The 14th Annual North Carolina Japanese Language Speech Contest for High School Students

This contest promotes the study and understanding of Japanese as a foreign language at the high school level and encourages students to use their language skills to communicate ideas and information in a natural and culturally appropriate context. Parent and student observers accompanied by their teachers are encouraged to attend.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 5:00 pm Friday, March 4, 2016

All registrations and speeches must be received by the coordinator by the deadline. Alternates of skits should also submit their registration by the deadline. Registrations may be sent by mail or email.

SCHEDULE:

Registration: 1:15 – 1:30

Contest:      1:30 – 5:00

GUIDELINES AND RULES:

• Levels: 1-4
• Time: within 1 to 2 minutes (Level 1), 2 to 3 minutes (Level 2), 3 to 4 minutes (Level 3), 5 to 8 minutes (Level 4)
• Levels are by the content of speech and grammar usages. The depth of speech requires the complicated grammar usage. These grammar usages are suggestions. You do not have to use all of them.

Level 1 –Using copula (desu), simple verbs with present and past tense.

Level 2 –Expressing your opinions using simple adjectives and compound    

sentences using coordinate conjunctions such as but, and then, etc.

Level 3 –Encouraged to express individual opinions/ views around you using embedded sentence marked by because, although, if, the quote marker to ‘that’, etc.

Level 4 –Required to demonstrate knowledge of Japanese culture through

language and content: Draw evidence from literary or informational text to

support analysis, reflection, and research: support ideas using valid reasoning with relevant and sufficient evidence.

ADDITIONAL PLACEMENT CRITERIA:

Factors determining the level at which a student will compete include: 1) number of years of formal language study; 2) number of years of living experience in Japan; 3) number of years attending schools in Japan or Japanese language schools in the U.S.; 4) whether or not native Japanese is spoken in the student’s home. Generally, students will be qualified to compete at a level corresponding with the number of years they have studied Japanese.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Judges will base their decisions on the three main categories of: delivery, language and content.

Judge’s set criteria based on student’s ability to use the language effectively, accurately and naturally using discourse. The main points of delivery are: smoothness and natural flow (fluency), organization, memorization and pose. In the category of language, the important points are: correct use of grammar, proper and variety of vocabulary with natural pronunciation. In the category of content the important points are: socially/ contextually authentic content with creativity, originality, evaluation and justification.

Important Notes:

• Speech should be original and written by the students.
• Contestants may use notes but points will be deducted or disqualified for reading all or part of the speech.
• Subjects relating to violence, gender bias, or stereotypes will be disqualified.
• Authenticity in verbal and non-verbal body language will add to your scores (including bowing as a greeting, etc.), while stereotypical Japanese behavior is discouraged (emphasized karate motions, etc.).
• Using translation machines is not allowed. Contestants are encouraged to write their speech using their own knowledge. Selecting appropriate words and natural speech delivery will be impossible if not using their own words.

Parking:

The GEC parking deck (entrance on Pharmacy Lane) is available at no charge in the GEC parking deck on weekends on a first-come basis. Parking will not be available during UNC football games. There are also road side parking spaces near the building.

Questions?

Coordinator: Yoshimi Yamagata Aoyagi

PO Box 31582, Raleigh, NC 27622
E-mail: yaoyagi@chccs.k12.nc.us

Sponsors for this event:

Animazement 2016

Carolina Asia Center, UNC Chapel Hill

Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta

Japan Foundation