(KPL) The 19th Japanese Speech Contest was held online on Mar 19 to provide an opportunity for Lao students across the country to demonstrate their “Nihongo” (Japanese language) abilities and upgrade their skills.
Due to Covid-19, the competition was broadcast on the internet for the second year in a row with the organizing committee making careful preparations to ensure it was successful.
By holding it online, teachers, friends and family of the participants both in Vientiane and around the world could watch and cheer them along.
The annual contest was divided into one reading section with 23 students participating, and two speech sections with eight students giving a one-minute speech and a further nine giving a three-minute speech.
All the contestants had been selected for the preliminary rounds by the organising committee which comprised of representatives from the Embassy of Japan and Japanese language institutes in the Lao PDR.
The contestants demonstrated their Japanese language skills by reciting Japanese texts or delivering speeches that they had prepared by themselves. Judges from agencies within the Japanese community in the Lao PDR selected the following winners of speech sections through a careful evaluation of their language knowledge and speaking skills.
3-minute speech section
First place: Ms. Litthida Lengsavath
(Laos-Japan Institute; LJI)
Second place: Ms. Silaphon Xayyalat
(Laos-Japan Institute; LJI)
Third place: Mr. Detsavan Phinit
(National University of Laos)
1-minute speech section
First place: Mr. Husuyang Kongchi
(Laos-Japan Institute; LJI)
Second place: Ms. Kaoli Laotongpo
(National University of Laos)
Third place: Ms. Suksavan Douangphachan
(National University of Laos)
Prior to the contest, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kenichi Kobayashi, gave a message of encouragement to the students and expressed his sincere appreciation to all those who have worked for Japanese language education.
He also emphasized recent achievements which have furthered cooperative relations between Japan and the Lao PDR.
“Mutual understanding between our two nations supports our partnership, and to learn each other’s language is the most effective way for mutual understanding. The Embassy of Japan is delighted to be able to support students in their efforts to study the Japanese language, as well as those assisting with their studies,” Mr. Kobayashi said.
KPL
