作者:爱尔兰都柏林大学 赖小琪
今天收到华康发给我的对于他主持深圳大学经济学院 “海龙杯-大话世博”英语技能竞赛决赛的中英文版的总结. 看完他写的总结, 我感到很满意, 我也相信他在这次大型活动的主持经历中得到了很多宝贵的经验与教训.
这个比赛是由深圳海龙国际教育咨询交流有限公司赞助的, 由深圳大学经济学院的学生会承办. 比赛前大约一周左右, 一个之前认识的在经济学院学生会当干事的师妹在Q上找到我, 叫我为这个比赛推荐一个主持. 其实经济学院每年都举办一次大型的英语演讲比赛, 而今年比较特殊连续两个学期都举行. 从大二的第一次参赛开始, 一直到今年的5月中旬, 经院的英语演讲比赛伴我走过了三年的大学生活. 我以不同的身份参与到这个比赛当中.
2008年的比赛, 我是一名参赛选手, 当时的决赛的话题是 “走入奥运”. 当时决赛时的激烈至今为止依然历历在目.光器当主持人在台上宣布自己获奖时, 那种激动的心情更是难以言喻! 到了2009年, 在经院学生会的盛情邀请下, 作为往届的获奖者以及经济学院英语角的主持, 我很荣幸地成为了当年比赛的评委之一. 我依然记得那一年的比赛同样异常激烈, 选手的水平都相当高. 在进入决赛的十名选手中, 有三名是我认识的同学或者师弟师妹. 然而我并没有因为认识他们而额外给他们高分, 因为我是过来人, 我不喜欢评委因为和某个选手平时关系比较好而给他一个好分数. 我相信每一个选手走到决赛的舞台上都不容易, 所以只有公平公正地给每一个选手评分, 才能对得起他们背后的辛劳. 所以最后我打的最高分, 都不是我认识的同学朋友, 而是水平确实高人一等的冠军.
到了2010年, 也就是今年的5月份, 我记得当时我风尘仆仆地从广州参加完国家翻译考试回到学校. 回来的当晚下了好大雨, 回到宿舍时已经差不多晚上十点, 而我全身湿透, 本来喉咳不止的我情况愈加严重. 而当时我正准备应学生会的要求担任该次 “大话亚运” 英语技能竞赛的主持. 当晚我在想, 我的咳嗽如此严重, 声音都嘶哑了, 不知能否胜任主持的工作. 但是后来我想, 当这么大型比赛的主持是一次很宝贵的经验, 可以很锻炼一个人的胆量与台上控制的能力, 所以我还是坚持到底了. 想来好笑, 在那一周多的时间里, 我天天都在心里对自己说: 一定要好起来! 到了评赛前一天真的奇迹般的好了. 那是我第一次担任英语比赛的主持, 虽然最后评委以及赛格的嘉宾们都说我做得很出色, 可是我也知道有不少要总结的地方, 比如说念错了两个选手的名字(多音字), 还有就是在最后邀请赛格嘉宾讲话时, 我居然忘记了她的名字, 弄得有点尴尬. 最后南山赛格的负责人还送了一份礼物给我, 真的让我非常惊喜!
到了这次比赛, 想不到经院学生会还这么信任我, 叫我推荐一个人给他们当主持. 那个师妹就是我上次当主持时认识的. 当时我想也没想就找华康, 决定把这个机会给他. 一方面是因为他是英语角的现任主持, 另一方面是我想给他更多的锻炼. 我本来之前是想叫他参加这个比赛的, 可是他说由于六级将至, 而且比赛的时间快到了, 他不够时间准备,所以就没参加了. 我知道让他担任主持, 他的压力会很大. 要是以前我在深大时肯定不会找到他, 因为他在上台讲话时一紧张就什么也讲不出. 可是我相信经过一个学期英语角主持的经历, 他应该进步很多, 所以就决定推荐他上去. 比赛前我在Q上和他说: “机会我已经给足你了, 至于怎么发挥以及发挥到什么程度, 就是你的事情了!”
