16Aug

2026 校際朗誦節粵語及普通話誦材目錄

Speech & Drama Speech Festival

地區及項目編號	項目	語言組別	性別組別	年級	誦材
U/E/K/Y 302	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學五、六年級	1) 詠懷 - 阮籍 & 2) 摸魚兒 - 元好問
U/E/K/Y 303	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學四年級	1) 行路難 - 李白 & 2) 待定踏莎行　春暮 - 寇準
U/E/K/Y 304	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學三年級	1) 九日齊山登高 - 杜牧 & 2) 浪淘沙令 - 李煜
U/E/K/Y 305	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學二年級	1) 餞別王十一南遊 - 劉長卿 & 2) 浪淘沙近 - 宋祁
U/E/K/Y 306	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學一年級	1) 詠老馬 - 沈烱 & 2) 生查子 - 歐陽修
U/E/K/Y 307	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學六年級	聽 - 洛美
U/E/K/Y 308	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學五年級	海戀──記臺灣北海岸石門 - 廖書蘭
U/E/K/Y 309	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學四年級	在這夏天 - 李廣田
U/E/K/Y 310	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學三年級	螳螂和蟬 - 林武憲
U/E/K/Y 311	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學二年級	天上的星星 - 向陽
U/E/K/Y 312	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學一年級	慈母 - 周鑑超
U/E/K/Y 314	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學五、六年級	1) 觀刈麥 - 白居易 & 2) 卜算子　黃州定惠院寓居作 - 蘇軾
U/E/K/Y 315	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學四年級	1) 古詩十九首．東城高且長 - 佚名 & 2) 鷓鴣天　送人 - 辛棄疾
U/E/K/Y 316	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學三年級	1) 杜工部蜀中離席 - 李商隱 & 2) 鵲橋仙 - 陸游
U/E/K/Y 317	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學二年級	1) 蜀相 - 杜甫 & 2) 菩薩蠻 - 納蘭性德
U/E/K/Y 318	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學一年級	1) 飲酒 - 陶淵明 & 2) 浣溪沙 - 李璟
U/E/K/Y 319	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學六年級	問 - 周鑑超
U/E/K/Y 320	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學五年級	香港之歌 - 孫重貴
U/E/K/Y 321	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學四年級	山旅──記臺灣中部橫貫公路 - 廖書蘭
U/E/K/Y 322	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學三年級	越過高山 - 安之
U/E/K/Y 323	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學二年級	眼睛(節錄) - 楊喚
U/E/K/Y 324	詩詞獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學一年級	風 - 尹世霖
U/E/K/Y 326	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學五、六年級	1) 聽穎師彈琴 - 韓愈 & 2) 祝英臺近　晚春 - 辛棄疾
U/E/K/Y 327	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學三、四年級	1) 戲答元珍 - 歐陽修 & 2) 蟾宮曲 • 金陵懷古 - 盧摯
U/E/K/Y 328	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學一、二年級	1) 春夜喜雨 - 杜甫 & 2) 水仙子 • 尋梅 - 喬吉
U/E/K/Y 329	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學五、六年級	成功之門不上鎖 - 鍾桂蘭
U/E/K/Y 330	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學三、四年級	曬太陽 - 林武憲
U/E/K/Y 331	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學一、二年級	沙灘 - 顧城
U/E/K/Y 332	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學五、六年級	1) 月十七日夜醉中作 - 陸游 & 2) 賀新郎　送胡邦衡謫新州 - 張元幹
U/E/K/Y 333	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學三、四年級	1) 金陵驛 - 文天祥 & 2) 太常引　建康中秋夜爲呂叔潛賦 - 辛棄疾
U/E/K/Y 334	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學一、二年級	1) 渡荊門送別 - 李白 & 2) 清平樂　獨宿博山王氏菴 - 辛棄
U/E/K/Y 335	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學五、六年級	風 - 謝武彰
U/E/K/Y 336	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學三、四年級	聽雪 - 金波
U/E/K/Y 337	詩詞獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學一、二年級	秋天的信 - 林武憲
U/E/K/Y 402	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學五、六年級	禮記．大學(節錄)
U/E/K/Y 403	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學四年級	白馬湖之冬(節錄) - 夏丏尊
U/E/K/Y 404	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學三年級	雨後虹(節錄) - 徐志摩
U/E/K/Y 405	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學二年級	淡淡的生活(節錄) - 曾琪淑
U/E/K/Y 406	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	中學一年級	生命成長的意義 - 廖書蘭
U/E/K/Y 407	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學六年級	生命的訊息(節錄) - 席慕蓉
U/E/K/Y 408	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學五年級	蒙娜麗莎的微笑(節錄) - 琦君
U/E/K/Y 409	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學四年級	安樂窩(節錄) - 琹涵
U/E/K/Y 410	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學三年級	狗 • 貓 • 鼠(節錄) - 魯迅
U/E/K/Y 411	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學二年級	香蝴蝶 - 張秋生
U/E/K/Y 412	散文獨誦	粤語組	女子組	小學一年級	勤勞與懶惰 - 湯祥龍
U/E/K/Y 414	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學五、六年級	諫太宗十思疏(節錄) - 魏徵
U/E/K/Y 415	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學四年級	讀園林(節錄) - 董橋
U/E/K/Y 416	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學三年級	鷹(節錄) - 王良和
U/E/K/Y 417	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學二年級	今夜星光燦爛(節錄) - 小思
U/E/K/Y 418	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	中學一年級	勿吝惜讚美(節錄) - 東瑞
U/E/K/Y 419	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學六年級	老榕移居(節錄) - 小思
U/E/K/Y 420	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學五年級	流星雨(節錄) - 韋婭
U/E/K/Y 421	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學四年級	阿里山小唱 • 觀日出 - 畢璞
U/E/K/Y 422	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學三年級	誰先綠的 - 張秋生
U/E/K/Y 423	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學二年級	貓(節錄) - 老舍
U/E/K/Y 424	散文獨誦	粤語組	男子組	小學一年級	耳朵(節錄) - 阿濃
U/E/K/Y 426	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學五、六年級	六國論(節錄) - 蘇洵
U/E/K/Y 427	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學三、四年級	大隱者言 • 樹(節錄) - 杏林子
U/E/K/Y 428	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	中學一、二年級	茶(節錄) - 王良和
U/E/K/Y 429	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學五、六年級	推開心靈的窗戶 - 柳迦柔
U/E/K/Y 430	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學三、四年級	學詩筆記(一)(節錄) - 顧城
U/E/K/Y 431	散文獨誦	普通話組	女子組	小學一、二年級	玩滑梯的小星星(節錄) - 張秋生
U/E/K/Y 432	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學五、六年級	滿井遊記(節錄) - 袁宏道
U/E/K/Y 433	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學三、四年級	杜鵑花與杜鵑鳥(節錄) - 舒慧
U/E/K/Y 434	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	中學一、二年級	花鳥(節錄) - 余光中
U/E/K/Y 435	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學五、六年級	你是獨特的(節錄) - 韋婭
U/E/K/Y 436	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學三、四年級	我並不要贏別人(節錄) - 張曉風
U/E/K/Y 437	散文獨誦	普通話組	男子組	小學一、二年級	哎喲，好痛好痛(節錄) - 張秋生
N439	說故事	粤語組	男女皆可	小學五、六年級	自選誦材不能選自今屆比賽目錄內之指定誦材。
N440	說故事	粤語組	男女皆可	小學三、四年級	自選誦材不能選自今屆比賽目錄內之指定誦材。
N441	說故事	粤語組	男女皆可	小學一、二年級	自選誦材不能選自今屆比賽目錄內之指定誦材。
N442	二人朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學五、六年級	郊迎管仲(節錄) - 唐羚
N443	二人朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學三、四年級	留取丹心照汗青(節錄) - 劉秋生選編
N444	二人朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學一、二年級	師生緣 - 唐羚
N445	二人朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學組	奇聯巧對(節錄) - 李仲賢編撰
N459	天主教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學組	若望福音(12.23-28)
N460	天主教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學組	路加福音(9.1-6)
N461	基督教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學五、六年級	傳道書(3:9-15)
N462	基督教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學三、四年級	彌迦書(4:1-4)
N463	基督教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學一、二年級	約翰福音(13:31-35)
N464	基督教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學四至六年級	馬太福音(3:13-17)
N465	基督教經文朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學一至三年級	馬太福音(6:9-13)
N466	佛教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學五、六年級	於第一義而不動(節錄) - 霍韜晦
N467	佛教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學三、四年級	華嚴經　卷六十一　入法界品之二(節錄)
N468	佛教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學一、二年級	佛說阿彌陀經(節錄)
N469	佛教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學四至六年級	法句經(節錄)
N470	佛教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學一至三年級	小小的過失 - 印順法師
N471	道教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學五、六年級	1) 塵累 - 姬志眞 & 2) 沁園春　示眾 - 丘處機
N472	道教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學三、四年級	1) 居山 - 姬志眞 & 2) 青蓮池上客　幽棲 - 丘處機
N473	道教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學一、二年級	1) 惜芳菲 - 邵雍 & 2) 黃鶴洞中仙　贈同道 - 丘處機
N474	道教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學四至六年級	1) 談論各處見解未知實際贈陳學士 - 尹志平 & 2) 憶王孫　自詠 - 王丹桂
N475	道教詩文作品朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學一至三年級	1) 旅邸睡起 - 白玉蟾 & 2) 山居 - 祁志誠
N476	幼兒獨誦	粤語組	男女皆可	只限五歲或以上 (2019 年 12 月 31 日或之前出生) 就讀幼稚園的兒童參加	五隻小老鼠 - 陳淑安 ( *錄影模式）
N478	幼兒獨誦	普通話組	男女皆可	只限五歲或以上 (2019 年 12 月 31 日或之前出生) 就讀幼稚園的兒童參加	五隻小老鼠 - 陳淑安 ( *錄影模式）
N479	歌詞朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學四至六年級	祈望 - 林子祥曲　潘偉源詞
N480	歌詞朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	中學一至三年級	幸運是我 - 顧嘉煇曲　鄭國江詞
N481	歌詞朗誦	粤語組	男女皆可	小學組	生命彩虹 - 鄧文傑曲　鄭國江詞

