This speech contest was a highly beneficial factor in making new acquaintances from around Australia, who will prove to be great friends in the future; the contest serves as a brilliant meeting point for exchange of greetings and creation of good friendships between people who are greatly interested in the Japanese language.

Secondly, the speech contest allowed me to practice my Japanese with native and very talented Japanese speakers, which both expanded my vocabulary and broadened my understanding of intonation of certain words etc.

Most importantly to me, however, the Speech Contest allowed me to gauge the ability of my fellow competitors, who were all talented representatives of their state, meaning they were the best of the best and represented the ‘cream of the crop’ of talent in the Japanese language. This is the most fruitful reward I have reaped from the competition, I believe, as I once thought Western Australia was behind in Japanese education compared to the eastern states. It turns out; we are all about equal if not very close in ability in my opinion.

I would highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to partake in this prestigious event.

Being chosen to represent Queensland at the Australian Final of the JPF Speech Contest was a great honour, in which I took a lot of pride. Both my parents and teachers believed that this would be a beneficial experience for my Japanese and it was indeed. As a contestant who felt slightly out of his depth in the Japanese realm but relished the idea of public speaking (as a seasoned debater), I thought that this contest suited me perfectly. The Japan Foundation went to great lengths to accommodate for contestants and my family who also attended the event. I was very happy with the overall running procedures of the day and I felt as though the organizers had a genuine interest in my comfort. As a long time student of Japanese it was almost surreal to be surrounded by so many amazing Japanese students in both high school and university. Whilst I was obviously nervous, the competition had a reasonably relaxed atmosphere which really put me at ease when speaking. In the lead up to the competition, I feel as though my Japanese ability generally improved due to my motivation to do well. And after leaving the competition my enthusiasm for learning the language has continued to flourish. I would strongly encourage prospective participants to enter because competing in this speech contest was a truly once in a lifetime experience.

I found the process in the High School Senior Division great experience personally and professionally. I benefited a lot. Competing in the SA State competition required me to speak Japanese in front of an audience, my family and peers. We seldom do this in English.

In the Australian contest, I could measure myself against non-native Japanese speakers from widely different backgrounds. I found the people and their speaking topics very motivating.

Being the first non-Australian student to enter the competition, I was really nervous. I had no idea what to expect; being in a new country that has a higher curriculum level made things so much more nerve-wracking. However, once I arrived in Sydney, those nerves vanished. It wasn’t as scary as I imagined, and soon enough I was feeling pumped and ready to go. I had no idea how big the contest would be – I even imagined an audience of over 1000 at one point! But once I arrived at the Japan Foundation and saw the contest hall, all my worries dissipated! I realised that every contestant felt the exact same way as I did, which helped me calm down a little. Also, the room had a really friendly vibe to it and the set up made you feel like you weren’t too distant from the audience and, especially, the judges. It makes you feel like you aren’t being judged as much, and are more just telling a story to people who are willing to listen. I really enjoyed my time at the JPF Speech Contest for 2011, and highly recommend that any passionate Japanese student should strive to earn a spot in the competition themselves.  

I found the Japan Foundation’s speech contest a truly memorable experience. The most enjoyable part was the chance to improve my Japanese writing and speaking skills through the competition. It was lovely to meet other finalists from other states during the Australian National Final and share our experiences in Japanese together. It was also a privilege to hear the Japanese ambassador to Australia, Shigekazu Sato, give the opening address and listen to all the other contestants in the final. All speeches I heard were of a wonderful standard and I learnt a lot from the competition. I would encourage anyone considering entering the contest to do so, as it is an experience I have enjoyed immensely.

The Japanese National Speech Contest really was a great opportunity to write, prepare, and present a Japanese speech in front of an audience. I thought it was a great experience and I definitely would enter the contest again. The rules of the competition are well communicated and you’re given plenty of preparation tips.

Because the criteria for your topic is so open, it is very easy for you to choose just about any topic that you are passionate about and that will help you convey your thoughts and expression well in your speech.

Being among the contestants also has a really encouraging atmosphere; everyone wishes you luck and just wants you to do the very best that you can. Even though it is a bit nerve-wracking at first, the judges and the audience work hard to make sure you can relax.