其实不仅他压力大, 我也有一定的压力. 人是我推荐上去的, 要是他做得不好, 会让我难为情, 说句难听点的话, 就是 “没面子”. 所以当晚比赛完成以后, 我就要求他写一篇总结, 中英文版都要, 并且尽快交给我.
其实我让他写总结除了要了解当晚他主持的情况以外, 还有别的目的. 最主要的目的是让他观察一下整个比赛组织的过程中有哪些值得赞赏, 哪些值得改正. 在任何一个活动中, 每一个参与者都有他的角色. 完成自己的角色任务是每一个参与者需要做的. 比如说主持, 他只需要对整个台上的赛程了解并且在台上稳定发挥就行了. 然而我个人觉得这是不够的. 要想学到更多的东西, 除了做好自己本身的工作以外, 还要做一个 “有心人”, 懂得观察整个活动策划中各个环节是如何进行的, 了解其中的优点与不足, 加以总结, 最后化为己用. 要知道, 这次比赛你当主持, 下次比赛可能你就要当某个环节的组织策划者, 甚至是整个活动的核心控制者. 如果你之前有总结过类似的经验, 那么以后你做起来也将事倍功半, 而不至于手忙脚乱. 其实组织经院的英语比赛相对于以后在公司或者一些单位的大项目来讲, 也只是一个小策划. 在以后的项目工作中懂得总结别人的经验教训更加重要. 然而这种细致与敏感不是一朝一夕所以形成的, 需要平时的慢慢积累与培养.
华康的总结中有一点特别引起我的关注. 他说他曾试着创造一些幽默的气氛, 可是就是弄不起来, 观众们毫无反应. 我觉得这涉及到一个人的风格问题. 同样一句话, 有些人讲起来大家就会哈哈大笑, 你讲起来可能索然无味; 同样一句命令, 有些人讲起来会让大家立即执行, 你讲起来可能无人响应. 这除了与你的能力有关以外, 也和你的 “气场”有关. 这个 “气场” 指的是你个人的气魄以及你的领导风格与能力. 举一个我毕业离校前和舍友们到餐厅吃饭的例子. 当时进了餐厅, 由于我们人数比较多, 十个人, 所以我们要到一个长方形的桌子坐了下来. 如果有了解过商务礼仪的朋友们应该知道, 桌子两端一般是坐 “最重要”的人. 比如说两方谈判, 桌子相对的两端必定是坐两方谈判的领导人. 当时我们准备就坐时, 我很自然地就走向桌子的一端, 同时一个舍友也对我说: “小琪是领导, 坐在桌子最前端吧.” 当时我没有在意, 觉得很自然. 可是我事后一想, 觉得里面 “大有文章”. 在这里我并不是想表扬自己什么, 而是想以我切身的经历来表达一种观点. 为什么大家自然而然地就觉得我应该是坐在首席位置上？为什么在一次活动聚会中有些人就会很自然地被人当成是中心？在社会上你可以把这归根于某人有权有势，可是在朋友之间呢？在同学之间呢?在班集里呢？由此我想了许多关于一个人 ＂气场＂地由来，也总结出了很多道理经验．
其实现实生活中很多人，不管是学生还是工作的人，都想当 ＂领导＂．这里的 ＂领导＂不仅仅指工作中的职位，更重要的是指你在你的人际圈子中的地位与影响力．一旦获得了这种地位与影响力，你的工作与生活将会无往不利，非常顺利，因为大家都听从你的指挥，都愿意帮助你．然而要达到这种水平，谈何容易！ 社会中有一种很现实的说法是 ＂唯利是图＂．你有权有势时，巴结你的人自然多，等你失势时，大家都避之则吉．然而这个社会中并不是全部人都是这样的，总会有一些有情有义的人在你的身旁．所以，如何把这部分人凝聚起来，创建你自己的 ＂气场＂，让你无论 ＂得意＂还是 ＂失意＂都不至于孤立无援，是一门很深的学问，也需要你不断地总结与经营．当然最主要的是你必须在人前展示你的真才实干，同时展现出你的人格魅力和办事风格！只有这样才可以服众．
另一个例子就是， 为什么经院学生会会来叫我，一个已经出国留学的人来推荐主持？学生会这么多人， 想找一个英语好的人来推荐，我想并不是难事．我想很大方面的原因是他们信任我，这种信任除了来自于我的英语能力以外，更重要的是来自于我之前建立的广泛的关系网．而华康也正是因为认识了我并且和我成为了好朋友，他也就得到了我所放弃的一切，比如说英语角的主持，比如说一些家教，比如说这次的主持．所以我想，一个人要想取得成功，能力固然重要，可是也要有机会让你展示你的能力！刘备三顾茅庐请孔明出山的时代已经过去了，现代的社会不缺乏人才，没有人任何公司高层会跑到你家去请你出山，因为比你好的人正在排长队递简历．所以机会对于你来讲特别珍贵．那么这个机会又从何而来？排除一切偶然的因素，我想这个机会就来源于你的人际关系．同样一份工作，你可能做得比别人好，可是由于别人有认识的人在那个机构工作，别人就比你有胜算．你可以说这个社会不公平，不是能者居上，但是换个角度来讲，其实还是公平的，因为别人在人际关系的投资比你多，而你就没有这个人际网．所以与其怨天尤人，倒不如切切实实地反思，好好想想怎么才能增强你的社交能力来建立更广泛的网络．
简简单单的一次主持经历，可以让你思考很多东西．同样，生活工作中的大大小小的事情，也可以让你获益良多，关键在于你是否是个有心人．
下面是华康的英文版总结，我把它展示给空间的读者，希望大家可以从中获益．他是以写信给我的方式进行的：
Dear Mr. Edison,
First, let me start by thanking you for your kindhearted recommendation for me to this stage. I’ve always been a fortunate man and never more so for your encouragement and support. You granted me such a precious opportunity to experience what would become of me as a host for big events, which I’d taken for granted for so long. Also you made me aware of the profound influence this experience would exert on me, something far more complicated than just capability. It’s a unique chance to establish reputation both for myself and our English Corner. Also, with cooperating with so many unfamiliar, yet influential people both in our faculty or even in the campus and in business, there is a great potential for me to broaden my interpersonal networks, which will definitely turn out beneficial for my future.
