The 2018 National High School Japanese Speech Contest, hosted by Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, was held in the International Conference Hall of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. After the fierce preliminary competition, 15 students entered the final competition at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology to show their linguistic talents with fluent Japanese and rich expressions. The results of the competition showed that first place was Jia-Shuan Lin from Mingdao Middle School and second place was Hai-Du Huang from Huiwen High School, and third place was Jing-Wen Huang from Chuan Zheng High School.
【Ms. Tajima Erika (right), Editor of Tashin Bookstore, presented third place to Jing-Wen Huang from Chuan Zheng High School in the National High School Japanese Speech Contest (left). 】
President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Vice President Ming-Tsai Lai, Dean Dafu Huang of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Director of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Director Kinzo Nakagun of Kaohsiung Office of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Japanese expert Yamashita Naoko, Director Kawasaki Masahiro of Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd., Assistant Professor Santoh Natsuoof the University of Political Science, and Editor Tajima Erika of the Tashin Bookstore attended the opening ceremony to encourage all the participating students.
【Prof. Santoh Natsuoof (first from right) presented excellence awards to winners of the National High School Japanese Speech Contest.]
President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology said that the number of applicants and schools increased this year, compared with those last year. It can be seen that after the first session last year and its extensive disclosure by the media, the competition was very well received. What is even more gratifying is that many engineering students participated this year. With a professional background, coupled with language proficiency, he believed that students can be more powerful in their employment and further studies. For language majors, it is very important to cultivate practical skills. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has a specific effect on promoting overseas internships. Almost every student has at least one opportunity to go abroad for an internship before graduation, in order to improve their Japanese language skills and learn about Japanese workplace culture and experience. We also did our best for the sightseeing and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. Finally, President Lu thanked Tashin Bookstore for giving such prizes as dictionaries and smart pens to encourage outstanding students.
【Ms. Yamashita Naoko of Japan Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung Office (left) presented first place to Jia-Shuan Lin (right) of Ming Dao High School in the National High School Japanese Speech Contest.]
Director Kinzo Nakagun of Kaohsiung Office of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, mentioned in the speech that the weather in the fall is getting colder, and it is a good time for him to taste the beef noodles. It is the "appetite autumn." Yet, for others, autumn is a good time for cultural activities, sports, and reading. In particular, the well-known Japanese opera songs are being performed in Kaohsiung today, while South Taiwan University of Science and Technology also held a speech contest today. All these are the "cultural events" in the autumn, a cultural exchange through Japanese. In addition, the Director said that he also attended the first National High School Japanese Speech Contest last year. He also attended the "Japanese Picture and Storytelling Competition” in March this year, and was deeply impressed by the performances of the participants. He deeply felt that Japanese language learners in Taiwan have very good Japanese language skills; he hoped that the contestants would show their confidence and demonstrate the strength they have in their usual training.
【Director Kinzo Nakagun of Kaohsiung Office of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association was giving a speech.]
In addition to showing their strength in Japanese, students who participated in the finals were also full of the vigor and vitality to be seen in young people. Young people are the pillars of the country's future, especially under the impact bought by the worsening decline of birth rate. It is the duty and responsibility of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology to maintain the close contacts between Taiwan and Japan in various aspects—such as sightseeing, culture, and trade—and to cultivate young and excellent Japanese talents as so to serve the needs of Japanese industries. The contest fully demonstrated that Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been positioning itself as “an International University of Science and Technology and the best partner of the industry,” maintaining great relationship with a variety of different sectors.
【Mei-Hua Deng (third from left), Director of the Department of Applied Japanese at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, presented certificates to listed participants of the National High School Japanese Speech Contest.]
\【Mr. President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology was delivering a speech.]