Please read the Rules and Regulations carefully before enrolment to the Speech Festival.

16Aug

2026 Speech Festival English Syllabus

Admin

Speech & Drama Speech Festival

Please read the Rules and Regulations carefully before enrolment to the Speech Festival.

Class	Class Code	Ope / Non-Open	Age or Grade	Boys / Girls	Title	Book
For complete syllabus listing, please visit HKSMSA's Website
solo verse speaking	N1	Open	Ages 5 & 6	Boys and Girls	Hiding by Coral Rumble (* Video Submission )	The Works Key Stage 1 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 153
					First line: Behind this tree	Last line: So I can fit in.
solo verse speaking	N2	Open	Age 7	Boys and Girls	Moving Away by Peter Dixon (* Video Submission )	The Works Key Stage 1 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 165
					First line: My best friend’s leaving school today,	Last line: I liked things as they were.
solo verse speaking	N3	Open	Age 8	Boys and Girls	Hello, Mrs Morley by Jan Dean	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, page 137
					First line: ello, Mrs Morley, as you can see	Last line: Next door have a Siamese – is it like that?
solo verse speaking	N4	Open	Age 9	Boys and Girls	Louder! by Roger Stevens	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, page 410
					First line: OK, Andrew, nice and clearly – off you go.	Last line: Now, Andrew, there’s no need to be silly.
solo verse speaking	N5	Open	Age 10	Boys and Girls	Missing Important Things by Peter Dixon	The Works Key Stage 1 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, pages 216-217
					First line: I didn’t go to school this week	Last line: and stayed at home with Dad.
solo verse speaking	N6	Open	Age 11	Boys and Girls	Missing by Mike Johnson	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 377
					First line: please get in touch.	Last line: Please get in touch.
solo verse speaking	N7	Open	Age 12	Boys and Girls	Sorry Sorry Sorry by James Carter	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, pages 380-381
					First 2 lines: Sorry, I wasn’t listening to a single word you said	Last line: hang on – where’ve you gone?
solo verse speaking	N8	Open	Age 13	Boys and Girls	Come on in the Water’s Lovely by Gareth Owen	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, pages 294-295
					First 2 lines: Come on in the water’s lovely It isn’t really cold at all	Last line: And just as you jumped in!
solo verse speaking	N9	Open	Age 14	Boys and Girls	What Shall I Draw? by Helen Dunmore	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 4
					First line: Draw a house with four walls	Last line: you can draw your way home.
solo verse speaking	N10	Open	Age 15	Boys and Girls	Names by Brian Moses	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, pages 374-375
					First line: My name is ‘Couldn’t care less’,	Last line: IT’S ‘LISTEN OR YOU’LL BE SORRY’.
solo verse speaking	N11	Open	Age 16	Boys and Girls	The Housemaid’s Letter by Clare Bevan	The Works 3 – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 234-235
					First line: Dear Mum,	Last 2 lines: Of your lost laughter, Mum.
solo verse speaking	N12	Open	Age 17	Boys and Girls	The Listeners by Walter de la Mare	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 457-458
					First line: ‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller,	Last line: When the plunging hoofs were gone.
Sonnet	N13	Open	Age 14 and over	Boys and Girls	Spring by Gerard Manley Hopkins	The Poetry Store – Compiled by Paul Cookson, page 90
					First line: Nothing is so beautiful as spring –	Last 2 lines: Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 20	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	Batgirl’s Disgrace by Andrea Shavick	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, page 98
					First line: Auntie Betty pulls her cloak on	Last line: Sorry. Batgirl’s in detention
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 21	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	Big Fat Budgie by Michaela Morgan	The Works Key Stage 1 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 193
					First line: I’m a big fat budgie,	Last line: I don’t do a lot.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 22	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	It’s Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, page 267
					First line: I am writing these poems	Last line: And it’s rather dark in here.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 23	Non-Open	P3	Girls	True Confession by Irene Rawnsley	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 182-183
					First line: On my birthday I wrapped	Last line: and I didn’t care.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 24	Non-Open	P3	Girls	What Are Little Girls … by Adrian Henri	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 161-162
					First 3 lines: I’m not a sugar and spice	Last line: … Made Of.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 25	Non-Open	P3	Girls	I Did Not Eat the Goldfish by Roger Stevens	The Works 3 – Chosen by Paul Cookson, page 399
					First 2 lines: I did not eat the goldfish It really was not me	Last line: Is hanging from my tail
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 26	Non-Open	P4	Girls	My Pet Mouse by David Whitehead	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 171
					First line: I have a friendly little mouse,	Last line: That works my home computer.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 27	Non-Open	P4	Girls	Job Description by Daphne Kitching	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 265
					First line: A very special person	Last line: And whom no one ever pays.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 28	Non-Open	P4	Girls	It’s Not What I’m Used to by Jan Dean	The Works 3 – Chosen by Paul Cookson, page 414
					First line: I don’t want to go to Juniors …	Last line: About ink.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 29	Non-Open	P5	Girls	When I’m Older by Lemn Sissay	Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, pages 338-339
					First line: I’ll never pull my socks up. I’ll never fold my clothes	Last 2 lines: I’ll always answer the telephone with the word Goodbye!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 30	Non-Open	P5	Girls	And My Heart Soars by Chief Dan George	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 286
					First line: The beauty of the trees,	Last line: And my heart soars.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 31	Non-Open	P5	Girls	My Dad by Peter Dixon	The Works 6 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 194
					First line: My dad’s not a teacher	Last line: and I am his child.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 32	Non-Open	P6	Girls	My Sister’s a Monster by Gillian Floyd	The Works 4 – Chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan, pages 252-253
					First line: My sister’s a monster ﹣	Last line: That my sister’s a monster.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 33	Non-Open	P6	Girls	Get Your Things Together, Hayley by Frances Nagle	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 312
					First line: Mum said the dreaded words this morning:	Last line: I say it’s terribly lonely.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 34	Non-Open	P6	Girls	For Years I Asked Uncle Harry by Valerie Bloom	The Works 4 – Chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan, pages 299-300
					First line: For years I asked Uncle Harry	Last line: Since my Uncle Harry smiled.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 35	Non-Open	S1	Girls	Midnight Meeting by Mike Jubb	The Works 4 – Chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan, page 21
					First line: On soft, silent, padded paws,	Last line: he has the mouse.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 36	Non-Open	S1	Girls	Entering a Castle by Brian Moses	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, page 75
					First line: Don’t enter a castle quietly	Last line: it is yours for the taking!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 37	Non-Open	S1	Girls	My Stepdad Is an Alien by Roger Stevens	The Works 4 – Chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan, pages 501-502
					First line: I’d suspected for some time.	Last line: So, the tail gave it away, did it?
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 38	Non-Open	S2	Girls	The First Bit by Coral Rumble	The Works 6 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 310
					First 2 lines: I love the first bit of the morning, The bit of the day that no one has used yet,	Last line: By being so quiet.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 39	Non-Open	S2	Girls	At the End of a School Day by Wes Magee	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 196-197
					First line: It is the end of a school day	Last line: on this warm afternoon in June.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 40	Non-Open	S2	Girls	Marmalade by Peter Dixon	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, page 301
					First line: He’s buried in the bushes,	Last line: and Marmalade was MINE.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 41	Non-Open	S3	Girls	Last Day by Clare Bevan	The Works 6 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, pages 51-52
					First line: This class was special.	Last 2 lines: To walk away. This class was special.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 42	Non-Open	S3	Girls	Lost, One Siamese Cat by Moira Andrew	The Works 4 – Chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan, pages 414-415
