May 8, 2014
-
2014 Japanese Speech Contest Result
-
H.E. Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, awarded prizes to the winners of the 2014 Japanese Speech Contest on May 8th, Thursday afternoon at St. Andrew’s School Hall. Mrs. ‘Emeli Moala Pouvalu, Director of Ministry of Education and Training was the guest of honour. Also present were Principals, Deputy Principals, Japanese Language Teachers, and Parents of the participating schools, and the 14 contestants.
Japanese language was first taught in the Kingdom in 1986, at Vava’u High School. Today seven schools offer Japanese Language as an optional subject. H.E. Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro acknowledged the increasing numbers of schools partaking in teaching Japanese Language and expressed gratitude in the ongoing assistance of the Ministry of Education and Training as well as the JICA volunteers.
Mrs. ‘Emeli Moala Pouvalu noted the importance of Language Education, in her keynote address. “Today, we live in a world that is increasingly globalized and we risk our future in that world if we continue to ignore the major language of our development partners, such as the Japanese language. It is my fervent hope that the Japanese language and cultural program which is offered in our schools will be the means for creating such relationships and communities between the Japanese and Tongan people. The Ministry is pledged to support and expand this important program in our schools.”
This year’s Open Category winner, Ms. Tahaafe Lose Tuuiheofa, a Form 7 student of Tonga High School is to be recommended to Japan Foudation by the Embassy of Japan to participate in the Japanese Language Program in August in Japan. Winners in the other categories were Sione ‘A.M.H.L Veituna of ‘Eua High School (Form 4), Michaela Mapakaitolo of Tonga High School (Form 5), and Madeline Keitilani Lavemai of Tonga High School (Form 6).
The 14 contestants were judged by the criteria which included the content, pronunciation and intonation, presentation, grammar and vocabulary. The panel of the judges was composed by Ms. Akiko Harada, a Japanese Language Adviser from the Japan Foundation in Auckland, New Zealand, Dr. Raelyn Lolohea ‘Esau, Deputy CEO of the Ministry of Education and Training, and Mr. Tevita Kilisimasi Ha’apai, the president of Tonga Japan Alumni Association.
The Japanese Speech Contest was initiated in 2010 to motivate Japanese language learners, as well as to offer students an opportunity to visit Japan and deepen their knowledge of Japanese language, society and culture.
The Contest has been hosted by the Embassy of Japan, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Japan Foundation, and collaborated by JICA Tonga Office, the Japanese Language Teachers’ Association in Tonga and St. Andrew’s School.
-
