Arbaeen 2021

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Monday, 27 September 2021

Bellfield College Senior School Arabeen Podcast Competition 2021 Rise with Zainab: Live your Virtue

Dear parents and carers, Asalamu ‘alaykum.

The Arbaeen, literally meaning forty, marks forty days since the martyrdom of our beloved Imam Hussain (a.s) on the tragic Day of Ashura.

In the guiding light of Bellfield’s Arbaeen 2021 theme Rise with Zainab: Live your Virtue, students have been learning about how to identify and live the virtues of Lady Zainab (a.s) in their daily lives. Throughout history, mourners have farewelled our Imam through various artistic expressions of devotion. These include poetic odes, dramatic retellings of Karbala, and in more recent times pilgrimage to Karbala. Bellfield College Senior School aims to add to this tradition by proudly announcing our Arbaeen podcast competition for 2021.

All Senior School students from years 7-12 are invited to participate. Interested students will record their own podcast on the significance of Lady Zainab’s (a.s) struggle throughout the forty days and the virtues both she and Imam Hussain (a.s) offer for our 21st century.

Students will submit an audio MP3 file of their podcast, which must be 5-10 minutes long. Optionally, students can invite a family member to participate in their podcast to present their recording like a conversation.

Due Date: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 Prizes - First prize: $200 gift card - Second prize: $100 gift card - Third prize: $50 gift card -

Prizes will be awarded for the quality of the podcast production and linking to the theme of rising with Zainab by living your virtue.

Winners will be announced on Friday, 8 October 2021.

Submission details Completed podcasts must be sent as an MP3 file to the Canvas Bellfield Senior School Arbaeen Competition 2021 Classroom by Wednesday, 6 October 2021. See the next page for hints and tips.

We wish all Senior School the best of luck and look forward to listening to your creative podcasts!

Warm regards, The IHSAN Department

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To be eligible for submission you will need to meet the following criteria

LOOK AT ME

READ ME

Ensure your podcast is more than 5 minutes, but less than 10 minutes long.

Have an Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

Remember to stay connected to the THEME! Use the Audio Mp3 format for the file and recording.

Have no visuals or video recorded and ensure the audio recording is clear.

Avoid filler words such as “um’’, “but”, “and yeah” or other informal language. This can make you sound hesitant and less confident in what you say.

Plan ahead and map out your topic in light of the theme: 1. The significance of Lady Zainab’s (a.s) struggle throughout the forty days and; 2. The virtues both she and Imam Hussain (a.s) offer for our 21st century.

Use etiquette in your greetings for the introduction and conclusion. e.g., Say Asalamu ‘Alaikum or Salaam as well as introduce yourself.

You can invite a family member to participate in your Podcast and present their recording in a conversational manner, following the traditional structure of a Podcast.

If a family member is joining you, remember to greet and introduce them too.

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TICK ME

You can take pauses if needed and practise what you are going to say.

Complete all of this and you will be on your way to winning the first prize.

Helpful tips -

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Make notes and create a script or outline about what you want to say before you start recording. See How to Plan your Podcast link below.

Practice what you are going to say.

Be enthusiastic about and interested in your topic. Your connection with the topic will appear in your voice.

Vary your tone and pace. Don’t speak too quickly or slowly. Keep your tone conversational but factual, as you are the host of this podcast.

Be yourself. You might be tempted to exaggerate one facet of your personality or a behaviour to be more “exciting” or “fun”, but you won’t come across as authentic or truthful.

Invite a family member to participate in your podcast so you can present your recording like a conversation. Remember to include them in your script and tell them their part: will they be interviewing you or will you interview them? Will they be a co-host? Note: you need to be the main person speaking.

Avoid filler words by pausing and having a good script. When you use a filler word such as “um,” you are verbalising your thought process. Armed with this information, it is easy to realise: the best way to avoid using filler words is to pause while you check your notes. If you are not speaking, you can't say “um”!

Choose a quiet space with plenty of space for recording and test the sound quality. For example, your bathroom might be a quiet space, but the sound of your voice will echo and not record well.

Do some research and stay on topic. Your notes will help with this.

Listen to your recording prior to submission. Don’t feel sad or disappointed if you need to record it many times before submission; you will improve each time.

How to Plan your Podcast https://youtu.be/kYx9KpG3VTY Overall, relax and enjoy this experience!

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