Now EGSC, the organising body behind this event, has put out a call for interested hosts, and I’m here to tell you why it’s worth applying for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you stand to gain? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Public Speaking Experience<\/span>: You get the experience of speaking to a huge audience. For those who value this kind of personal development\/milestone, this is a great opportunity. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Collaboration with EGSC<\/span>: You get to work closely with EGSC and perhaps you might be inspired to join them, which is an experience in itself. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Free Food and Drinks<\/span>: Enjoy complimentary food and drinks, perhaps even with access to the VIP room. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Certificate of Participation<\/span>: You can request an official certificate from EGSC acknowledging your participation in this capacity and for any students hoping to apply for an ERASMUS opportunity in their rotational year, this could be an activity to add to your application to boost it. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Who Makes an Ideal IE Host?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIE hosts are typically students who are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- confident enough to address a decently-sized crowd, I’m talking in the 2000s to 3000s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- quick-thinking and witty enough to properly handle any unexpected situations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- charismatic and able to capture an audience. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
So if you or someone you know fits this criteria, don’t hesitate to apply. It’s all pros and no cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in case you are still not convinced, I reached out to the IE 2023 hosts, Katarina and Savas (current 6th year-students in the General Medicine English programme) and asked a few questions about what their hosting experience was like. So let’s hear it from them.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aulaconversations.files.wordpress.com\/2024\/01\/img_1988-1.jpg?w=573\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q.1: What made you interested in being the IE host? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: I\u2019m always interested in trying new things, and I thought that participating as a host in IE would be a fun experience. Additionally I thought of it as a challenge, as I had never actually stood before and talked to such a big audience.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: I wanted to embark on something new. You know, we had taken a break from IE for 3 years due to the pandemic and I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to be involved in bringing this back to PTE, with my friend Katarina. I though it could be fun to try something new and also beneficial for me. I have political aspirations in the future and now having taken this opportunity to get up on stage and talk to a few thousand people, I am more firm in this decision. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n“I\u2019m always interested in trying new things and I thought that participating as a host in IE would be a fun experience.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aulaconversations.files.wordpress.com\/2024\/01\/h2hh2869.jpg?w=512\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q.2: How much time did you spend preparing for this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: We used approximately 2 weeks preparing for everything.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: 2 weeks to prepare as hosts but more like 3 because we had a few other background ideas to execute. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ.3: Was it super stressful for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: I wouldn\u2019t say it was stressful. We were both in 5th year, which doesn\u2019t have any huge time-consuming subjects, so using time to prepare for IE didn\u2019t reflect bad regarding studying for school. Me and Savas are generally calm people, so preparing for the event went smoothly.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: I thought it was exciting at first. It got a bit stressful in the last week prior to the event because we had to memorise the script and make sure we kept track of the program. The biggest thing was performing well to meet expectations and ensuring we delivered a expected. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ.4: Were you nervous?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: I have been a lot on stage growing up due to dancing ballet, so I have learned not to be nervous about going on stage. But of course, right before you enter the stage you get nervous. However, as soon as we started, I didn\u2019t feel any of it. The response from the crowd helped a lot, and made the whole experience just fun.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: At first, yes but once we got up to the stage, it was okay. When I did the opening speech and went “Good evening folks, welcome to International Evening 2023”<\/em>, once the lights came on and I saw everyone there, it was absolutely thrilling. I got goosebumps all over and that was amazing. The first minute was very hard and then I realised the crowd enjoyed our presence and we were able to deliver.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aulaconversations.files.wordpress.com\/2024\/01\/h2hh6277.jpg?w=809\")
<\/figure>\n“…once the lights came on and I saw everyone there, it was absolutely thrilling. I got goosebumps all over and that was amazing.”<\/mark><\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Q.5: How did you find your co-host?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: My co-host and I are friends from before, so it was fun doing this with him. We are very different people; me a bit more organised and him not so much *laughs*. I think we made a good pair due to our differences.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: Knowing EGSC needed us to apply in pairs, choosing Katarina was a no-brainer. I knew she was confident and she would be up to the task, so I approached her with my intention of applying and she said ” yeah of course, this could be fun<\/em>“, and we got started on this.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ.6: What was your experience with EGSC like? How much support did you get from them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: All the people in EGSC are super nice, and super helpful. We received feedback on the stuff we sent and showed them, which we needed in order to test out how the response might be. They were also super helpful while we were brainstorming on what to include in the show regarding our hosting. The only thing I personally felt could have been better was getting a list of countries and performances a little earlier than when we received them, but at the same time, I understand that there is often a lot going on and uncertainties.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: EGSC was helpful of course. You have to remember that because of the 3-year break, around half of the university had not gotten the chance to experience even one International Evening and this included EGSC members. At the time, there were more EGSC members who hadn’t seen IE than had. I personally had attended so I had even more of an idea of what the original event was like. We had to work together and bounce off ideas. But they did their best and it came together. One thing I will say – I think choosing the host could have been settled earlier but I understand there needed to be an application process as we were not the only ones who applied. Perhaps doing it in the semester prior will give more time for preparation. 3 weeks was good for us but might not have been for someone who never attended the event. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ.7: Did you have to make a script? Did you read off it or memorise it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: We made a script and printed it out on cue cards with the IE\/EGSC logo on it. We also memorised the script, but as a backup in case something went wrong, we kept them with us during the whole show.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: We did memorise some of the script over the last 2 weeks but to be honest, most of what we memorised was how to deliver, rather than what to deliver. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nQ.8: Were there any perks for you personally as hosts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