That’s also what I admire you for, the authority in English and well-established prestige. You get the power to say who is suitable or not. Your suggestions will account for a large portion of their decisions. To be honest, however hard I try to conceal my hunger for such fantastic fame, I’m always dreaming of being as superior as you! Yeah, just as the popular saying goes “only the high-profile ones can be low-profile”, it’s almost impossible to resist the temptation. I do want to pass on your help to others in need of it, but the prerequisite is that I should be that excellent.
So I’m fully aware of the significance of the propaganda and that’s why I seized that opportunity resisting tremendous pressure. Excited as I was, I still felt anxious about it, afraid to mass it up with so much intense public attention. I just can’t help falling into worrying myself about the possible terrible consequences. I should say it was fairly horrible. But anyway I managed to shock off much of it. Promise had spread with no way back; I had no alternative but to take that step further.
Ok let’s get down to our business, about the lessons from such a role as a host. I had never imagined so many problems to occur, so many aspects yet to be amended and perfected.
1. Time had never been enough for us! From the end of the preliminary round to the start of the grand final, only five days was to go. There was no quarter-final or even semi-final, really to my surprise. They told me they were forced to end this competition since it was almost the end of this semester, a time when the authority are not so in favor of such event.(I do know why either, but anyway maybe it’s time for the closing ceremony of our EC. )
2. No one was really prepared for what should go next. And it had never been more than truer on me. Before their invitation, I only knew there was such a competition and nothing else like the theme, the sponsor, the judicators, etc. I had to get to know almost everything about it with only a rough draft scheme they had sent me. They didn’t even set up their mind about what the final round should process. They did not come up with the final scheme until several hours before the start.