					First line: Like a stripped-down	Last 2 lines: to Jones, number 76, PLEASE.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 43	Non-Open	S3	Girls	Stage Directions for Bluebells by Dinah Hendry	The Works – Chosen by Paul Cookson, pages 496-497
					First line: OK. Everyone else off-stage –	Last 2 lines: We’ll call it ‘Late April in England, with bluebells’.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 44	Non-Open	S4	Girls	The Song of Wandering Aengus by W.B. Yeats	Read Me 2: A Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, pages 23-24
					First line: I went out to the hazel wood,	Last line: The golden apples of the sun.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 45	Non-Open	S4	Girls	My First Dog by Patricia Leighton	The Works 2 – Chosen by Brian Moses and Pie Corbett, pages 355-356
					First line: Prince was my dog,	Last line: to put them round.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 46	Non-Open	S4	Girls	Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney	Opened Ground: Poems 1966–1996 by Seamus Heaney, page 8
					First line: Late August, given heavy rain and sun	Last line: Each year I hoped they’d keep, knew they would not. (The line beneath the title not to be recited.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 47	Non-Open	S5	Girls	One Moment in Summer by David Harmer	The Works 6 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, pages 47-48
					First line: The house is dropping swallows	Last line: like an arrow.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 48	Non-Open	S5	Girls	Hide and Seek by Vernon Scannell	The Works 7 – Chosen by Brian Moses, pages 288-289
					First line: Call out. Call loud: ‘I’m ready! Come and find me!’	Last line: Yes, here you are. But where are they who sought you?
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 49	Non-Open	S6	Girls	Follower by Seamus Heaney	Opened Ground: Poems 1966–1996 by Seamus Heaney, page 11
					First line: My father worked with a horse-plough,	Last line: Behind me, and will not go away.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 50	Non-Open	S6	Girls	Dragon by Dave Calder	The Works 6 – Chosen by Pie Corbett, page 19
					First 2 lines: The dragon’s face is wrinkled and the deep lines shape a mad grin	Last line: the dragon of good fortune dances forward with fierce glee.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 51	Non-Open	P1&2	Boys	Isn’t It Amazing? by Max Fatchen	Read Me 2: A Poem for Every Day of the Year – Chosen by Gaby Morgan, page 79
					First line: Now isn’t it amazing	Last line: Now isn’t that amazing?
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 52	Non-Open	P1&2	Boys	Talking to the Wall by John Foster	The Poetry Chest by John Foster, page 33
					First line: My sister sits in her own world	Last line: She stamps her foot and shouts.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 53	Non-Open	P3	Boys	Gruesome by Roger McGough	The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry – Edited by Brian Patten, page 72
					First line: I was sitting in the sitting room	Last line: The very next day he …
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 54	Non-Open	P3	Boys	Spaghetti! Spaghetti! by Jack Prelutsky	The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems – Edited by June Crebbin, page 60
					First 2 lines: Spaghetti! spaghetti! you’re wonderful stuff,	Last line: you’re wonderful stuff. (This poem consists of 3 stanzas.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 55	Non-Open	P4	Boys	The Reader of This Poem by Roger McGough	The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry – Edited by Brian Patten, pages 74-75
					First line: The reader of this poem	Last line: Knows how to take a joke!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 56	Non-Open	P4	Boys	Bedmobile by Gareth Owen	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 182
					First line: I hear my grandad on the stair	Last line: Clenched between my teeth.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 57	Non-Open	P5	Boys	Lost Gloves by Gerard Benson	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 28
					First line: They don’t come out till the winter months	Last line: And one grey woollen, rather too large.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 58	Non-Open	P5	Boys	Cow in the Cornflakes by Margot Henderson	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 106
					First line: Mum, there’s a cow in my cornflakes.	Last line: And a whole sky in a feather.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 59	Non-Open	P6	Boys	‘M’ by Graham Denton	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 48
					First 2 lines: My younger brother is learning his letters with my mum.	Last line:
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 60	Non-Open	P6	Boys	The Soldiers Came by John Agard	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 8-9
					First line: The soldiers came	Last line: like a shower of rain.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 61	Non-Open	S1	Boys	Laughter Rap in Plastic Town by John Agard	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 10-11
					First line: One day as I was passing through plastic town	Last line: I promise my magic will bring you right back.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 62	Non-Open	S1	Boys	Rain Falls Down by Margot Henderson	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 104-105
					First line: The clouds begin to rub together	Last line: and the SUN comes out again (This poem consists of 26 lines.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 63	Non-Open	S2	Boys	Let No One Steal Your Dreams by Paul Cookson	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 42
					First 2 lines: Let no one steal your dreams Let no one tear apart	Last line: Your only limit is the sky (This poem consists of 5 stanzas.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 64	Non-Open	S2	Boys	The Boy Who Broke Things by Brian Patten	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 187-188
					First line: The boy kept breaking things.	Last line: And he wept, and he wept and he wept.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 65	Non-Open	S3	Boys	Limpet by Chrissie Gittins	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, page 83
					First line: I am a Cornish limpet,	Last line: on the sea, my fears begin to fade.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 66	Non-Open	S3	Boys	Late Home by Gervase Phinn	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 192-193
					First 2 lines: And where have you been until this time?	Last line: I live next door.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 67	Non-Open	S4	Boys	I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood	The Works 7 – Chosen by Brian Moses, pages 3-4
					First 2 lines: I remember, I remember, The house where I was born,	Last line: Than when I was a boy.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 68	Non-Open	S4	Boys	Sea Fever by John Masefield	A Poem for Every Summer Day – Edited by Allie Esiri, page 185
					First 2 lines: I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,	Last 2 lines: And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over. (The lines beneath the title not to be recited.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 69	Non-Open	S5	Boys	The First Men on the Moon by J. Patrick Lewis	A Poem for Every Summer Day – Edited by Allie Esiri, pages 158-159
					First line: ‘The Eagle has landed!’ – Apollo 11 Commander	Last line: Will soon forget the sight they saw. (The lines beneath the title not to be recited.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 70	Non-Open	S6	Boys	The Christmas Shed by Wes Magee	Michael Rosen’s A to Z: The Best Children’s Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah by Michael Rosen, pages 153-154
					First line: It was late afternoon on Christmas Day	Last 3 lines: “Same time tomorrow?” “Yeah.” “See you.”
Solo Prose Speaking	N139	Open	Age 5-6	Boys & Girls	Horrid Henry: Secret Club by Francesca Simon	Story 2, Horrid Henry: Secret Club, pages 57-59
					From: All was not well back at…	To: …Horrid Henry covered in cold MUDDY water.
Solo Prose Speaking	N140	Open	Age 7-8	Boys & Girls	Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie	Chapter 3, Come Away, Come Away!, page 27
					From: ‘Tinker Bell,’ he called softly,...	To: …and he sat on the floor and cried.
Solo Prose Speaking	N141	Open	Age 9	Boys & Girls	The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame	Chapter 3, The Wild Wood, pages 54-55
					From: The Mole fell backwards on the snow…	To: …as hard as you can, while I hammer!’
Solo Prose Speaking	N142	Open	Age 10	Boys & Girls	George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl	Grandma Gets the Medicine, pages 38-39
					From: Grandma sat hunched in her chair...	To: …‘and I’ll pop it in.’
Solo Prose Speaking	N143	Open	Age 11	Boys & Girls	Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling	Chapter 2, The Vanishing Glass, page 29
					From: The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes….	To: … YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT IT’S DOING!’
Solo Prose Speaking	N144	Open	Age 12	Boys & Girls	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne	Chapter 19, What Happened the Next Day, pages 212-213
					From: Shmuel gathered himself very close to Bruno…	To: …persuaded him to let it go.
Solo Prose Speaking	N145	Open	Age 13	Boys & Girls	Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee	Village School, pages 35-36
					From: The morning came,...	To: …I ain’t going back there again!’
Solo Prose Speaking	N146	Open	Age 14	Boys & Girls	The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde	The Selfish Giant, pages 41-44
