The Student Room Group

someone please read my gcse spoken language speech and feedback if it’s good

it’s about sonder.

What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?

That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.

Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.

Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.

Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.

So why does this matter?

Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.

Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.

Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?

Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.

It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.

If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.

So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?

You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.

And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.

Thank you.

Reply 1

Original post
by Anonymous
it’s about sonder.
What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?
That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.
Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.
Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.
So why does this matter?
Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.
Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.
Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?
Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.
It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.
If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.
So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?
You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.
And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.
Thank you.

This is perfect imo. It touchees on social, emotional and global problems. It also uses DAFOREST techniques which is enough and installed in the right places.
Will get a distinction if presented with the right techniques


I love itt💖

Reply 2

Original post
by Anonymous
it’s about sonder.
What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?
That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.
Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.
Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.
So why does this matter?
Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.
Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.
Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?
Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.
It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.
If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.
So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?
You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.
And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.
Thank you.

GIRLLL that is so beautiful and "sophisticated" definetely getting a distinction!!! thats so cool literally how are u able to write like that bro that was lovely
lol i did my speech a couple of weeks ago and it was nowhere near as sophisticated. my speech was just about why we should have shorter school days. and i genuinely thought i would struggle to get even a pass because of my naturally quiet voice and stutter. but my teacher suggested that i could do it at a lunchtime with a couple of friends (to ask me the questions that i already pre prepared) rather than doing it in front of the whole classroom if i didnt feel confident enough. so thats what i did and in the end i ended up getting a distinction lol tho i was not expecting it
but yh ur speech is amazing girll go you!!!

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
it’s about sonder.
What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?
That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.
Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.
Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.
So why does this matter?
Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.
Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.
Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?
Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.
It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.
If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.
So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?
You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.
And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.
Thank you.

Hi there,

I second @numb-chain, this is such a lovely and unique topic to discuss in your presentation!

Your writing is beautiful as it is, and I think you're on to a winner in terms of your grade. My best advice is to just keep practicing your delivery and to get really confident with what you're saying. The more you know what you're saying, the more natural you'll sound, which will help deliver your key messages and point in the most fluid way. When I did mine, I found that the speech was much more engaging as I was comfortable in what I was saying, so my audience felt more at ease as I relaxed into it too.

Good luck and all the best! You'll smash it! 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU

Reply 4

Original post
by numb-chain
This is perfect imo. It touchees on social, emotional and global problems. It also uses DAFOREST techniques which is enough and installed in the right places.
Will get a distinction if presented with the right techniques
I love itt💖


thank you soo much

Reply 5

Original post
by permafrostt
GIRLLL that is so beautiful and "sophisticated" definetely getting a distinction!!! thats so cool literally how are u able to write like that bro that was lovely
lol i did my speech a couple of weeks ago and it was nowhere near as sophisticated. my speech was just about why we should have shorter school days. and i genuinely thought i would struggle to get even a pass because of my naturally quiet voice and stutter. but my teacher suggested that i could do it at a lunchtime with a couple of friends (to ask me the questions that i already pre prepared) rather than doing it in front of the whole classroom if i didnt feel confident enough. so thats what i did and in the end i ended up getting a distinction lol tho i was not expecting it
but yh ur speech is amazing girll go you!!!


thank youu and also yeah im kinda quiet too so i also have to practice it so my voice is actually audible to everyone but girll a distinction is amazing good job!

Reply 6

Original post
by BCU Student Rep
Hi there,
I second @numb-chain, this is such a lovely and unique topic to discuss in your presentation!
Your writing is beautiful as it is, and I think you're on to a winner in terms of your grade. My best advice is to just keep practicing your delivery and to get really confident with what you're saying. The more you know what you're saying, the more natural you'll sound, which will help deliver your key messages and point in the most fluid way. When I did mine, I found that the speech was much more engaging as I was comfortable in what I was saying, so my audience felt more at ease as I relaxed into it too.
Good luck and all the best! You'll smash it! 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU


thank you for the advice i really appreciate it!!

