Dear Iveta,

I am so sorry to hear this very sad news. Ruta was a lovely lady and a powerful advocate for Latvia, for education and for the ESU. We shall miss her.

We are fortunate to have you to continue the excellent work that Ruta began and we will look forward to working closely with you in the coming months.

With our condolences and very good wishes

Jane

Jane Easton

Director-General ESU

 

 

Heart felt condolences on this sad news The ESU family reaches out to you all at this sad time Latvia,s relationship with the wider world at a critical time  in its history was well served by Ruta,s work. The values of the ESU and vision of its founders for global peace built on mutual respect and understanding could have had no firmer friend We are all very grateful for a life well lived. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Warmest Regards

Paul

The Rt Hon The Lord Boateng PC DL

Chairman ESU

Ruta Zadziorski

(05.05.1928 – 31.12.2018)

It is with great sadness that I must inform you of Ruta Zadziorski’s passing.  After a short illness, she died the morning of December 31st.  Right up until the end, she was very active, had creative ideas for ESU’s future, and always a great sense of humor.  A bright soul, she will be greatly missed!

 Ruta’s contribution to ESU for 40 years, both as an active member while she was in the USA, and as the former ESU Latvia President is immeasurable!

 Although the New year began with this sad news, we continue our ESU work as Ruta had wished, in her loving memory.

 Iveta Ivansone

President ESU Latvia

The 2019 ESU Latvia Public Speaking Competition Workshop will take place on Saturday December 1, 2018 at 12:00 at Rīgas Valsts 1.Ģimnāzija, Raiņa Blv. 8, room will be posted near the entrance.

The workshop is led by previous National finalists and gives valuable insight into our competition here and in London. Teachers and students are welcome! A great help in preparing speeches!

 

 

 

A new school year! A new “centennial”! A new ESU Latvia President!
This information has two names-signatures: my last one as the ESU Latvia President as I am leaving on a hopefully well deserved retirement.  I am wishing all the very best to Iveta Ivansone, our new President whom I have known for some years – this chapter is going to be in good, capable hands! I will remain on the Board, providing help if and as needed.  Also I am wishing to the schools I had the privilege to know – be a winner!

Here is some preliminary information and dates of the new IPSC 2019 “season”.

This year’s theme/topic is “Nature is a common language.”

Dates to keep in mind:
December 1st – Public Speaking Workshop hosted by Rigas Valsts 1. Gimnazija, Raina Blv. 8, starting at 12:00.  The workshop is led by previous National finalists and gives valuable insight into our competition here and in London, it will be of great help in preparing speeches. Teachers and students are welcome!
February - Kurzeme/Vidzeme/Zemgale Regional Finals: Date and venue to be specified and announced later.
April 6th: National Finals at SSE, Soros Auditorium, Strelnieku iela 4a, 11:00-15:00 (approx.)
May 13th-17th: International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) in London

We are happy to have former National finalist Gustavs Ēvalds join our team! Gustavs has already offered his help and shared in his experience in previous ESU public speaking workshops and we look forward to his contribution and new ideas in future events.

Looking forward to discovering new voices in this year’s competition. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Ruta Zadziorska, President Emerita
Iveta Z. Ivansone, ESU Latvia President

 

  “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”

 Judges: Mrs. Denise WIRTH – Lecturer at SSE, Waldorf teacher

 Mr. Louis DOWLING – English teacher, International School of Riga

 Mrs. Ingrida-Karina Berzina – Attorney at Law; lecturer SSE Riga – Graduate School of Law  

 Introductions:  Nikola Ščadro – Finalist 2017 IPSC Latvia

 Opening remarks – Ruta Zadziorski – ESU Latvia President

 Awards – Defence Attaché Sqn Ldr. Mark Sapsford

  

Hugo Huberts Puriņš               Who else if not me?                     Iecavas vidusskola

 Emīls Konrāds                        The compass of life                       Alojas vidusskola

  Klāvs Elsiņš                      Shaping the future yourself                 Alojas vidusskola

 Undīne Maurīte             Be the one that makes difference            Valmieras Viestura vidusskola

 Alisa Turukova             Three steps to the future                 Daugavpils Krievu vidusskola-licejs

 Valerija Soņina                    Destiny                                               Daugavpils 3. vidusskola  

 Kristofers Buks              The future is in your hands                     Jēkabpils Valsts ģimnāzija

 Valērija Ruta Hartmane     Goal is the key to invention               Jēkabpils Valsts ģimnāzija

