On the last Thursday of October, the students and faculty of MAN2 were invited to attend a unique full-day conference full of presentations, game-show games, and school-spirit exercises. Inspired by the conversations ETA Alexander Lopez-Perez had with students during his office hours, the MAN2 Speaker Series (or MAN2Talks, for short) is a program held once a month during English clinic where students are encouraged to think critically about the “ideas” they want to share with the world.

The first cohort of MAN2 speakers–which included students from each grade level–met with Alexander twice a week to craft their presentations on topics the students were deeply invested in. Topics ranged from: “bullying in the school setting: why we need to rethink popularity,” “Happiness outside school involvement,” to “finding grace in our past.” While this cohort felt “highly comfortable with their English speaking abilities”, truth be told, they assured any hopeful MAN2 speaker that so long as they believe “language grows you and voices find you,” they can learn to have their thoughts “better heard!”

Rather than a conclusion, each speaker conference is a learning experience for both the speakers and the audience. At the end of the first conference, Alexander challenged every and any student to meet with him, should they be interested in taking the stage themselves. If you have an idea, share it!

Alexander Lopez-Perez is currently teaching at MAN 2 Bukittinggi, West Sumatra