Reply 7

Original post
by gabi.23
thank you soo much

You're welcome

Reply 8

Can someone read mine as well please




Everytime we get dressed, we are not just covering ourselves in a fabric, we are passing a message,making a statement and speaking without words. It’s a mirror. It's a piece of our identity stitched into every thread. Fashion is often seen as something shallow, something just for runway models and celebrities. But in reality, fashion is a powerful weapon for self-expression, identity and individuality.

Think about the colours you wear. Bright colours, dark shades and neons. Have you ever felt more confident in bold colours? Mysterious in dark shades? Or even unseen in neutral tones? That’s because fashion is an expression of emotion- it reflects our mood and feelings. It is wearing our feelings in a fabric. It is often seen as something simple- something we wear without much thought. But when we really think about it, Fashion is a tool of self expression that lets us speak to the world without having to say a single word. Fashion doesn’t need words it’s a silent language that commands attention.It’s how we express what we love, who we are, where we’re from and sometimes even what we believe in.
Think about it - every time we pick a piece of clothing, we aren’t just choosing fabrics to cover our bodies, we’re making choices. Bright colours to feel bold, dark shades to stay low key, baggy clothes for comfort, tight fits for confidence. Every piece of clothing is a sentence in a story we tell the world. It’s a story of our mood, our heritage, our passion, our dreams.

Around the world, fashion is deeply connected with culture, race, identity and self awareness. In Nigeria, vibrant Ankara prints aren’t just patterns - they’re expressions of pride, resilience and beauty of Nigerian culture. In India, a sari’s drape can signal tradition, celebration or status. In Scotland, kilts carry a legacy that spans generations, connecting men to their clans. Across Africa, Asia, and Indigenous communities, traditional clothing isn’t just fashion - it 's heritage wrapped in fabric. And yet, fashion isn’t confined to tradition. It constantly evolves and adapts if we think of how fashion in one corner of the world influences trends in another. Fashion is a global conversation. Someone in London might get inspired by a look from Lagos. Someone in New York might copy a style from Seoul. Fashion connects us across oceans.
But fashion isn’t just about looking good, it is a tool of empowerment. It is about choosing to express yourself, to define who you are, and how you want the world to see you. It is a way of standing tall especially when the world sometimes tries to keep you small.

At the same time, fashion can be a form of silent protest. A slogan T-shirt, a rainbow pin on a jacket, a patterned scarf with hidden meaning—these subtle details often speak louder than the outfit itself. Whether it’s wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt, or a rainbow bracelet to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, fashion can become a powerful message of resistance.Fashion has long been intertwined with activism. In the 1960s and 70s, the Black Panthers’ leather jackets and berets weren’t just part of their style—they were symbols of power, unity, and resistance. The pink hats worn by millions of women during the Women’s March in 2017 became symbols of solidarity and protest. Fashion is protest. Fashion is a political voice.

But of course, fashion is not without its dark side. Every piece of clothing you see has gone through a long journey to get to you—from cotton farms to factories to the stores. And sadly, many people in this supply chain don’t get the recognition or fair wages they deserve. Many workers, especially women and children in poorer countries, work long hours for very low pay, an example of lower costs and higher prices. What’s worse, the fashion industry is also responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions—more than all international flights and shipping combined. But there is hope. People today are beginning to realize that there is a better way. Sustainable fashion is not just a trend—it’s a movement. Thrift shopping, upcycling clothes, supporting small, ethical brands—these are the choices that make a difference.


