developing oracy skills can change lives.

The Schools’ Mace debating contest taught me that if you fight and you work, you can win

Dorothy Byrne

Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4

Winner of the ESU Schools’ Mace debating competition 1970

Debating transformed my life

Tommy Seagull

Incoming pupil barrister

Winner of the ESU Schools’ Mace debating competition 2012

If I hadn’t done the Schools’ Mace Competition, I wouldn’t be presenting Channel 4 News now

Krishnan Guru-Murthy

JOURNALIST & BROADCASTER

Winner of the ESU’s School’s Mace Competition, 1984
Changing Lives
A picture of smiling Michael Crick wearing contact lens glasses sitting inside his office with two computer screens and a keyboard on the desk.

Michael Crick

The public speaking competition gave me confidence I could do things on a national scale.
Changing Lives
Photo of teenager Ahmad Nawaz in a blue t-shirt smiling

Ahmad Nawaz

I realised that if we all speak out about what we think is wrong in society, we can change it.
Changing Lives
Paul Boateng close up with columns of Parliament behind him

Paul Boateng

The ESU gave me confidence that I could be a winner in a strange land.

Public speaking taught me that if you speak effectively, people will listen. That’s intoxicating

Rory Bremner

Impressionist and comedian

Winner of the ESU Public Speaking Competition 1979

Dialogue is the key to global understanding

Sir Trevor McDonald

Broadcaster

Former English-Speaking Union governor

Public speaking taught me it’s good not to be comfortable in my opinions

Anita Anand

Broadcaster and author

Winner of the ESU’s Public-Speaking Competition, 1991
Changing Lives
A picture of Rosie Millard OBE and former chair of Hull city of culture wearing her medals, smiling with arms akimbo and standing in front of a little bush.

Rosie Millard

My exchange taught me it’s good to be outside your comfort zone.
Changing Lives
A photograph of Ed Stourton and Sir Nicolas Mostyn standing inside a theatre and laughing.

Edward Stourton and Sir Nicholas Mostyn

Debating taught us that ‘If you can speak in this country, you can do anything’.
Changing Lives
Image of KT Tunstall posing to the side

KT Tunstall

My ESU exchange was the springboard for deciding what to do with my future

Debating gave me opportunities I’d never dreamed of before

Bilal Mahmood

Solicitor

ESU debate alumnus & governor

My year in America opened my eyes to civil rights and what they mean

Daphne James

Retired teacher

ESU Secondary School Exchange student

My exchange gave me a different perspective on Britain

Dick Clement

Writer and director

ESU Secondary School Exchange student
Changing Lives
Large portrait of James Scruby

James Scruby

I was a very shy teenager and I gained so much confidence.
Changing Lives
Fatima pictured with a bright yellow top infront of astone wall

Fatima Pamsm-Conteh

Debate Academy opened my mind to different opinions.
Changing Lives
Martin Laming, Astrophysicist is an ESU Lindemann Fellow

Martin Laming

My science scholarship gave me a new life in America.

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A young pupil passionately sharing his ideas while his team mate smiles and listens to him

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 Four primary school pupils (all girls) standing inside a classroom, and one raised her hand in the air.

Our mission

The ESU’s mission is to give young people the speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding they need to thrive

 A pupil standing and delivering her speech at an ESU debating and public speaking competition while her teammates watch her and her opponents listen and write down their notes

Competitions

Take your students’ debating or public speaking skills to the next level with one of our competitions


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