Public speaking – Malala Yousafzai (B1-B2/v590)

Introduction

At the age of 17, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. This is an excerpt of her remarks in accepting the award.

Script

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Laureate: I’m proud, but in fact I’m very proud to be the first Pashtun, the first Pakistani, and the youngest person to receive this award. Along with that, along with that I’m pretty certain that I’m also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers. I want there to be peace everywhere, but my brothers and I are still working on that. I’m also honored to receive this award together with Kailash Satyarthi who has been a champion for children’s rights for a long time. Twice as long, in fact, than I have been alive.

I’m proud that we can work together. We can work together and show the world an Indian and a Pakistani, they can work together and achieve their goals of children’s rights. Dear brothers and sisters, I was named after the inspirational Malala of Maiwand who is the Pashtun Joan of Ark. The word Malala means grief stricken, sad. But in order to lend some happiness to it my grandfather would always call me “Malala: The Happiest Girl in the World” and today I’m very happy that we are together fighting for an important cause.

This award is not just for me, it is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change. I’m here to stand up for their rights; to raise their voice. It is not time to pity them. It is not time to pity them! It is time to take action, so it becomes the last time, the last time, so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education.

I have found that people describe me in many different ways. Some people call me “The Girl Who was Shot by the Taliban” and some “The Girl who Fought for her Rights”. Some people call me a Nobel Laureate now, however, my brothers still call me their annoying, bossy sister. As far as I know I’m just a committed and even stubborn person who wants to see every child getting quality education, who wants to see women having equal rights, and who wants peace in every corner of the world.

Quiz

1. Malala Yousafzai was the _______________ Nobel Laureate.

youngest and first Pashtun
first female and Pakistaini
both of the above

2. Malala notes that though she wants to make peace throughout the world

it must begin with children
it will not soon be possible in Afghanistan
she has yet to do so with her brothers

3. Malala points out that her fellow Nobel Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, has been working for children’s rights

for more than three decades
twice as long as she has been alive
both a & b

4. Malala accepts the award on behalf of

herself and the frightened and unrepresented children who yearn for education
all of the children of the world
her nation of Pakistan

5. Malala describes herself as stubbornly committed to

seeing every child in the world receiving quality education
equal rights for women and world peace
both a & b

Discussion

In what ways does giving a good speech differ from giving a good presentation?
Describe a memorable speech that you found to be either particularly good or particularly bad.
Has the delivery of speeches changed much over the years in your opinion? Has the delivery of presentations?

Resources

Video script and vocabulary