					From: Every afternoon, as they were…	To: …the snow danced about through the trees.
Solo Prose Speaking	N147	Open	Age 15	Boys & Girls	Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah	Chapter 14, Class President, pages 146-148
					From: ‘Who are these little hooligans,’...	To: …They are not welcome!’
Solo Prose Speaking	N148	Open	Age 16 and over	Boys & Girls	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen	Chapter 59, page 426
					From: When her mother went up to…	To: …‘I can think of nothing else!
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 158	Non-Open	Primary 1 and 2	Girls	Horrid Henry: The Queen’s Visit by Francesca Simon	Story 4, Horrid Henry: The Queen’s Visit, pages 104-122
					From: The Queen was coming to Henry’s school!...	To: …‘‘How lovely,’’ said the Queen.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 159	Non-Open	Primary 3 and 4	Girls	George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl	Grandma, pages 2-8
					From: George couldn’t help disliking Grandma.…	To: …chop chop, before it bites you.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 160	Non-Open	Primary 5 and 6	Girls	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett	Chapter 5, The Cry in the Corridor, pages 49-54
					From: At first each day which passed by…	To: ...was novelty enough to attract her.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 161	Non-Open	Secondary 1	Girls	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll	Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, Chapter 9, Queen Alice, pages 220-222
					From: ‘‘Well, this is grand!’’...	To: …the Queen exclaimed triumphantly.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 162	Non-Open	Secondary 2	Girls	The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson	Tracy Beaker’s Thumping Heart, pages 161-166
					From: It all started on St Valentine’s Day.…	To: …not a pretty sight.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 163	Non-Open	Secondary 3	Girls	Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer	Part One: Attack, Chapter 1: The Cube, pages 5-11
					From: Artemis Fowl was almost content.…	To: …of course, it’s completely wireless.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 164	Non-Open	Secondary 4	Girls	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne	Chapter 3, The Hopeless Case, pages 21-29
					From: Bruno was sure that it would have…	To: …exactly what Bruno had been talking about.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 165	Non-Open	Secondary 5	Girls	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 7, A Mad Tea-Party, pages 60-63
					From: There was a table set out…	To: …Half-past one, time for dinner!’’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 166	Non-Open	Secondary 6	Girls	The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde	The Nightingale and the Rose, pages 25-37
					From: ‘She said that she would dance with...	To: …and began to read.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 167	Non-Open	Primary 1 and 2	Boys	The Twits by Roald Dahl	Chapter 8, The Funny Walking Stick; Chapter 9, Mrs Twit Has the Shrinks; Chapter 10, Mrs Twit Gets a Stretching, pages 28-42
					From: To pay Mrs Twit back for…	To: …And that’s what gave Mr Twit his second nasty idea.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 168	Non-Open	Primary 3 and 4	Boys	The Witches by Roald Dahl	Chapter 3, How to Recognize a Witch, pages 28-36
					From: The next evening,...	To: …‘It’s a fact of life.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 169	Non-Open	Primary 5 and 6	Boys	The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis	Chapter 4, Turkish Delight, pages 40-45
					From: ‘‘But what are you?’’...	To: …when you bring the others to visit me.’’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 170	Non-Open	Secondary 1	Boys	The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame	Chapter 10, The Further Adventures of Toad, pages 183-189
					From: A burst of laughter made him…	To: …And that’s my last word.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 171	Non-Open	Secondary 2	Boys	The Hundred-Mile An-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong	Chapter 11, pages 103-109
					From: ‘Walkies!’ I cried and dropped…	To: …jammed in the washing-machine.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 172	Non-Open	Secondary 3	Boys	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl	Chapter 17, Augustus Gloop Goes Up the Pipe, pages 144-152
					From: When Mr Wonka turned round and saw…	To: …No one would buy it.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 173	Non-Open	Secondary 4	Boys	Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens	Chapter 2, pages 12-18
					From: Oliver had not been within the walls…	To: …trade, business, or calling.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 174	Non-Open	Secondary 5	Boys	The Pearl by John Steinbeck	Chapter 5, pages 57-66
					From: The late moon arose before...	To: …Go thou also with God.’’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 175	Non-Open	Secondary 6	Boys	Animal Farm by George Orwell	Chapter 5, pages 33-38
					From: As winter drew on Mollie became…	To: …who was speaking at the moment.
Public Speaking Solo	N192	Open	Primary 5 and 6	Boys & Girls	Topic : The Importance of Parents in Our Lives	Context : Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Psychologist in Family Dynamics	Target Audience : Students (and Parents)
Public Speaking Solo	N193	Open	Secondary 1 and 2	Boys & Girls	Topic : How Reading Changes the Way You Think	Context : Author’s Talk
					Your Role : Famous Writer	Target Audience : School Students
Public Speaking Solo	N194	Open	Secondary 3	Boys & Girls	Topic : How Social Media Algorithms Turn Minorities into Majorities	Context : A School Assembly
					Your Role : Sociologist and author on the subject	Target Audience : Teenagers
Public Speaking Solo	N195	Open	Secondary 4	Boys & Girls	Theme : The Relationship Between Money and Happiness (The title and content of the speech should be connected with the theme. Competitors may interpret the theme in any way they wish, but may not use the theme as the title of their speech. Competitors violating this rule will have their marks affected.)	Context : International Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Representative of Hong Kong	Target Audience : Representatives from other regions
Public Speaking Solo	N196	Open	Secondary 5	Boys & Girls	Theme : The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Jobs in the Workplace (The title and content of the speech should be connected with the theme. Competitors may interpret the theme in any way they wish, but may not use the theme as the title of their speech. Competitors violating this rule will have their marks affected.)	Context : International Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Representative of Hong Kong	Target Audience : Representatives from other regions
Public Speaking Solo	N197	Open	Secondary 6 & University/Post-secondary	Boys & Girls	Theme : Challenges and Responses to an Ageing Population (The title and content of the speech should be connected with the theme. Competitors may interpret the theme in any way they wish, but may not use the theme as the title of their speech. Competitors violating this rule will have their marks affected.)	Context : International Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Representative of Hong Kong	arget Audience : Representatives from other regions
Shakespeare Monologue	N212	Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	(a) Henry V, Act 5, Scene 2	Character: Henry From: Now, fie upon my false French!... To: ...wilt thou have me?
					(b) All’s Well that Ends Well, Act 1, Scene 3	Character: Helen From: Then I confess,... To: …lives sweetly where she dies.
Shakespeare Monologue	N213	Open	Ages 10 to 14	Boys & Girls	(a) The Winter’s Tale, Act 3, Scene 3	Character: Shepherd From: I would there were no age... To: …Whoa, ho, hoa!
					(b) Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5	Character: Juliet From: The clock struck nine... To: …O God, she comes!
Shakespeare Monologue	U/E/K/Y 214	Non-Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	(a) Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1	Character: Macbeth From: Bring them before us…. To: …and stay there till we call.—
					(b) The Winter’s Tale, Act 3, Scene 2	Character: Hermione From: Sir, spare your threats…. To: …Apollo be my judge!
Shakespeare Monologue	U/E/K/Y 215	Non-Open	Ages 10 to 14	Boys & Girls	(a) Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 3	Character: Romeo From: ’Tis torture and not mercy…. To: …with that word ‘banishèd’?
					(b) The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, Scene 3	Character: Jessica From: I am sorry thou wilt leave… To: …and thy loving wife. (Omit the lines of Lancelet.)
Solo Dramatic Performance	N216	Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	5mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N217	Open	Ages 13 and 14	Boys & Girls	4mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N218	Open	Ages 11 and 12	Boys & Girls	4mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N219	Open	Ages 9 and 10	Boys & Girls	3mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N220	Open	Ages 7 and 8	Boys & Girls	3mins
News Feature Presentation	N238	Open	Secondary 1 and 2	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)
News Feature Presentation	N239	Open	Secondary 3 and 4	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)
News Feature Presentation	N240	Open	Secondary 5 and 6	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)

