The 16th Yamanashi International Student Speech Contest was held at the Yamanashi Prefectural Library on Saturday, December 14, 2012, and 33 international students studying at universities in Yamanashi Prefecture participated in the contest. Each student gave a five-minute speech on this year’s theme of “What I want to leave behind for the future” of sharing their own experiences.
From drafting the manuscript to practicing speeches, students had to find time in between lectures every day to rehearse frantically.
As a result of the judgment, Yang Liton (China), a third-year student in the Faculty of Business Administration at ICU, won the first place, while CHIKWALA FRIDAY (Zambia), a fourth-year student in the Faculty of International Liberal Arts won the second place and EGI SETIADI (Indonesia), a short term student in the Faculty of Law, won the third place.
He Jian Qi (China), a second-year student at the Graduate School of Social Sciences, received the Advonext Award; JIANG Chong Wu (China), a short-term student at the Faculty of Business Administration, received the Indenya Award; CHAN SUM YI (Hong Kong), a second-year student at International College of Liberal Arts, received the Kofu 500th Anniversary Award; and ZHANG Yiyue (China), a first-year student at the Faculty of Business Administration, received the Judges’ Special Award.
Looking back over the past three years, Yang, who won first place, expressed the happiness she has experienced in each of the seasons in Yamanashi with delicate emotions that are unique to Japan, and received great applause.
The chairperson of the organizing committee, Prof. Kariuchi, said, “This speech contest has been held since 2004 with the objectives of (1) improving the Japanese language skills of international students, (2) providing opportunities for exchange between international students and Japanese people, and (3) fostering the planning and management skills of students.
The university students, who are the members of the executive committee, decided on the theme of the contest. It was a difficult theme, but the speeches today were really impressive. No one was pessimistic, but they were positive and everyone was happy to hear their speeches. “Please continue to do your best to pass on that positivity and positivity to those around you.” A representative of a communist company said, “Every year, students’ speeches are so wonderful that even if a Japanese person were to enter the contest, he or she would not be able to win an award. I was very moved by the words of many people who spoke of their ‘love for Yamanashi’ and ‘love for their families’. I hope student will continue to take on challenges in Yamanashi and become a bridge between Japan and your country in the future. I hope to meet you all again when that happens.” Speaking in front of many people in a foreign country, in the language of that country, is not an easy thing to do. Students desire to communicate have reached everyone in the audience.
After the speeches, the Tsuru Bunka University Karuta Circle “Amatsukaze” presented a competitive Karuta game and students from other universities were able to interact with each other in a friendly atmosphere.
Even though the students were not able to win any awards, they took on a challenge, worked hard and made many international and Japanese friends through the exchange program.
I was very impressed with the bright smiles on everyone’s faces after the speeches were over.
