INTERNATIONAL FINAL 2026–27 / ZHUHAI, CHINA / 23–26 JANUARY 2027

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Project Themes & Requirements

Speak out, inspire change, and command the digital stage. Find your grade group below to explore your official speaking topics, an analysis of the themes, and specific submission requirements.

ENGLISH ONLY · This guide is provided in English. All Public Speaking speeches and video submissions must be delivered in English.

Grade K

Grades 1–3

Grades 4–6

Grades 7–9

Grades 10–12

SUBMISSION DEADLINE · BEFORE 15 JANUARY 2027

01 / GRADE K

Topic: My Favorite Everyday Helper

Core focus: Expression, Body Language, and Enthusiasm

Topic analysis

This theme encourages the youngest speakers to share their gratitude and observational skills. A “helper” can be anyone or anything in their life—a parent, a teacher, a firefighter, a pet dog, or even a tool like a garbage truck. The goal is to explain what they do and why they are important using high energy and simple ideas.

SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

Video Length: 30 to 45 seconds.
Visual Aid: The student must hold one physical item or drawing that represents their helper (e.g., a toy stethoscope for a doctor, a drawing of their mom).
Delivery: Speak clearly while facing the camera. Reading from a script is discouraged; natural, energetic talking is prioritized.

Criteria to win

Clear vocal projection, infectious enthusiasm, and a strong visual connection between the speaker and their chosen prop.

02 / GRADES 1–3

Topic: If I Could Build a New Rule for the World

Core focus: Structural Storytelling, Imagination, and Persuasion

Topic analysis

Children at this age are beginning to understand social rules, fairness, and community habits. This topic lets them exercise their imagination to solve a problem they see. The rule can be lighthearted (e.g., “Everyone must plant one flower a year”) or practical (e.g., “No loud electronic noises on public buses”). The focus is on explaining the positive ripple effect of their new rule.

SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

Video Length: 1 to 1.5 minutes.
Structure: The speech must have a clear beginning (introducing the rule), middle (explaining who it helps), and end (a final call to action).
Delivery: Maintain eye contact with the camera lens. Gestures should feel natural. Memorization or speaking from bulleted cue cards is preferred over reading a full sheet of paper.

Criteria to win

A highly imaginative idea backed by a logical explanation of how it improves the lives of others, delivered with an engaging pace.

03 / GRADES 4–6

Topic: The Hidden Value of Mistakes

Core focus: Personal Narrative, Conceptual Thinking, and Connection

Topic analysis

Students in this bracket face increasing pressure regarding academic and social success. This theme challenges them to shift their perspective on failure. Speakers should share a personal story of a time they failed or made a mistake, analyze what that moment taught them, and explain how that setback eventually made them stronger, wiser, or more resilient.

SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

Video Length: 2 to 2.5 minutes.
Structure: Must include an engaging hook, a brief personal narrative story, a key lesson learned, and a takeaway message that inspires the audience.
Delivery: Controlled pacing, intentional pauses for emphasis, and expressive vocal variety (changing tone and volume to match the story’s emotion).

Criteria to win

A compelling, honest story that successfully connects a personal moment of failure to a universal lesson about human growth.

04 / GRADES 7–9

Topic: Bridging the Gap: Connecting Across Generations

Core focus: Social Awareness, Audience Empathy, and Rhetorical Devices

Topic analysis

As teenagers form their own identities, a communication and cultural gap often forms between them and older generations (parents, grandparents, teachers). This topic asks students to analyze why this disconnect happens and propose a realistic solution to build better empathy, mutual respect, or collaboration between youth and older adults in their communities.

SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

Video Length: 3 to 4 minutes.
Content: Speakers must use at least two distinct rhetorical devices (such as a metaphor, an extended analogy, or tricolon/the rule of three) to make their argument memorable.
Delivery: Strong, upright posture. Use of hand gestures to punctuate key arguments. Speakers should speak dynamically without relying heavily on notes.

Criteria to win

A sophisticated, mature analysis of generational differences that avoids clichés and presents a genuinely empathetic, actionable path toward connection.

05 / GRADES 10–12

Topic: Ethics in the Digital Age: Where Do We Draw the Line?

Core focus: Critical Analysis, Evidence-Backed Argumentation, and Intellectual Authority

Topic analysis

Older students are entering a world heavily shaped by complex digital shifts, including AI-generated content, targeted algorithmic feeds, data privacy issues, and deepfakes. This theme requires speakers to choose one specific digital trend or technology, critique its ethical boundaries, analyze its long-term impact on human behavior or society, and defend a clear moral stance on how humanity should govern it.

SPEECH REQUIREMENTS

Video Length: 4 to 5 minutes.
Content: The speech must be persuasive or argumentative. It must explicitly cite at least two credible real-world examples, studies, or historical events to ground the ethical argument.
Delivery: Professional presentation, command over vocal tone, flawless pacing, and compelling camera presence. The speaker must project confidence and intellectual authority on the topic.

Criteria to win

Flawless structural logic, a deeply nuanced understanding of the technical and philosophical trade-offs involved, and a powerful delivery that leaves a lasting impact on the judges.

Global Video Submission Rules

Applies to all grade groups · Submit before 15 January 2027

Deadline: All links or video files must be successfully uploaded and submitted before 15 January 2027.
Framing: Landscape orientation (horizontal layout) is highly recommended. The speaker’s face and upper body must be clearly visible throughout the video.
Audio Quality: Record in a quiet room with minimal background noise. Ensure the speaker’s voice is loud, crisp, and clear.
Editing: Continuous unedited takes are highly encouraged to show authentic speaking ability. Digital special effects or text overlays on the video should not be used.

Questions about your Public Speaking submission?

Contact the WOO! organizing team on WhatsApp

WOO! International Final 2026–27 · Zhuhai, China · 23–26 January 2027