The organisation by the Japan Foundation is also excellent; everything is planned out to make all events go smoothly, including accommodation for contestants and the schedule during the contest.

It also provides an opportunity to talk to other people who share your interest in Japanese, and I found that everyone had a story to share about their experience of Japanese. I felt honoured simply to have made it to the Australian National Final.

The 42nd Japanese Speech Contest has got to be one of the best speech contests around. I had so much fun and got to meet people from different states. But most of all, I was motivated to work harder at my Japanese. There could be no better motivation than experiencing first-hand the sheer talent and skill of the contestants.

Thanks to the speech contest, my Japanese skills soared in a very short period of time. Speaking in Japanese for 3 minutes straight was not an easy task, but after carrying it through, I became much more fluent in Japanese.

I learnt a lot from watching other contestants perform. Each contestant had a unique way of presenting their speech, so that one speech performance was never the same to another. When it was my turn I was a little nervous but after finishing my speech, I felt a huge relief. It was an exhilarating experience!

The food and accommodation were also great. The hotel room was very clean and nice, and I had Japanese cuisine every meal of the day during my one-and-a-half-day stay in Sydney. What a fitting way to spend the day of the JapaneseSpeech Contest!

I count myself very lucky to have been a contestant at this speech contest and I would highly recommend it to any eager Japanese student. As it was an immensely enjoyable experience for me, I have every confidence that it will also be for any future contestants

As a national finalist in the JPF Speech Contest, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I knew I would get to hear various speeches from contestants from all around Australia, but I was amazed and actually a little intimidated at the level. Although unable to place in the High School Division, I had a fantastic day, meeting the other contestants and getting to know them. Their speeches made me think more on issues such as whaling and the recent earthquakes in Japan. My own speech was more personal but like every other contestant, we were all passionate about our chosen topics. Each and every one was unique, some emotional but all were intriguing. The winning speeches truly deserved their place and even left me speechless after hearing it.

Overall, the speech contest was a great experience. It wasn't rewarding in the sense that we all received prizes, but in the sense that I learnt a lot and met so many people just on that day. If possible, I'd like to enter the competition again next year, hear more speeches and meet more people. To me, it doesn't matter if your speech isn't extremely well-written. As long as you have a topic in which you are passionate about, then give the contest a try.

I would highly recommend to any students of the Japanese language to participate to the JPF Speech Contest as it has many benefits; it has been a wonderful to me as I have been able to more about myself and the others trough their speeches. The contest is also a way to challenge yourself as public speaking is already really difficult, but in Japanese it’s even more difficult! I have also been able to make friends from each states of Australia! Not to mention that airplane tickets to Sydney and the accommodation were paid by the JPF (Hotel was perfectly located and very comfortable!)with free lunch and drinks during the contest day! Wonderful prices also await the lucky winners! I think the most valuable thing that everyone won is self-confidence and pride from representing their states and schools. Any particular reasons not participate in the JPF Speech Contest? I personally can’t think of any…
Good luck to every future participant and don’t forget to have fun!

The contest was very well organized and thought through. Everything was provided for and the representatives from the Japan Foundation where more than happy to assist with any questions or difficulties. On the contest day I was positively surprised by the professionalism of the Judges and that I was able to meet the Ambassador of Japan to Australia. The level of contestants was high and it was a good opportunity to present to an audience that can appreciate how much effort the contestants put into their speeches. Even if you are not competing it is well worth to listen to the speeches of the contestants I was surprised how many well-prepared and fascinating speeches were held on the day. As a contestant the high quality of speeches encouraged me to perform at my best and motivated me to continue my studies of Japanese. And of course, as high as the level of the competition, the reward for scoring a place is great. I would encourage every single Japanese learner to take this great opportunity to compete against other students from Australia and New Zealand. It is a great challenge and of course you never know if you might score a place and win.

I was really excited about entering this contest, after winning the state final, we head to Sydney to compete with the best people from each state. It was such a great experience, even though I didn't receive first place, but that motivated me to study harder and improve my Japanese speech skills. The programs on the day were excellent and you get to make friends with people from different states. The accommodation at Hyde Park Inn was very good and I also really like my prize. For all prospective participants, please don't hesitate to enter this competition; you will get a lot out doing this competition. Next year I will prepared myself more and enter this competition again! I will see you all there!

