wouldn't it be a lot better?

Friends would proudly tell me about their kids' talents in singing and dancing but I'd always reply that it would also be a lot better if their kids can also speak very well in front of people. I have many times witnessed talent presentations but at the end of the singing or dancing, when the kids are asked simple questions, like their names or age, they'd answer only in whispers. Why? They could sing and dance very well but could not even say their names properly?

Let's admit it. A lot of people fear public speaking. They'd rather sing or dance, but speak? That is why for me, talent is nothing when you cannot even talk about it. The whole point here is that no real talent can make it big if the ability to market this talent is not there. See? Speech still rules. It should be the basis of all other endeavors.

Janina San Miguel's "victory"(?)

The whole world knows the recent joke that happened during the search for Bb. Pilipinas when one winner, Janina San Miguel, still made it to a major award inspite of her outrageous answer during the interview portion. Now she's going to represent the country in seven months to the prestigious Miss World competition and everybody's biting their nails as to what could possibly happen during the big pageant if she does not straighten up her act. I mean, seven months? Is that time enough to put some sense into her or to make her express herself in straight acceptable English? How long should one learn to sound good in the international language? If you ask me, my answer is this: about your age---if you're 17, then you should have learned it for 17 years to be able to really master the language. Seven months is like asking for a miracle to happen. But let us just hope.

good teachers like a needle in a haystack?

A school principal recently expressed her number one lament every school year---finding GOOD teachers. According to her it is hard to advertise for more students to increase enrolment because there are no real good teachers available to teach the students. She did not like the idea of just hiring ANY teacher. She wants good teachers to teach in her school---which is a real big problem by the way considering the fact that many graduates of education courses do not know how to speak English. Which is a big problem, really. Looking for good teachers is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Remember last Summer?

Yeah, we had a summer's workshop in communication and those enrolled in the course got to hone their writing and speaking skills. This year will be an improvement of the previous years because this time we have a TV show in which the kids will have chance to share their talents to the whole Negros island.

Registration starts last week of this month while sessions start first week of April.

Come on. Ages are from 7 to 16 years old.