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�Ӱ�ԭ�� language learners were among the 28 entries in the recent Japanese Speech Competition held at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa.

Of the 6 �Ӱ�ԭ�� entries, two won top honours (1^st place) in their respective categories:

• Zayd Bille – “Following the dreams” (Intermediate category)
• Kelly Tang – “Beyond the national borders” (Advanced category)

“I chose to participate because I actually enjoy presenting and public speaking so much so I saw it as an opportunity to do that…as well as practice Japanese,” said Zayd.

Hong Keirei also captured 3^rd place in the advanced category with her speech entitled ��ٱ����” while computer science student Alan Wu received a special judges prize for his speech on the value of Japanese Internet radio in enhancing his language learning experience.

“I spend a lot of my spare time watching Internet radio…and it’s watch instead of listen because I can’t understand anything…so I have to watch the subtitles…and I thought it would be nice to do a speech about those radio (episodes) in Japanese” Alan said.

The Japanese Language Speech Contest is now in its 27^th year and the Contest of Ottawa Region is just one of a number of regional competitions across Canada that provide students of the Japanese language with an opportunity to demonstrate their language proficiency in front of a panel of judges and a live audience.

Winners of the regional events move on to the national competition held this year in Toronto on March 19.

“It was really a very welcoming environment so I didn’t feel too nervous and everyone was really nice,” said Lauren Iwamoto, a 1^st year English major.

Competitors in the Ottawa regional contest were drawn from language programs at the University of Ottawa, Queen’s (Kingston), �Ӱ�ԭ��, and the Ottawa Japanese Language School.   Students compete in beginner, intermediate, advanced, and “open” categories and are scored on such criteria as fluency, pronunciation, duration, content, and memorization.

For more on the event, please visit the .