The contest basically allows me to understand the significance of giving a speech in front of people and the courage it takes to stand up on the stage facing myself. Frankly, I did not intend to participate the contest in the first place because I did not think of it as a great deal. But entering the contest and competing with other outstanding contestants proved me wrong – I learnt to face my failure and use my will to overcome fear. By merely standing up on the stage, I would consider myself a winner since I found the courage to actually speak in front of people, which is a really big deal to me. Overall, the contest was great and I hope the Japan Foundation would work towards a better future of the Japanese Language.

To be honest, my first expectation of the contest was not so high. However, after finishing the entire contest, I realize the size, the content, the recognition, and of course the prizes were more than extraordinary. The contest did not only help me to improve my Japanese and public speaking skills, but also broadened my horizon for the future. Through the contest, I was able to meet so many great people, from various backgrounds and interests. Further, the passion and energy shared by the contestants as well as the organizers and guests, were extremely fascinating.
My speech was about military service and how such extraordinary experiences could help individuals to strive for their dreams and I believe that this contest is definitely one of those extraordinary experience for numerous people. I would like to show my great appreciation to Japan Foundation and all the others who made this event so unforgettably wonderful.

When I started studying Japanese, I don’t think I would have been able to imagine that I’d one day be able to deliver a speech in a language other than English, let alone at a level that would land me at the national competition. Yet somehow, that was where I found myself last October, in a room full of teachers, academics and peers from the area of Japanese education. I was extremely nervous, but I did my best, and was even lucky enough to place and receive a prize. To be honest, even now, I don’t particularly consider my Japanese to be at a particularly high level, but regardless I am glad to have been given the chance to compete with some of the best and brightest from Australia and New Zealand. Today, thanks to my experience, I feel like I have more confidence, both in my capabilities as a foreign speaker of Japanese, and in my ability as an individual to perform and excel. No matter how long it has been since you have started studying the Japanese, I think the Japanese Speech Contest is a great opportunity for any student of the language to push themselves and attack a new challenge, and it is definitely something that provides a wealth of growth for anyone who may enter.

 

Listening to other students speak passionately about their chosen topic in Japanese was an amazing experience and it has truly inspired me to further continue my own Japanese studies.

It had long been a tradition for me to come and watch the Japanese speech contest. Year after year I watched contestants get up on stage, some nervous, some confident. Inspired by the numerous, entertaining speeches and thinking it would be good practise for my Japanese, I decided to enter this year myself. And, unsurprisingly, it was stressful. I stressed about what I should say, I stressed about practising and I stressed about saying my speech in front of an audience. I also felt very nervous because this year the contestants had to answer an impromptu question concerning their speech.
But it was, undoubtedly, worth it.
I felt terribly nervous but once I was finished it was an amazing feeling. Not only did I feel as though I had accomplished something, I knew that it had been great practise for my Japanese and I also met some lovely people as well. The question and answer section wasn’t too bad either, because by that time I was so relieved to have finished saying my speech that I didn’t even feel nervous anymore.
This is all coming from someone who has never enjoyed public speaking in the past. All in all it was stressful but incredibly rewarding. To future contestants: 頑張ってくださ～い！

As a contestant of the national final I was greatly inspired by all the other contestants who made exceptional speeches of varying topics. The abilities of the contestants Japanese language skills did indeed influence me to thrive at my studies and continue to improve. There is always room for improvement! As a background division contestant, I had the honor of meeting other half Japanese students like me and could see my own level and see where my Japanese language level should at least be, in the future. As it was my first experience entering a national speech contest, I was really nervous but very thrilled to have the opportunity to compete with other competitors from all across Australia and be a part of it. Coming from the Northern Territory I don't have the chance to meet many people so advanced in Japanese like what I met on the contest day, so it was really exciting for me, and I made many friends, who I want to keep in contact for years to come. I also found the advice given to the competitors on speeches in general at the end, very useful and I have kept that in mind for next time I write one. From this experience I have taken away friendship, Japanese speech skills, enjoyment, fulfillment and very importantly the inspiration to get better at Japanese! Thank you JF!