 Paula Ondzule              Change the present to help the future       Jēkabpils Valsts ģimnāzija              

Darja Sediha                   The time is now                                       Rīgas Valsts 1.ģimnāzija

 Rebeka Nagle                 The book of future                                    Rīgas Valsts 1.ģimnāzija

 Elza Viktorija Zorgevica   I am a dreamer but that shouldn’t stall me  Rīgas Angļu ģimnāzija

  Karolina Konopecka       How to make the bright future happen?      Rīgas Klasiskā ģimnāzija

 Katrīna Miščuka                     The present                          Rīgas Centra humanitārā vidusskola

 

 

And the winner of PSC 2018 is….

Rebeka Nagle    Rīgas Valsts 1. ģimnāzija

 

Our winner in London

From left: Ayushmann from India, Kristin from Canada, Mafalda from Portugal and Rebeka from Latvia

Here are some guidelines from the Judge in Riga and Latgale region PSC.

 

To get energy you must give energy

- This does not mean you need to shout and jump around but you must display a passion for what you are speaking about otherwise it comes off as a statement. Great orators have the ability to move an audience by emotion alone.

 Be Prepared

- It is said you must prepare one hour for each minute of a speech. So for these young adults they should put in the practice time once they have figured out the narrative of their speech.

 Non-Verbals Speak Volume

- Depending on what research you are looking at up to 85% on how humans communicate is through non verbal language. This takes practice and a good friend who is willing to provide constructive criticism. If you can video yourself and see if you are engaging to the audience but not over the top.

 Confidence

- If you don’t believe it no one else will. People sitting in the audience want to hear from you so provide them will a message you believe in.

 Time Fillers

- Train yourself to a standard so you don’t just fill time. We all talk faster when we get in front of an audience so take that into consideration when you are preparing. Judges can tell when you are just filling time to hear the bell ring.

 Third Person and Asking Yourself Rhetorical Questions

- Be careful with this one. Sometimes questions can be useful but it can also appear rehearsed and fake. Please you me, myself or I rather than using your name in a third person.

 Points – This is very subjective however all the judges had the same people at the top so regardless of how each judge decided to weigh each category the outcome was similar. If I was coaching to the format for this competition I would concentrate on the above items first then address items such as appearance, greetings, openings and closings.

 Again thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing competition.

 Respectfully,

 Jon A. Logan

CPT, Civil Affairs

Team Leader

 

Monday 5 February 2018

The History of ESU Latvia

by Ruta Zadziorski, ESU Latvia President

Like the ESU, Latvia is open to many cultures and experiences and their fates have met in the past.

The English-Speaking Union of Latvia has been a member of the ESU since 2002. The English language is practically the second language to many Latvians and is widely used in commerce and banking. ESU Latvia participates annually in the IPSC, sending their finalist to London.

Moreover, ESU and Latvia are both celebrating their centennials this year!  They not only share a common number of years but, more importantly, have some shared history.  This is especially evident in the capital city of Riga, which was transformed by its mayor, George Armistead, whose family originated in Yorkshire, England (and whose daughter is said to have had piano lessons with Richard Wagner, who was residing in Riga at that time!). He transformed Riga into a modern city, establishing electric streetcars, and building many schools and hospitals.

The UK was the first country to de facto recognize Latvia’s independence. When HRH Queen Elizabeth II visited Riga in 2006 she dedicated a monument to George Armistead and his family, and this is located in a park opposite to the Opera – one of the prettiest places in Riga.  During her visit, I had the great honour to be presented to her in my capacity as ESU Latvia president.

 

Dear English teachers,

This is further on next events for Public Speaking Competition:

 

Rīga Regional Finals: February 17, Great Hall, Rīgas Valsts 1.ĢimnāzijaRaiņa bulv.8. Registration 9:30.

 

National Finals: Saturday April 7 at SSE Soros Auditorium, Strēlnieku ielā 4a (10 – 14 approx.)

 

London dates: May 14 – 18, 2018.

The 2018 ESU Latvia Workshop will take place on Saturday January 20 at 11:00 at Rigas Valsts 1.Gimnazija, Raina Blv. 8, room will be posted near the entrance.

Past London finalists Nikola Szadro and Gustavs Evalds will be present to tell about their experience and answer questions.

 

The Workshop is gaining more and more in popularity and is giving students some insight into our competition here and in London and what is really required. A great help in preparing speeches!