SPRING 2018 DIALOGUE 100 YEARS of communicating for a brighter future ALUMNI STORIES KT Tunstall Anita Anand Edward Stourton Sir Nicholas Mostyn Abie Philbin Bowman THE FUTURE OF ORACY Will voice technologies render us mute? VOICES AROUND THE WORLD How the International Public Speaking Competition has changed lives FROM THE CHAIRMAN DISCOVER DEBATING A centenary message from our Chairman HELPING STUDENTS DISCOVER THEIR VOICE LORD PAUL BOATENG Do your students have trouble communicating their ideas? Do they find it difficult to express how they feel, or struggle to understand the viewpoints of others? If so, ne hundred years ago, after a devastating war, from the society of which we all need to be a part. our Discover Debating programme can help. our founders sought to make a better life for all This plays into another challenge, too. The world is Offered as a two- or three-term curriculum, by promoting effective communication in the changing. There has never been a greater need for global it encourages confidence about speaking up English language, and encouraging global dialogue and understanding. Technology purports to make and teaches important active listening skills. O dialogue through increasing personal connectivity. communication easier (see page 16), but there is more to Research shows oracy interventions at I learnt early on the power of language. My father communication than posting something on the internet or was a lawyer and subsequently an activist in the struggle sending a tweet. True communication is not just expressing younger ages are particularly effective for independence of what was then the Gold Coast. He was what you feel but listening and responding to how the and Discover Debating addresses this. a rhetorician, known for his use of language, no doubt in other person feels (see page 34). Debate teaches that. A fun, games-led programme aimed at part inspired by Winston Churchill’s speeches, of which What we must do as a society is to create safe spaces primary schools, it encourages students to he had the complete collection. where it is possible to exchange ideas without the threat discuss a wide range of topical issues with I learnt the power of language more viscerally still of abuse and denigration. Only this will provide the basis for an open mind, and delivers demonstrable when my mother, sister and I were forced true understanding and comprehension, and progress in literacy and oracy. to flee to England after my father was ‘WE WANT TO for intellectual and emotional development. As part of our centenary year, and our taken away at gunpoint. We ended up The English-Speaking Union has always on a council estate in Hemel Hempstead, ENSURE NO ONE been a membership charity and we are ongoing mission to target those most where I found it very difficult to adjust. enormously grateful to all our members in need of oracy skills, we are offering IS EXCLUDED Debating – in fact the English-Speaking for their continuing support. For our next Discover Debating free to state primary FROM THE Union’s Schools’ Mace competition – 100 years we want to increase our numbers, schools with indicators of the greatest came to my rescue. My partner and I won, SOCIETY OF so that more people are able to access the social need. and it gave me confidence that I could be WHICH WE communication skills we offer, and the By giving teachers the resources and skills a winner in a strange land. I’ve never ALL NEED TO opportunities for informed, global dialogue to set up their own debate clubs (including really looked back. that we promote. Not everyone has time lesson plans, CPD and mentor support), the I realised early on that being able to BE A PART’ to attend meetings, so we must find new programme creates a sustainable culture communicate, to articulate a cause, and membership models that allow for of debating in schools where this has not to listen and respond to your opponents was desperately meaningful discussion and co-operation; bringing together important and much more to do with empowerment than and galvanising all those who share our unshakeable belief traditionally been the case. ‘Our children have a lot to mere speech. I realised that if you deny people the in the transformative power of language. To sign up or for more say, but often they don’t have opportunity to become self-empowered then you condemn I hope that in our centenary year, when we honour our information please visit them to the margins of society, and there are far too many founders and their vision, you will actively join us in laying a people in this position today. foundation in resource and thinking so that our programmes esu.org/discover-debating or the tools with which to say it. The English-Speaking Union works to combat this, continue to be accessible to those who need them most. telephone 020 7529 1564. Discover Debating gives them increasingly providing oracy resources in schools and There can be no greater gift than to give to others what those tools, and now they communities which have no tradition of public speaking and we have ourselves been blessed with – a voice. debating, and to students who have most to gain. As part of our feel more confident in how to centenary year, we are delighted to offer Discover Debating, our flagship programme, free to over 100 state primary schools with express themselves.’ indicators of the greatest social need. As far as we are able, JAN KNIGHT, TEACHER we want to ensure that no one, for any reason, is excluded PAUL BOATENG, CHAIRMAN Spring 2018 100.esu.org 3 KT TUNSTALL CONTENTS SINGER-SONGWRITER 100 years of the ESU 10 AND MUSICIAN The people and places that have DISCOVERING VOICES GENERAL ENQUIRIES Page 22 Fiona Robinson played a part in our history… CHANGING LIVES: 020 7529 1550 • [email protected] DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE News 45 ALUMNI STORIES Kay Dacey, Executive Assistant Including the launch of the 020 7529 1561 • [email protected] From boosting confidence to ESU’s new centenary microsite EDUCATION kick-starting a career in broadcasting, Duncan Partridge, Director of Education 020 7529 1570 • [email protected] music or comedy, our oracy Anna England-Kerr, Head of Debating Programmes 020 7529 1573 • [email protected] programmes and cultural exchanges Melanie Aplin, Head of International Programmes 020 7529 1591 • [email protected] open up a world of opportunity. Maia Gibbs, Head of Education Network Look out for our alumni’s stories 020 7529 1593 • [email protected] MEMBERSHIP throughout the magazine. Alex Bailey, Head of Branch Education Liason 020 7529 1586 • [email protected] Gail Featherstone, Membership Officer 020 7529 1585 • [email protected] VENUE HIRE ENQUIRIES MEMBERS & BRANCHES Harbour + Jones at Dartmouth House 020 7529 1578 • [email protected] 36 A Safe Refuge 10 ALUMNI One Bristol branch member tells Alex Orpin, Senior Alumni Officer DEBATE us the story of his evacuation to ANITA ANAND ABIE PHILBIN 020 7529 1569 • [email protected] BROADCASTER BOWMAN the US thanks to the ESU FUNDRAISING From the mic to the like 16 AND AUTHOR COMEDIAN AND The benefits and dangers of social platforms Ian Stokes, Director of Development 39 Spotlight on … Page 8 JOURNALIST 020 7529 1588 • [email protected] becoming the podiums in our pockets Marjorie Page of the Page 40 COMMUNICATIONS South Wales branch Anna Quenby, Director of Communications 18 What would you speak out about? 020 7529 1561 • [email protected] Have your say – and don't miss our 42 It’s in your gift Lucy McDonnell, Head of Editorial 020 7529 1575 • [email protected] free teaching resources Leaving a legacy is your chance Sarah Matthews, Digital Marketing Manager to make a lasting impact 20 020 7529 1579 • [email protected] This house would… Limit CEOs’ salaries to ten times FINANCE 50 Who’s Who at the ESU? Tim Morris, Interim Director of Finance that of their lowest-paid employee Say hello to some of our members, 020 7529 1567 • [email protected] governors and staff Victoria Kobus, Finance Manager Will voice-technologies render us mute? 34 020 7529 1581 • [email protected] Is the rise of voice-assisted ‘caring robots’ Dialogue is published by the the nail in the coffin of conversation? English-Speaking Union, Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, London, W1J 5ED EDWARD STOURTON www.esu.org INTERNATIONAL PRESENTER AND Twitter: @theESU Facebook: The English-Speaking Union BROADCASTER Like mother, like daughter 24 Managing Editor: Lucy McDonnell Two generations on their experiences of the SIR NICHOLAS 020 7529 1575 • [email protected] Secondary School Exchange MOSTYN Consultant Editor: Natasha Goodfellow HIGH COURT JUDGE Design: Zed Creative www.zedcreative.co.uk Art Director: Lee Penton The ESU quiz 26 Page 32 Art Editors: Stuart Mabbett, Kieron Lewis Test your knowledge of the cultures and countries Account Managers: Matthew Jenns, Maria Parker that form the ESU’s international network Every effort is made to ensure that information in Dialogue is accurate and correct. However, the ESU voices around the world 29 BILAL MAHMOOD English-Speaking Union accepts no responsibility for How the International Public Speaking SOLICITOR inaccuracies or any consequences arising from them. Any views expressed in editorial are not necessarily Competition has changed lives 42 Page 14 those of the English-Speaking Union. 4 Dialogue Magazine Spring 2018 Spring 2018 100.esu.org 5 CONTRIBUTORS In celebration of our centenary year, we’ve been encouraging all of our supporters and programme participants to speak up and make their voice heard (see page 18).