26Feb

LCM Speech Festival Turns 10 with Exciting New Categories!

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We are thrilled to share the first details about the 2026 LCM Speech Festival, and this year’s event is set to be the biggest and most exciting one yet. Mark your calendars because the festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in a big way .

Whether your child is a first-time performer or a seasoned speaker, there’s something new and wonderful waiting for them this year. Here’s your first look at what’s new for the 10th Anniversary LCM Speech Festival.

🎉 Save the Date: 23-25 May 2026

The festival will be held over three days, from 23 to 25 May 2026. It’s the perfect opportunity for young performers to shine on stage .

If you have a little one who’s been waiting for their turn, the age requirement is simple: any child who will be aged 3 or above by 25 May 2026 is eligible to participate !

✨ What’s New for the 10th Anniversary?

To celebrate this incredible milestone, the organisers have introduced several brand-new categories to make the festival more inclusive and challenging than ever before. Here are the highlights:

1. Nursery Rhyme for 4-Year-Olds

While the youngest participants (aged 3) have always had a place in the festival, the 2026 event will now feature a dedicated Nursery Rhyme category for the 4-year-old age group . This is a fantastic, gentle introduction to the world of performance for our littlest stars, allowing them to build confidence with simple, fun rhymes.

2. Verse Speaking for Ages 11-12

Older primary school children now have a new platform to showcase their advanced skills. A Verse Speaking category has been added for the 11-12 age group . This allows pre-teens to delve into more complex and emotionally resonant poetry, honing their interpretative skills.

3. Public Speaking Expands to Secondary School!

This is a landmark addition for the festival. For the very first time, the Public Speaking category will include a Secondary School section . This is a major step forward, providing a vital and exciting platform for teenagers to develop and demonstrate their ability to formulate ideas, argue persuasively, and speak with confidence. It’s a skill that will benefit them immensely in their academic and professional futures.

Start Preparing!

With new categories and a celebratory atmosphere, the 10th Anniversary LCM Speech Festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for all young participants. It’s the perfect time to start exploring poems, practicing delivery, and building the confidence to take the stage.

We can’t wait to see the incredible talent on display in May 2026. Stay tuned for more updates, and happy practising!

Our 2025 LCM Festival Winners

Our 2024 LCM Festival Winners

Our 2023 LCM Festival Winners

24Feb

Everything You Need to Know: The 2026 Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition

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If you’re a young student with a passion for big ideas, critical thinking, and making your voice heard on a global stage, the 2026 Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is your opportunity to shine.

Organized by the Cambridge Centre for International Research (CCIR), this prestigious annual contest invites students from around the world to engage with some of the most pressing and thought-provoking questions of our time. From the ethics of artificial intelligence to the future of democracy, Re:think challenges participants to move beyond simple answers and craft compelling, well-researched arguments.

With the 2026 competition now officially open, here is everything you need to know, including exciting new changes, this year’s essay prompts, and key dates to add to your calendar.

What’s New for 2026?

This year, the competition has expanded to welcome even more young thinkers. The most significant update is the introduction of a brand-new division:

Junior Division: For students aged 11 to 13
Senior Division: For students aged 14 to 18 (who have not yet begun undergraduate studies)

This change ensures that essays are evaluated fairly and age-appropriately, allowing younger students to develop their reasoning skills while maintaining the rigorous standards the competition is known for.

There’s also a very special reason to aim for a top spot this year. The 2026 Awards Ceremony will feature a keynote speech from a true giant of science: Dr. Barry C. Barish, the 2017 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics. Imagine having the chance to hear from—and perhaps even meet—a Nobel winner at the historic King’s College, Cambridge.

The 2026 Essay Prompts

Choose one prompt from your division that sparks your curiosity. Each is designed to encourage deep thinking and original analysis.

Key Dates for Your Diary

Planning ahead is crucial. Mark these important deadlines:

Key Requirements & How to Enter

Cost: The competition is completely free to enter.
Format: Essays must be no more than 2,000 words (this does not include footnotes or the bibliography).
Citation: You must cite all your sources using the MLA 8th edition format.
Originality: Your work must be your own. The use of AI writing assistants and plagiarism are strictly prohibited. All submissions will be checked.
Submission: Submit your essay as a PDF through the official CCIR portal. Be sure to remove your name and any personal information from the document to ensure a fair, anonymous review.

What Can You Win?

Prizes are awarded separately for each division.

Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards: 30 global winners (10 per medal) receive cash prizes, scholarships to CCIR Academy, and an invitation to the Cambridge awards ceremony.
Special Prizes (Logos, Pathos, Ethos): Three additional winners are recognized for Best Argument, Best Writing, and Best Research, each receiving a cash prize and a scholarship.
Honourable Mention: Awarded to the top 10% of participants. These students also receive an invitation to the ceremony in Cambridge.

Ready to Re:think?

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is more than just a contest. It’s a chance to develop university-level skills, earn international recognition, and join a global community of young leaders. Whether you’re in the Junior or Senior Division, this is your opportunity to explore an idea you’re passionate about and share your perspective with the world.

Start planning your essay today. We can’t wait to read what you have to say.

Visit the Office Cambridge Re:Think Website

Inquire about Personalized Coaching Sessions

22Feb

2026 HIR Writing Contest Update: Now Open to Junior Students!

Admin

Uncategorized

Big News for Young Writers! 🎉

The Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest has expanded for 2026—and we’re excited to share what’s new!

What’s New in 2026?

Junior Division Added!
For the first time, students in 7th and 8th grade can participate! The contest now offers two divisions:

Division	Grades	2026 Topic Focus
Junior	Year 7-8	Inventions that Changed How We Live
Senior	Year 9-12	Choose one: • Theme A: Global Culture in the Digital Era • Theme B: Security in a Multipolar World • Theme C: Technology, Innovation, and Power

This is a wonderful opportunity for younger students to develop research and writing skills while exploring topics that matter to them!

📅 2026 Submission Cycles

Three flexible deadlines mean students can choose the timeline that works best for them:

Cycle	Article Submission Deadline	HIR Defense Day
Spring 2026	May 31, 2026	June 29, 2026
Summer 2026	August 31, 2026	October 5, 2026
Fall/Winter 2026	January 2, 2027	February 5, 2027

Registration and payment must be completed before submitting your article.

🛡️ What is HIR Defense Day?

Defense Day is a unique opportunity for finalists to showcase their work.
Students selected as finalists are invited to a virtual event where they deliver a 15-minute presentation of their article. Following the presentation, students participate in an oral defense, answering questions from Harvard International Review judges. This process allows students to demonstrate their depth of understanding, critical thinking, and authenticity in real-time.

Prizes & Recognition

Every participant is celebrated—and top performers earn special honors!

Award	Recognition
Certificate of Completion	All students who submit an article
Commendation Prize	HIR Certificate
Outstanding Writing Content / Style Prize	HIR Certificate
High Commendation Prize	HIR Certificate
🥉 Bronze Medal	HIR Certificate + name listed on HIR website (global top 20%)
🥈 Silver Medal	HIR Certificate + name listed on HIR website (global top 10%)
🥇 Gold Medal	HIR Certificate + name listed on HIR website (global top 3%)

Quick Reminders

✅ Articles must be 800–1,200 words
✅ Global perspective required (not U.S.-focused)
✅ No AI tools allowed—strictly enforced
✅ All claims must be cited with hyperlinks
✅ Follow AP Style guidelines

Ready to Learn More?

Preparation support: Blooming Talents Education Centre offers classes to help students build confidence and skills

Inquire about HIR Writing Contest preparation classes

HIR Official Website

21Feb

John Locke Essay Competition 2026: What’s New?

Admin

Competition Essay Writing John Locke Essay Competition

John Locke Essay Competition 2026: What’s New?

The John Locke Essay Competition, one of the most prestigious accolades for young writers, has just released the details for its 2026 cycle. For students around the world hoping to showcase their critical thinking and writing skills, the new rules bring a host of significant changes.

From brand-new subject categories to a completely overhauled timeline and a revised stance on artificial intelligence, the 2026 competition looks quite different from previous years. Whether you’re a seasoned participant or considering entering for the first time, here is everything you need to know about the key changes.

At a Glance: What’s New for 2026?

If you’re short on time, here are the most critical updates you need to know, compared to the 2025 competition:

Feature	2026 Competition (The Big Changes)	2025 Competition
Subject Categories	10 categories – Added Public Policy, International Relations, and Science & Technology.	7 categories
Junior Category	Integrated. Juniors choose from the same 30 questions as Seniors but are judged separately.	Separate, simpler questions for Juniors.
Registration Dates	Earlier: February 2 – March 31	April 1 – May 31
Submission Deadline	Earlier: May 31	June 30
Shortlist Date	Earlier: July 7	July 31
AI Policy	Permitted, with caution. Allowed, but the essay must reflect the student's original voice.	AI tools strictly banned.
Prizes	Restructured: 6 prizes per subject (3 for Juniors, 3 for Seniors in each of the 10 categories).	3 prizes per subject + 3 for Junior.