For me, fashion is a way to tell my story. Some days I wear bright colours to feel powerful, other days I dress more simply to feel calm. Sometimes I wear a piece of Ankara to reconnect to my Nigerian roots, other days I wear something comfortable to just exist in my space. Each outfit feels like a different chapter of who I am. Fashion is an art form, a canvas you walk around in. It’s like wearing your thoughts, your identity, and your dreams for the world to see.And that’s what makes fashion so powerful—it can help us belong. It can help us stand out. It can make us feel proud, brave, comfortable, and strong. Fashion is not just about following trends or wearing designer brands. It’s about finding your voice—and wearing it. It’s about redefining beauty, tearing down standards, and saying, “I don’t need to fit in, because I am enough as I am.”

So next time you get dressed, ask yourself: What do I want my clothes to say about me today? Because even if we don’t speak it out loud, fashion is always saying something. It’s telling the world who we are, what we care about, and how we want to shape the future. And whether we like it or not, it’s a language that speaks for us all.
Fashion is power, but with power comes responsibility. It’s up to us the next generation to use this tool wisely. To choose clothes that don’t just look good, but do good. To support brands that care about people and the planet. To make fashion inclusive, diverse, and accessible to everyone. We are not just consumers we are creators of a new fashion future. So, whether you’re putting on a uniform, a hoodie, a head wrap, or heels remember: you’re not just getting dressed. You’re telling the world who you are and what you stand for. Let your fashion speak loud, proud, and unapologetically you.


Thank you.
(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
it’s about sonder.
What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?
That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.
Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.
Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.
So why does this matter?
Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.
Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.
Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?
Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.
It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.
If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.
So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?
You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.
And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.
Thank you.

can i use this to help me a bit for mine?? it is absolutely amazing!! also did it go well??

Reply 10

Original post
by Anonymous
it’s about sonder.
What If Everyone You Passed Had a Story You’d Never Know?
Have you ever locked eyes with a stranger and, just for a second, wondered what their life might be like? What they’re worried about? Who they love? What they’ve lost?
That sudden feeling like the world is much bigger than just your own perspective has a name: sonder.
Sonder is the realisation that every single passerby is living a life as vivid, detailed, and emotional as your own. The word was coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a book that names feelings we’ve all experienced but never had the words for.
Imagine this: the person who bumped into you on the train this morning might be rushing to a job interview. The woman standing silently behind you in line might be grieving someone she lost. The loudest person in your class might be hiding the deepest insecurity. You’d never know and that’s the point.
Sonder reminds us that we are all living parallel stories, brushing past one another with no idea what the other person is carrying.
So why does this matter?
Because in a world that feels more connected than ever through phones, apps, and social media we’re actually losing connection where it matters most: with people. A 2023 study by the Mental Health Foundation found that 49% of young people feel lonely often or all the time. Isn’t that ironic? We can scroll through a thousand faces in a day, and still feel invisible.
Sonder, in a way, is a quiet form of empathy. It encourages us to judge less, to pause before jumping to conclusions, and to remember that behind every action is a reason even if we can’t see it.
Let me give you an example. There was a girl in my class who hardly spoke. People said she was boring, stuck-up, or rude. But later, I found out she was caring for a sick parent every night after school. I’d never have guessed. No one had. And it made me wonder: how many people have I misjudged because I only saw the surface?
Sonder challenges us to see people as more than stereotypes. It says: stop. Look closer. Everyone has chapters you’ll never read.
It also helps you let go of your own self-importance. And I don’t mean that in a harsh way but sometimes we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget everyone else is dealing with their own. That’s why sonder is so powerful. It humbles you. It grounds you. It says, you are not the main character of the world just one of many.
If more of us lived with sonder, maybe things would be different. Maybe we’d snap less, assume less, gossip less. Maybe we’d speak with more kindness, listen with more care, and see with more curiosity.
So I’ll ask you again next time you pass someone on the street, will you see them as a stranger... or a story? Will you walk on like they don’t exist... or wonder, even for a second, what life looks like through their eyes?
You might never know their name. You might never hear their story. But knowing that it exists that’s sonder.
And that’s enough to change the way we see the world.
Thank you.

what kind of questions did your classmates ask

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