Live Oak students compete in fourth annual Oral Language Faire

Live Oak Elementary School students showed their flair for public speaking at the school’s fourth annual Oral Language Faire on Tuesday, February 10. Students from third to sixth grade competed individually and in groups in front of a panel of judges.

“We try to find judges from around the community who understand the importance of the oral and written language,” said Jil Young, a coordinator for the Oral Language Faire. Among the judges were reporters with the Village News, current and retired teachers and clergy members.

Students presented humorous and dramatic interpretations before the panel and were judged on the quality of their selection, speaking and interpretation and overall effectiveness.

It was apparent that certain students took their roles as public speakers very seriously; students from third and fourth grade put enormous effort into memorizing two- to five-minute-long speeches with accompanying gestures.

Silly poems and limericks were used in addition to excerpts from Bill Cosby, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, so there was a wide variety seen in the students’ presentations.

The goal of the Oral Language Fair is to provide students with the opportunity to perform and be judged on the formal speaking pieces they learned.

Students initially gave their presentations in front of their own classes and winners were determined by either the teacher or their classmates.

The top 50 percent of presenting students are invited to participate in Live Oak Elementary recognition assemblies and a family night and receive a certificate or token of participation.

“At Live Oak, we have kids who excel in sports and academics,” said Young. “With the Language Faire, we have uncovered a third area that kids can excel in.”

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