A Closer Look at the 2026 Revisions

1. Three New Subject Categories

In a major expansion, the competition has moved beyond its traditional seven subjects. For 2026, students can now submit essays in:

Public Policy
International Relations
Science & Technology

This change reflects a growing interest in contemporary global affairs and interdisciplinary studies, opening the door for students whose passions lie at the intersection of science, politics, and society.

2. A New Structure for the Junior Prize

This is perhaps the most significant structural change. Previously, younger contestants (under 15) answered a dedicated, often simpler, set of questions. For 2026, Juniors must choose from the full list of 30 questions across all ten categories.

To ensure fairness, their work will be judged separately from Senior entries. This means that in each of the ten categories, there will now be three prizes awarded to Juniors and three to Seniors. This levels the playing field while still challenging younger students to tackle complex, global ideas.

3. The Entire Timeline Has Moved Forward

The 2026 schedule is roughly one month earlier than usual. This is a crucial detail for planning.

Registration Opens: February 2, 2026
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2026
Shortlist Announced: July 7, 2026

With the submission deadline now at the end of May, students need to begin their research and writing much earlier in the year.

4. A Balanced Approach to AI

In a notable shift from the strict ban in 2025, the 2026 competition now permits the use of AI tools. However, the organisers have issued a strong warning: essays must be a reflection of the student’s own mind.

The rules caution that over-reliance on AI will be detrimental. The competition is looking for independent thinking, original arguments, and an authentic voice—qualities that AI cannot replicate. The message is clear: use it as a tool, but don’t let it do the thinking for you.

5. Clarified Submission Rules

One per category: You may enter multiple categories, but you can only submit one essay per subject.
Late fees: If you miss the May 31 deadline and late submissions are open, the fee will be charged per contestant, not per essay.

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Final Thoughts

The 2026 John Locke Essay Competition is raising the bar. With more categories, a more challenging format for younger students, and a tighter timeline, it promises to be a highly competitive and exciting year.

Ready to start? Your first step is clear: mark your calendar for February 2, 2026. Use the extra time to explore the new categories and start brainstorming early.

Schedule an Initial Meeting with our Tutor

2026 John Locke Global Essay Prize Details and Essay Titles

Visit the Official John Locke Institute Website

07Feb

Celebrating Excellence: Two HIR Award Winners!

Admin

Competition Essay Writing HIR Academic Writing Contest

We are incredibly proud to announce that two Blooming Talents Education Centre students have been awarded the Outstanding Writing Style Prize in the 2025 Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest! 🏆✨

This prestigious recognition highlights their dedication to research, clarity, and crafting nuanced arguments on global issues. Their hard work and unique voices truly stood out among international peers.

While every student’s success is their own, we are honored to have supported their journey through our competition preparation classes—helping them build the confidence and skills to express their ideas effectively.

Congratulations to our award winners! Your voices matter, and we can’t wait to see where your writing takes you next.

What is new in 2026 HIR Writing Contest

The HIR Writing Contest - an introduction

HIR Official Website

14Aug

2025 Speech Festival English Syllabus

Admin

Speech & Drama Speech Festival

Please read the Rules and Regulations carefully before enrolment to the Speech Festival.

