Wellington Regional Japanese Speech Competition Report

The Wellington Regional Japanese Speech Competition was held on Thursday June 20th in the Taraika Marae at Wellington High School. This is the 10th year the competition has occurred.

This year there were 27 participants in 5 categories from 10 different schools. Students speak on a topic of their choice accompanied by a powerpoint, so that the audience has a better understanding of the content of the speech. Speeches are also recorded so they can be used for NCEA purposes if needed. Speeches this year were on a wide range of topics with some of them being quite thought provoking.

In addition to the usual First, Second and Third prize, we also award a Special Prize. This prize is given to a speaker in that division that the judges think were deserving of a prize, but did not receive a placing.

We were fortunate to have Mr Kiyoko Hamada, the director of the Japanese Information and Cultural Centre that is attached to the Embassy of Japan attend and award the Amabassador’s cup. This award is given to the contestant who most impressed Mr Hamada.

We would like to thank the Sasakawa Fund for Japanese Language Education for their generous support.

Prize winners, judges (Kyoko Mikami (National Japanese Language Advisor), Fiona Howat, Adele Scott, and Felicity Walker all from Te Kura – The Correspondence School) and Director Hamada from the Japan Information and Cultural Centre

Results

Year 10

First Prize – Elena Revelant (Queen Margaret College) わたしのゆめ (2nd from right)

Second Prize – Nathan Martindale (Wellington College) じこしょうかい (3rd from left)

Third Prize – Jean Tamihere (Wainuomata High School) Japanese Theatre (right)

Special Prize – Cedar Porteous (Tawa College) わたしはなに人ですか (left)

Year 11

First Prize – Anna Li (Queen Margaret College) ゆめのまち (right)

Second Prize – Nadia Prasetyo (Upper Hutt College) 私の夢 (4th from left)

Third Prize – Jaden Kim (Wellington College) 日本でのかぞくのりょこう (2nd from left)

Special Prize – John Reeve (Onslow College) とくべつな日 (left)

Year 12

First Prize – Imali de Silva (Hutt Valley High School) Why is Japan the Most Polite Country (2nd from right)

Second Prize – Gina Dao McLay (St Mary’s College) せかいのヌードル (2nd from left)

Third Prize – Fiona Bogunovic (Onslow College) 私の国の食べ物 (left)

Special Prize – not awarded this year

Year 13

First Prize – Anna Liu (Wellington High School) いじめ (2nd from left)

Second Prize – Nicholas Stephens (Wellington College) 日本での男女平等について (left)

Third Prize – no third prize was awarded this year

Special Prize – no special prize was awarded this year

Heritage Category

(students who have a Japanese parent or who have spent more than 3 months in Japan)

First Prize – Zoe Allen Maitland (Tawa College)

Second Prize - not awarded this year

Third Prize – not awarded this year

Special Prize – not awarded this year

Ambassador’s Cup

Imali de Silva (Hutt Valley High School) Why is Japan the Most Polite Country