K: We got free food and drinks after the show. We could also request a certificate of participation after.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\nS: I didn’t get my certificate but I’m pretty sure I can request it. People were super nice and friendly to me in the weeks going on, even while I was out in the city. We got VIP entrance and could get free food and drinks, although just for one hour since VIP closed at midnight and the event wrapped up by 23:00.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aulaconversations.files.wordpress.com\/2024\/01\/3617d404-0d41-4796-924d-a47e15e5a19e.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnd there you have it. You can watch a replay of IE 2023, including Katarina and Savas’ excellent hosting performance here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who Makes an Ideal IE Host?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n IE hosts are typically students who are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you or someone you know fits this criteria, don’t hesitate to apply. It’s all pros and no cons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And in case you are still not convinced, I reached out to the IE 2023 hosts, Katarina and Savas (current 6th year-students in the General Medicine English programme) and asked a few questions about what their hosting experience was like. So let’s hear it from them.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.1: What made you interested in being the IE host? <\/p>\n\n\n\n K: I\u2019m always interested in trying new things, and I thought that participating as a host in IE would be a fun experience. Additionally I thought of it as a challenge, as I had never actually stood before and talked to such a big audience.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: I wanted to embark on something new. You know, we had taken a break from IE for 3 years due to the pandemic and I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to be involved in bringing this back to PTE, with my friend Katarina. I though it could be fun to try something new and also beneficial for me. I have political aspirations in the future and now having taken this opportunity to get up on stage and talk to a few thousand people, I am more firm in this decision. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m always interested in trying new things and I thought that participating as a host in IE would be a fun experience.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.2: How much time did you spend preparing for this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: We used approximately 2 weeks preparing for everything.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: 2 weeks to prepare as hosts but more like 3 because we had a few other background ideas to execute. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.3: Was it super stressful for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: I wouldn\u2019t say it was stressful. We were both in 5th year, which doesn\u2019t have any huge time-consuming subjects, so using time to prepare for IE didn\u2019t reflect bad regarding studying for school. Me and Savas are generally calm people, so preparing for the event went smoothly.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: I thought it was exciting at first. It got a bit stressful in the last week prior to the event because we had to memorise the script and make sure we kept track of the program. The biggest thing was performing well to meet expectations and ensuring we delivered a expected. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.4: Were you nervous?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: I have been a lot on stage growing up due to dancing ballet, so I have learned not to be nervous about going on stage. But of course, right before you enter the stage you get nervous. However, as soon as we started, I didn\u2019t feel any of it. The response from the crowd helped a lot, and made the whole experience just fun.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: At first, yes but once we got up to the stage, it was okay. When I did the opening speech and went “Good evening folks, welcome to International Evening 2023”<\/em>, once the lights came on and I saw everyone there, it was absolutely thrilling. I got goosebumps all over and that was amazing. The first minute was very hard and then I realised the crowd enjoyed our presence and we were able to deliver.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Q.5: How did you find your co-host?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: My co-host and I are friends from before, so it was fun doing this with him. We are very different people; me a bit more organised and him not so much *laughs*. I think we made a good pair due to our differences.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: Knowing EGSC needed us to apply in pairs, choosing Katarina was a no-brainer. I knew she was confident and she would be up to the task, so I approached her with my intention of applying and she said ” yeah of course, this could be fun<\/em>“, and we got started on this.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.6: What was your experience with EGSC like? How much support did you get from them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: All the people in EGSC are super nice, and super helpful. We received feedback on the stuff we sent and showed them, which we needed in order to test out how the response might be. They were also super helpful while we were brainstorming on what to include in the show regarding our hosting. The only thing I personally felt could have been better was getting a list of countries and performances a little earlier than when we received them, but at the same time, I understand that there is often a lot going on and uncertainties.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: EGSC was helpful of course. You have to remember that because of the 3-year break, around half of the university had not gotten the chance to experience even one International Evening and this included EGSC members. At the time, there were more EGSC members who hadn’t seen IE than had. I personally had attended so I had even more of an idea of what the original event was like. We had to work together and bounce off ideas. But they did their best and it came together. One thing I will say – I think choosing the host could have been settled earlier but I understand there needed to be an application process as we were not the only ones who applied. Perhaps doing it in the semester prior will give more time for preparation. 3 weeks was good for us but might not have been for someone who never attended the event. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.7: Did you have to make a script? Did you read off it or memorise it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: We made a script and printed it out on cue cards with the IE\/EGSC logo on it. We also memorised the script, but as a backup in case something went wrong, we kept them with us during the whole show.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: We did memorise some of the script over the last 2 weeks but to be honest, most of what we memorised was how to deliver, rather than what to deliver. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q.8: Were there any perks for you personally as hosts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n K: We got free food and drinks after the show. We could also request a certificate of participation after.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n S: I didn’t get my certificate but I’m pretty sure I can request it. People were super nice and friendly to me in the weeks going on, even while I was out in the city. We got VIP entrance and could get free food and drinks, although just for one hour since VIP closed at midnight and the event wrapped up by 23:00.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n And there you have it. You can watch a replay of IE 2023, including Katarina and Savas’ excellent hosting performance here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>“…once the lights came on and I saw everyone there, it was absolutely thrilling. I got goosebumps all over and that was amazing.”<\/mark><\/em><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n