3. Problem also went to the invitation of the judges. Not until last Saturday did a junior sister apprentice knock at me online begging for help to invite some English teachers as the judges. It rendered me speechless that they should haven’t made sure who would be sure to come as judges and yet had no one who could even write or speak appropriate English to invite. By the time I told them it will be much more appropriate by sending formal invitation letters with the logo of our college, they replied me,”Yeah! Really?”(- -!) Then I sent emails to invite some English teachers with the hope that they would reply timely so I can get them right before the event. And finally thank goodness, we got two: George and Rick.
4. Ok, let’s talk about the content of the scheme. I should say they were real genius with rich Lenovo. I can’t speak highly of the plan with so many mistakes. At that time I was just wondering why I should present it as PPT to avoid the misinterpretation that I wrote it. I tried to correct it, but the further and deeper I went, the more problems I got, with some beyond English mistakes but logical ones. In the Picture Depiction part, some pictures are rather dim and small. Some pictures are illustrated with only one or two sentences while the others well cover a whole PPT. And the aroused questions are not so relevant or just nonsense, of no much significance. They told me they were in a hurry to get them out, and then I said, “Why not just keep it simple to avoid mistakes?”
5. Here we are to deal with the on-site arrangement. I should say it was truly awful. I got there by 5:30p.m., but we never even got the chance of rehearsal. They were still busy with their PPT and some other things. I think that’s the fatal failure we got. We were not in line with each other and that resulted in our sneaky talks when the contestants are presenting on the stage.
There are also other embarrassed things happened. They changed the schedule by adding another judge just well before the event, and with vague answer to my inquiry, I introduced her, a teacher from our university, as a guest from the sponsor! Their mistranslation of the event venue led me to fetch George just half an hour before the opening remarks. Also we did not start as planed since no one to give signal. I told them to get the proper translation of the sponsor and guests by asking them directly how they would like to be introduced. But no one took the responsibility. If it were not for my reminding, they wouldn’t have told me who would be invited to give the summary comments for the contestants, who would award our contestants of different ranks. But even so, without rehearsal, without privities with the concerned, it did not go on smoothly as wished.
Also, I should say there were no enough spectators there. Most were the staff of the students union or the sponsor, and some others are the friends cheering for the contestants. So the real audience was rather few as a result of both loose publicity (it seemed that it was I that remind them of putting the notice board on the website!) and wrong time.
Ok, that’s all for their side. Here comes my own reflection. To make it clear and well targeted, I’ll make it simple.
1. Without full preparation! Though time was limited, but if I had made enough preparation, I suppose the outcome will be different.
2. No experience! Though I’ve come up with many questions for them to prepare themselves for. As the outcome suggests I still neglected many details which turned out annoying during the event.
3. Capability! Though I’ve made much progress during my university life, I’m not as superior as you. I can’t use English that fluently which is critical in live hosting. And also because of that, I don’t have enough confidence to perform gracefully and leisurely like you or JiXiaojun or LiuXin. I failed to string the whole process in a well-organized way. I tried to be humorous to resonate with the spectators to make it as lively as possible. But it didn’t work. I don’t know whether it was because I got wrong and they don’t understand me or they are not interested or incapable of English. Anyway, I should say, my incapability accounts for much of it. If it were you that host it, even I can’t say the result will shift dramatically, but at least, the outcome would be much more satisfactory.
To sum up, the lesson of this role play as a host outweighs the pride from it. By experiencing it so intensely, I get to know myself more clearly and exactly. It made me somehow look at and revaluate myself in a way I never wanted to. I know there is still a long way to go and I can’t get there in just one semester or a year or even in my lifetime. But I will still keep moving nonstop since I know that’s how people really do change, how people really do improve.
All aspects need shaping, and that goes beyond just English abilities or leadership. I’ll keep working to live up to your and others’ expectations, as well as my myself. And I still in desperate need of your help, I will still always turn to you if I’m in trouble.
Thank you again for your firm trust and gracious support. I promise you not to let you down! Wish you good luck in everything you do!
Best regards!
Yours sincerely
Maybe |
