KPL
(KPL) The 20th Japanese Speech Contest was held on March 4 at the Budo Centre in Vientiane. Young Lao learners of Japanese delivered speeches in front of many audience members, with their teachers, friends and family in attendance to cheer them along.
(KPL) The 20th Japanese Speech Contest was held on March 4 at the Budo Centre in Vientiane. Young Lao learners of Japanese delivered speeches in front of many audience members, with their teachers, friends and family in attendance to cheer them along.
The contest was also attended by dignitaries including Dr. Phonekeo Chanthamaly, Director of Laos-Japan Institute and Vice President of the Laos-Japan Friendship Association, with attendance of Mr. Kobayashi Kenichi, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR.
Since 2004, this contest has been held annually to provide an opportunity for Japanese language learners from across the Lao PDR to demonstrate their abilities and to take the opportunity to improve their language and presentation skills.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 contest was cancelled and the following two contests held online.
This year’s 20th contest was divided into one reading section with 22 students participating and two speech sections with 14 students offering 1-minute speeches and an additional 10 giving 3- minute speeches.
Contestants had been selected based on the preliminary rounds by the organizing committee comprised of representatives from the Embassy of Japan and Japanese language institutes in the Lao PDR.
At the contest, a panel of judges appointed from within the Japanese community in the Lao PDR selected the following winners of 3-minute speech section.
Winners were selected through a careful evaluation process based on language knowledge and speaking skills.
First place: Mr. Xay Tho “Future Dreams of Child Living in the Countryside”
Second place: Mr. Detsavan Phinit “World of Exchange”
Third place: Ms. Suthannya Xamonti “Meaning of Bento (lunch box)”
Ambassador Mr. Kobayashi offered a message of encouragement to the contestants.
He also expressed his sincere appreciation to all those who have worked toward raising the quality of Japanese language education in the Lao PDR. “Learning a foreign language is important, not only for a deeper understanding of that country, but also for a deeper understanding of your own country”.
“The Embassy of Japan is delighted to be able to support all students in their efforts to study the Japanese language, as well as those assisting with their studies,” said Mr. Kobayashi.
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