Class	Class Code	Ope / Non-Open	Age or Grade	Boys / Girls	Title	Book
For complete syllabus listing, please visit HKSMSA's Website
solo verse speaking	N1	Open	Ages 5 & 6	Boys and Girls	I Like Cabbage by John Kitching (* Video Submission )	Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar, page 21
					First line: I like eating cabbage,	Last line: Is sausages with mustard.
solo verse speaking	N2	Open	Age 7	Boys and Girls	Dorothy Porridge by Richard Edwards (* Video Submission )	The Puffin Book of Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar , page 15
					First line: Dorothy Porridge is wearing a lettuce	Last line: And nobody quite knows why.
solo verse speaking	N3	Open	Age 8	Boys and Girls	Plum by Tony Mitton	The Works 5 , page 199
					First line: Don’t be so glum,	Last line: a whole new tree.
solo verse speaking	N4	Open	Age 9	Boys and Girls	Maggie and Milly and Molly and May by e. e. cummings	The Works 5, pages 65
					First line: Maggie and milly and molly and may	Last line: it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
solo verse speaking	N5	Open	Age 10	Boys and Girls	Bookworms by Roger McGough	Roger McGough 80 Poems, page 43-44
					First line: Bookworms are the cleverest	Last line: curl up, and eat ‘The End’.
solo verse speaking	N6	Open	Age 11	Boys and Girls	Imaginary Friend by Roger McGough	Roger McGough 80 Poems, pages 92-93
					First line: I’ve got a friend	Last line: un-imaginary friend.
solo verse speaking	N7	Open	Age 12	Boys and Girls	The Whistler by June Crebbin	The Works 5, page 64-65
					First line: My little brother is almost six,	Last 2 lines: On and on . . . and on . . .‘Yes, please!’
solo verse speaking	N8	Open	Age 13	Boys and Girls	June 1963 by Jan Dean	The Big Amazing Poetry Book, pages 72-73
					First line: Valentina smiles	Last line: and smiles.
solo verse speaking	N9	Open	Age 14	Boys and Girls	The Railway Children by Seamus Heaney	The Works 5 , page 121
					First line: When we climbed the slopes of the cutting	Last line: We could stream through the eye of a needle.
solo verse speaking	N10	Open	Age 15	Boys and Girls	The Black Cat’s Conversation by Elizabeth Jennings	The Works 5, page 145-146
					First line: Do not suppose,	Last line: And I always win.
solo verse speaking	N11	Open	Age 16	Boys and Girls	About Friends by Brian Jones	The Works 5 , pages 148
					First line: The good thing about friends	Last line: I understood then what the river meant by flowing.
solo verse speaking	N12	Open	Age 17	Boys and Girls	The Harvest Moon by Ted Hughes	The Works 5 , page 133-134
					First line: The flame-red moon, the harvest moon,	Last line: Sweat from the melting hills.
Sonnet	N13	Open	Age 14 and over	Boys and Girls	Sheep in Winter by John Clare	The Works 5, page 49
					First line: The sheep get up and make their many tracks	Last line: And shun the hovel where they might be warm.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 20	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	Snowball by Shel Silverstein	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 438
					First line: I made myself a snowball	Last line: But first – it wet the bed.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 21	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	Little Silver Aeroplane – Anonymous	Read Me 2 - A Poem for Every Day of the Yearr, page 226
					First line: Little silver aeroplane	Last line: Please take me.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 22	Non-Open	P1&2	Girls	Who Has Seen the Wind? by Christina Rossetti	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 166
					First 2 lines: Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you:	Last line: The wind is passing by.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 23	Non-Open	P3	Girls	Give Yourself a Hug by Grace Nichols	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 325
					First line: Give yourself a hug	Last line: like me.’
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 24	Non-Open	P3	Girls	Shaggy Dogs by Richard Edwards	The Works Key Stage 1, page 186-187
					First line: Two sheepdogs in a field	Last line: In the warm blue weather.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 25	Non-Open	P3	Girls	Our Cats by Wes Magee	The Works Key Stage 1, page 188-189
					First line: Our cats stay out all night	Last line: they’re out there in the darkness, creeping.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 26	Non-Open	P4	Girls	It’s Spring by John Foster	The Works, page 183
					First line: It’s spring	Last line: Then dances in the sunlight.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 27	Non-Open	P4	Girls	Postcard by Tony Langham	The Works Key Stage 1 , page 163
					First line: I didn’t want to come to Spain,	Last line: Adios!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 28	Non-Open	P4	Girls	Samantha Is Sobbing by Gareth Owen	The Works Key Stage 1 page 151-152
					First line: Samantha is sobbing	Last line: Beans and margarine.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 29	Non-Open	P5	Girls	Colouring in by Jan Dean	The Big Amazing Poetry Book page 74
					First line: And staying inside the lines	Last line: Part of the place.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 30	Non-Open	P5	Girls	Someone by Walter de la Mare	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 132
					First line: Someone came knocking	Last line: At all, at all, at all.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 31	Non-Open	P5	Girls	This Is Where… by James Carter	The Big Amazing Poetry Book, page141
					First line: …I learned to be.	Last line: And this is where? My primary school.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 32	Non-Open	P6	Girls	The Cheer-up Song by John Whitworth	The Works Key Stage 1, page 154-155
					First line: No one likes a boaster	Last line: Yes it’s me! ME! MEEE!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 33	Non-Open	P6	Girls	Cobweb Morning by June Crebbin	The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems, pages 74
					First line: On a Monday morning	Last line: The cobweb morning.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 34	Non-Open	P6	Girls	Something Told the Wild Geese by Rachel Field	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 70
					First line: Something told the wild geese	Last line: Winter in their cry.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 35	Non-Open	S1	Girls	Oh, Ozzie! by Richard Edwards	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 62
					First line: ‘Polar bear in the garden!’ yelled Ozzie,	Last line: Poor Ozzie.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 36	Non-Open	S1	Girls	Greedy Dog by James Hurley	100 Best Poems for Children, page 53
					First line: This dog will eat anything.	Last line: Now what is wrong with those, I wonder.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 37	Non-Open	S1	Girls	Billy McBone by Allan Ahlberg	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page142-143
					First 3 line: Billy McBone Had a mind of his own, Which he mostly kept under his hat.	Last line: Bill’s thoughts were off wandering free.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 38	Non-Open	S2	Girls	The Garden’s Full of Witches by Colin McNaughton	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year , page 436-437
					First line: Mum! The garden’s full of witches!	Last line: Oh, you always miss the witches!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 39	Non-Open	S2	Girls	Homework! Oh, Homework! by Jack Prelutsky	100 Best Poems for Children , page 89
					First 2 line: Homework! Oh, homework! I hate you! You stink!	Last line: I hate you! You stink!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 40	Non-Open	S2	Girls	The Fear by Andrew Young	100 Best Poems for Children, page 128
					First line: How often I turn round	Last line: I trespass the earth.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 41	Non-Open	S3	Girls	The Rival Arrives by Brian Patten	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 45
					First line: Tom, take the baby out the fridge	Last line: For the wicked things you do.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 42	Non-Open	S3	Girls	My Mother Saw a Dancing Bear by Charles Causley	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 355-356
					First line: My mother saw a dancing bear	Last line: Far-distant forests, and the snow.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 43	Non-Open	S3	Girls	Twin Trouble by Anne Harvey	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 378-379
					First line: Una and Ursula,	Last line: Identical twins!’
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 44	Non-Open	S4	Girls	Literacy Hour by Clare Bevan	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, pages 90-91
					First line: So let’s make this clear,	Last 3 line: Someday, Sometime, Soon.)
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 45	Non-Open	S4	Girls	Moonlit Apples by John Drinkwater	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, pages 373
					First line: At the top of the house the apples are laid in rows,	Last line: On the moon-washed apples of wonder.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 46	Non-Open	S4	Girls	The Word Party by Richard Edwards	100 Best Poems for Children , pages 36
					First line: Loving words clutch crimson roses,	Last lines: Snap! The dictionary closes.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 47	Non-Open	S5	Girls	Mrs Goodwin’s Part-time Job by Marian Swinger	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 46-47
					First line: It was just a part-time job	Last line: ‘what a boring life.’
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 48	Non-Open	S5	Girls	The Hippopotamus Song by Michael Flanders	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 176-177
					First line: A bold Hippopotamus was standing one day	Last line: In glorious mud!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 49	Non-Open	S6	Girls	Angels by Jan Dean	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year , pages 442-443
					First line: We are made from light.	Last line: Once, we sang.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 50	Non-Open	S6	Girls	Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney	100 Best Poems for Children, page 45
					First line: I sat all morning in the college sick-bay	Last line: A four foot box, a foot for every year.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 51	Non-Open	P1&2	Boys	A Baby Sardine by Spike Milligan	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year , pages 50
					First line: A baby sardine	Last line: ‘It’s only a tin full of people.’
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 52	Non-Open	P1&2	Boys	In Trouble Again by Susan Quinn	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 53
					First line: Will you PLEASE	Last line: PLEASE just act your age!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 53	Non-Open	P3	Boys	Sounds by Irene Rawnsley	The Works, page 170
					First line: The tiniest sound in the world must be	Last line: our baby chuckling when she plays with me!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 54	Non-Open	P3	Boys	The Cow by Robert Louis Stevenson	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 120
					First lines: The friendly cow, all red and white,	Last lines: And eats the meadow flowers.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 55	Non-Open	P4	Boys	The Sweet by Tony Bradman	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 375
					First line: I’ve found a sweet	Last line: Pop it in.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 56	Non-Open	P4	Boys	Experiment by Danielle Sensier	Read Me 1 - A Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 15
					First line: at school we’re doing growing things	Last line: I call it mean.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 57	Non-Open	P5	Boys	The Cod by Lord Alfred Douglas	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 149
					First line: There’s something very strange and odd	Last line: He rather gets upon your nerves.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 58	Non-Open	P5	Boys	On Top of Spaghetti – Anonymous	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 207
					First line: On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese,	Last line: Hold on to your meatball, and don’t ever sneeze.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 59	Non-Open	P6	Boys	My Old Man by Angela Topping	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year , page 332-333
					First line: My old man’s a pilot	Last line: They’d scream and scream and scream.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 60	Non-Open	P6	Boys	Daddy Fell into the Pond by Alfred Noyes	Read Me and Laugh - A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year, page 124
