Winter 11 Featuring: The Buckingham Palace Awards Ceremony ...

DIPLOMAT RECEPTION
The ESU enjoys a close relationship with many of the
Embassies and High Commissions in London. These
associations help us to connect with government
representatives in ESU member countries, to develop links
in new countries and to open our membership and
programme of ESU Dartmouth House events to the
international community in London.
In recognition of these partnerships, the ESU invited
Ambassadors and High Commissioners to a reception at
ESU Dartmouth House in November. In addition to
hearing about the organisation and its education
programmes from Peter Kyle, the Director-General, guests
enjoyed a tour of the building.
AN INTERN’S EXPERIENCE AT THE ESU
Madeleine Whelan
In summer and autumn of this year, I spent two weeks as an
intern at the English-Speaking Union in their Speech and
Debate department. It was an opportunity I greatly
anticipated having participated in several of their schools’
competitions. I am hoping to study a Law degree at
university beginning in 2012 and I knew that working with
a charity as prestigious as the English-Speaking Union
would be an invaluable experience for me.
I arrived slightly nervous having never experienced this kind
of work before; however I found the Speech and Debate
team to be extremely supportive and patient and they have
inspired me to pursue my plans in Law with renewed rigour.
I was given several organisational and administrative tasks
and responsibilities. One of my favourite tasks was judging
a Tower Hamlets primary schools’ debating competition at
Dartmouth House. The ESU offers a wide range of support
for any school, institution or business hoping to further their
experience through public speech and debate and it was
incredible to watch primary school-age children debate
current issues such as the socio-economic impact of the
Olympic Games on London’s landscape.
I thoroughly enjoyed being given such a responsibility and
watching the children develop their critical, evaluative and
analytical skills through debating. I had enough debating
experience to see where their arguments were strong or
weaker and I knew that this kind of competition would be
incredibly useful for them later. I was also on hand in the
Speech and Debate office to assist the department with any
extra administration and organisational work that needed
completing and, contrary to the popular cliché, actually had
other people making me coffee!
I was able to help the department organise the entrants for
the competitions that operate throughout the year as well as
compile registration for the summer programmes. I also
witnessed the finals and semi-finals of the National Mooting
Competition which was an extremely valuable legal
experience for me.
The English-Speaking Union is full of motivating people
and it was both great fun and hugely interesting to be in
such an intellectual environment. My time with the
organisation has taught me a huge amount, in a variety of
different ways, and I know that it will always prove to be
great experience on any job or place at university that I
hope to get. I had an amazing time and everyone I met was
extremely friendly, fun and taught me a lot. Thanks ESU!
DIALOGUE 25