21/08/2012
A talented university student from India won first prize in the 2012 Cambridge English speaking competition at Cambridge University this summer.
Sruthi Vijayachandran – who holds a Masters Degree in Public Relations – was one of nine young English language students from across Asia who was flown to the UK to take part in the final of the Best Young Speaker from Asia competition.
The final was held at Robinson College, Cambridge on 5 July and Sruthi and the other contestants had to give two presentations with a business theme in English and answer a series of questions put to them by an expert panel. Speaking in the run up to the final Sruthi said she was excited but nervous about the competition.
Simon Wright, from competition organisers University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) said:
“Sruthi has a real flair for communications and this really showed on the day. Her talent and ability really caught the eyes of the judges and I’d like to congratulate her for such an impressive performance.”
Sruthi who has a passion for media and communications secured a place in the final by impressing judges with her English speaking ability at the regional rounds held earlier this year. She also recently passed Cambridge English: Business Vantage (BEC) – a high level business English qualification developed by Cambridge ESOL. Sruthi described taking the qualification and being part of the competition as “an amazing experience”. She also said she’d recommend others learning English to take the exam as it boosts confidence. For winning the competition Sruthi was awarded the first prize of an MBA scholarship at the London School of Business Finance – one of the event’s sponsors.
Second prize went to Vietnam’s Trinh Hoang Nam who was awarded the second prize of a Diploma in Business scholarship at the University of Tasmania in Australia who also sponsored the event.
The full list of confirmed finalists who were all winners of regional competitions were: Chermaine Hui (Hong Kong), Trinh Hoang Nam (Vietnam), Wei Feng (China), Sruthi Vijayachandran (India), Kyeong Eun Rhee (Korea), Yu Han Hou (Taiwan), Bong Yang (Malaysia), Sherly (Indonesia) and Minami Yamamoto (Japan).
Watch a video of the event here