					First line: Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.	Last 2 line: When Daddy fell into the pond!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 61	Non-Open	S1	Boys	Shadow Collector by Peter Dixon	The Works Key Stage 1, pages 152-153
					First lines: On summer afternoons	Last line: And I found it on a palace wall.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 62	Non-Open	S1	Boys	Reading Round the Class by Gervase Phinn	The Works 4 , pages 397
					First line: On Friday we have reading round the class.	Last line: And she wonders why I don’t like books.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 63	Non-Open	S2	Boys	New School by Kevin McCann	The Works, page 186-187
					First 3 line: In the playground corner I stand and see: Girls with skipping ropes,	Last line: I could just go home.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 64	Non-Open	S2	Boys	Beside the Sea-Side by David Orme	The Big Amazing Poetry Book , page 464
					First lines: Oh I do like to be beside the sea-side,	Last 3 line: You’ll have a lovely time if you hold your nose Beside the sea-side Beside the sea.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 65	Non-Open	S3	Boys	An Attempt at Unrhymed Verse by Wendy Cope	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 21
					First line: People tell you all the time,	Last 2 line: ’Specially when you get it more or less the way you want it.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 66	Non-Open	S3	Boys	Julius Caesar translated from the Latin by Roger Stevens	The Works, page 360-361
					First 2 line: Entry for March 15th Dear Diary,	Last line: And today I’ll stay at home.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 67	Non-Open	S4	Boys	Harriet Tubman by Eloise Greenfield	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, pages 48
					First line: Harriet Tubman didn’t take no stuff	Last 2 line: And didn’t stay one either And didn’t stay one either
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 68	Non-Open	S4	Boys	Does it Matter? by Siegfried Sassoon	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 207
					First line: Does it matter? – losing your legs?	Last line: And no one will worry a bit.
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 69	Non-Open	S5	Boys	My Boy Jack by Rudyard Kipling	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, page 76
					First line: ‘Have you news of my boy Jack?’	Last lines: And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!
solo verse speaking	U/E/K/Y 70	Non-Open	S6	Boys	El Alamein by John Jarmain	A Poem for Every Autumn Day, pages 149-150
					First line: There are flowers now, they say, at Alamein;	Last line: And find there – flowers.
Solo Prose Speaking	N139	Open	Age 5-6	Boys & Girls	Michael Rosen’s Sticky McStickstick by Michael Rosen(* Video Submission Mode )	Pages 18-21
					From: One day a man came and said...	To: ...I felt that I had deserted him.
Solo Prose Speaking	N140	Open	Age 7-8	Boys & Girls	Scary Stories for 7 Year Olds chosen by Helen Paiba(* Video Submission Mode )	Gobbleguts, pages 30-31
					From: The last two children left in…	To: …“Now, here’s my dinner for today,” he said.
Solo Prose Speaking	N141	Open	Age 9	Boys & Girls	The Twits by Roald Dahl	Chapter 7, The Wormy Spaghetti, pages 25-27
					From: Mr Twit started eating,…	To: …and rocking with horrible laughter.
Solo Prose Speaking	N142	Open	Age 10	Boys & Girls	Bill’s New Frock by Anne Fine	Chapter 1, A Really Awful Start, pages 18-19
					From: So far as Bill Simpson could...	To: …In this frock?
Solo Prose Speaking	N143	Open	Age 11	Boys & Girls	Mr Stink by David Walliams	Chapter 15, Bath Time, pages 173-175
					From: When they’d got over their shock,…	To: …Ah! I am as clean as a whistle now!”
Solo Prose Speaking	N144	Open	Age 12	Boys & Girls	Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo	Beowulf and Grendel, the Monster of the Night, pages 38-39
					From: There were, it was true, some envious...	To: …and with God’s help we shall achieve it.”
Solo Prose Speaking	N145	Open	Age 13	Boys & Girls	Holes by Louis Sachar	Part One, You Are Entering Camp Green Lake, Chapter 24, pages 105-106
					From: The first time the water truck came,…	To: …Stanley didn’t say anything.
Solo Prose Speaking	N146	Open	Age 14	Boys & Girls	The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis	Chapter 7, pages 70-71
					From: She was looking the other way...	To: …“Read this,” he said.
Solo Prose Speaking	N147	Open	Age 15	Boys & Girls	The Dare by John Boyne	Chapter 6, pages 48-49
					From: ‘Is he going to get better?’…	To: …uncertain what she could mean by this.
Solo Prose Speaking	N148	Open	Age 16 and over	Boys & Girls	All the Broken Places by John Boyne	Interlude, The Boy, Poland 1943, pages 260-261
					From: It was a few months later.…	To: …I can’t find him anywhere.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 158	Non-Open	Primary 1 and 2	Girls	The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl	Pages 27-36
					From: At exactly that moment,…	To: …‘The ladder isn’t long enough!’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 159	Non-Open	Primary 3 and 4	Girls	The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton	Chapter 1, Rick Comes to Stay, pages 4-8
					From: ‘I expect I shall find it rather dull here…	To: …everyone had to help when they could.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 160	Non-Open	Primary 5 and 6	Girls	A Series of Unfortunate Events (Book the Fourth) - The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket	Chapter 3, pages 32-43
					From: I’m sure you have heard it said…	To: …if their day was about to get even worse.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 161	Non-Open	Secondary 1	Girls	Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo	Chapter 3, ‘‘No Leaves, Oona, I Can’t Eat Leaves’’, pages 57-62
					From: Only now did I understand what it was…	To: …I so wanted to believe that.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 162	Non-Open	Secondary 2	Girls	All My Secrets by Sophie McKenzie	Chapter 4, pages 26-37
					From: Seconds later, I tell myself not to be so stupid.…	To: …‘Ok.’ I turn to Andrew. ‘Ok,’ I say. ‘I’ll go.’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 163	Non-Open	Secondary 3	Girls	The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis	Chapter 6, pages 57-61
					From: They were going to turn her into a boy.…	To: …It didn’t seem important any more.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 164	Non-Open	Secondary 4	Girls	The Dare by John Boyne	Chapter 7, pages 59-63
					From: By a quarter to nine we were eating…	To: …I nodded. ‘I was just coming,’ I said.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 165	Non-Open	Secondary 5	Girls	The Pearl by John Steinbeck	Chapter 1, pages 6-9
					From: The sun was warming the brush house,…	To: …and the neighbors followed them.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 166	Non-Open	Secondary 6	Girls	All the Broken Places by John Boyne	Part 2, Beautiful Scars, London 2022 / Sydney 1952, Chapter 18, pages 224-228
					From: ‘And you weren’t arrested?’…	To: …You wanted that too, didn’t you?’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 167	Non-Open	Primary 1 and 2	Boys	The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl	Pages 40-48
					From: At once the Pelly flew down…	To: …Its neck is its proudest possession.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 168	Non-Open	Primary 3 and 4	Boys	The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton	Chapter 10, A Few More Adventures, pages 86-90
					From: Everyone was very pleased to be…	To: …from one minute to the next!’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 169	Non-Open	Primary 5 and 6	Boys	The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne	Chapter 15, Something He Shouldn’t Have Done, pages 161-172
					From: For several weeks the rain was on and off…	To: …Why does he say you’re his friend?’
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 170	Non-Open	Secondary 1	Boys	Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo	Chapter 5, A Feast of Figs, pages 152-156
					From: The orang-utan was looking up at me all the time…	To: …Then I remember nothing.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 171	Non-Open	Secondary 2	Boys	Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo	Beowulf and Grendel, the Monster of the Night, pages 48-54
					From: How Grendel longed to get out,…	To: …had spread throughout the land.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 172	Non-Open	Secondary 3	Boys	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling	Chapter 20, The Dementor’s Kiss, pages 406-409
					From: But then, out of the darkness, they heard…	To: …and his head hit the ground as he fainted.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 173	Non-Open	Secondary 4	Boys	The Dare by John Boyne	Chapter 8, pages 68-72
					From: ‘That afternoon,’ she went on.…	To: …I ran.
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 174	Non-Open	Secondary 5	Boys	The Pearl by John Steinbeck	Chapter 4, pages 44-49
					From: Kino stepped with dignity out of the house,…	To: …They have not come to a price.”
Solo Prose Reading	U/E/K/Y 175	Non-Open	Secondary 6	Boys	Stone Cold by Robert Swindells	Daily Routine Orders 11, pages 81-88
					From: Laughing Boy One.…	To: …‘I haven’t seen him since Thursday.’
Public Speaking Solo	N192	Open	Primary 5 and 6	Boys & Girls	Topic: Why Reading Books is So Much Fun (2mins)	Context: World Book Day
					Your Role : Class Member	Target Audience: Class Peers
Public Speaking Solo	N193	Open	Secondary 1 and 2	Boys & Girls	Topic: The Power of Music (3mins)	Context : School Open Day for Newcomers
					Your Role : Student Leader	Target Audience: Parents and Prospective Students Considering Pursuing a Music Module
Public Speaking Solo	N194	Open	Secondary 3 and 4	Boys & Girls	Topic: The Importance of Recycling (4mins)	Context: A School Study Group Project
					Your Role : Group Tutor	Target Audience: Secondary 1-2 students
Public Speaking Solo	N195	Open	Secondary 5	Boys & Girls	Theme : : The power to question is the basis of all human progress (5mins)	Context : International Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Representative of Hong Kong	Target Audience: Representatives from other countries
Public Speaking Solo	N196	Open	Secondary 6 & University/Post-secondary	Boys & Girls	Theme : The power to question is the basis of all human progress (5mins)	Context : International Public Speaking Competition
					Your Role : Representative of Hong Kong	Target Audience : Representatives from other countries
Shakespeare Monologue	N212	Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	(a) Twelfth Night, Act 4, Scene 3	Character: Sebastian From: This is the air, that is the glorious sun,… To: …That is deceivable. But here the lady comes.
					(b) Othello, Act 4, Scene 3	Character: Emilia From: But I do think it is their husbands’ faults… To: …The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.
Shakespeare Monologue	N213	Open	Ages 10 to 14	Boys & Girls	(a) The Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 2	Character: Bassanio From: O Sweet Portia, Here are a few of the unpleasant’st words…To: …Of merchant-marring rocks?
					(b) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene 1	Character: Helena From: How happy some o’er other some can be!… To: …To have his sight thither and back again.
Shakespeare Monologue	U/E/K/Y 214	Non-Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	(a) Richard II, Act 2, Scene 3	Character: Bolingbroke From: As I was banished, I was banished Hereford,… To: …To my inheritance of free descent.
					(b) As You Like It, Epilogue	Character: Rosalind From: It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue… To: …when I make curtsy, bid me farewell.
Shakespeare Monologue	U/E/K/Y 215	Non-Open	Ages 10 to 14	Boys & Girls	(a) Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1	Character: Romeo From: Alas that love, whose view is muffled still,… To: …A choking gall and a preserving sweet. Farewell, my coz.
					(b) As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 5	Character: Rosalind From: And why, I pray you?… To: …So take her to thee, shepherd. Fare you well.
Solo Dramatic Performance	N216	Open	Age 15 and over	Boys & Girls	5mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N217	Open	Ages 13 and 14	Boys & Girls	4mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N218	Open	Ages 11 and 12	Boys & Girls	4mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N219	Open	Ages 9 and 10	Boys & Girls	3mins
Solo Dramatic Performance	N220	Open	Ages 7 and 8	Boys & Girls	3mins
News Feature Presentation	N238	Open	Secondary 1 and 2	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)
News Feature Presentation	N239	Open	Secondary 3 and 4	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)
News Feature Presentation	N240	Open	Secondary 5 and 6	Boys & Girls	2mins (video submission)

2026 校際朗誦節粵語及普通話誦材目錄

2026 Speech Festival English Syllabus

LCM Speech Festival Turns 10 with Exciting New Categories!