Japanese Speech Contest
for Students in Sweden
Saturday, 8 February 2020, 10:00–17:00,
at Stockholm University, Kräftriket, Stockholm
Grand Prize: Stockholm–Tokyo Flight Ticket
Honour Prizes by the Ambassador of Japan.
High Prizes: Winners for each category.
Certificate of Participation for all participants.
The Grand Prize will be awarded to a contestant who have not previously won it. The air ticket may have some restrictions of use during certain periods.
Contest Rules
- The contestant must select one of the following themes:
- 私の中の日本
- 世界を変えるソフトパワーとしての日本のポップカルチャー
- 私が共感する日本の感性や美意識
- 東京オリンピック・パラリンピックに期待すること
- Contestant qualifications:
- Full-time student enrolled in a Swedish high school or university.
- Japanese may not be the primary native language or be spoken at home with family members.
- Speech time:
- University students: up to 8 minutes
- High school students: up to 5 minutes
- Evaluation will be based on factors such as contents, Japanese skill and delivery.
- Other: Non-electronic tools, such as a printed transcript or a photograph, are allowed.
Directions
- The competition is held at Kräftriket 4, Stockholm. Welcome!
Jury
Represented by
- Japanese Association in Stockholm
- Japanese Businessmen's Club
- Stockholm University, Department of Asia, Middle East and Turkish Studies
- Former Ambassador of Sweden to Japan
- Embassy of Japan in Sweden
Executive Committee of the Japanese Speech Contest for Students in Sweden (EC)
- Japanese Association in Stockholm
- Japanese Businessmen's Club
- Stockholm University, Department of Asia, Middle East and Turkish Studies
- Former Ambassador of Sweden to Japan
- Embassy of Japan in Sweden
Program
| 9:15 | Doors open |
| 9:50 | Registration for contestants |
| 10:20 | Opening |
| 10:30–11:20 | High school students, group 1 |
| 11:20–11:30 | Break |
| 11:30–12:30 | High school students, group 2 |
| 12:30–14:00 | Lunch (approx. 65 kr, cash or swish only available at university’s cafeteria; open only at lunch time) |
| 14:00–15:30 | University students |
| 15:30 | Fika (and Jury Deliberation) |
| 16:15 | Award Ceremony |
Subject to change.
Comment by Ms. Linnéa Gyllberg, Grand Prize Winner of the 2019 Japanese Speech Contest for Students in Sweden
It was by pure chance that I participated in the competition this year. A friend of mine mentioned it to me last year but I wasn't able to participate then, and then I completely forgot about it until roughly two weeks before the competition date. I had to finish my speech in a bit of a rush as I was hesitant about even going, but I managed to finish it and practice enough just in time.
I had no idea what to expect from the competition. I only participated in order to measure my own language ability, as I am self-studying and didn't feel like I had any way of comparing myself to others. I was really nervous during the day, especially since I realized that basically everyone was there with their classmates, teachers and/or family and friends, and I had no one. I remember only speaking on five occasions before the award ceremony, giving my speech included. I almost regretted coming because I felt a bit bad about being alone and because I thought that I had messed up whilst giving my speech.
The win was definitely a surprise, or rather a shock. I thought I might get a smaller prize, but when I got announced as the Grand Prize winner I couldn't believe it. I had become content in seeing it as a learning experience and getting a better grasp of my level, so winning was so completely unexpected that I was at a loss for words.
I have never been to Japan before and so this will be my first time going. I have wanted to go for a while and have planned on doing so but this ticket gave me the opportunity to really make my dream a reality. I'm going to Japan for three weeks in December as that's when it worked best with my schedule and I really look forward to it!
Sponsors
