As seen here my local consulate (I live in Chicago) is hosting a speech contest to win a round-trip ticket to Japan. Does anyone have any experience doing such a thing? I'm already not so great with speeches in English, and I have no clue what to talk about in Japanese. Just need some advice on what you guys might know.

As a question not related to this topic at all, has anyone outside of Japan ever gotten a kotatsu? I used one while in Japan and thought it would be a good idea to eventually get one (or hey, maybe just a coffee table) to use my laptop on. For some reason I just imagine it being more comfortable to sit on the ground while using my computer. Yeah, I know this second question is ridiculous.

TheVinster Wrote:As seen here my local consulate (I live in Chicago) is hosting a speech contest to win a round-trip ticket to Japan. Does anyone have any experience doing such a thing? I'm already not so great with speeches in English, and I have no clue what to talk about in Japanese. Just need some advice on what you guys might know.

As a question not related to this topic at all, has anyone outside of Japan ever gotten a kotatsu? I used one while in Japan and thought it would be a good idea to eventually get one (or hey, maybe just a coffee table) to use my laptop on. For some reason I just imagine it being more comfortable to sit on the ground while using my computer. Yeah, I know this second question is ridiculous.

I participated in a speech contest my senior year of college. My speech was about "When I went to Japan, I got signed up for a Classical Japanese class, and when I learned we were going to have to read kuzushiji, I cried a lot, but in the end it was a good experience because I learned I didn't have to be good at everything right away, and it's worthwhile just working hard at something you're bad at."

My teacher said that the judges said that my speech was really good, but the judges weighted pronunciation pretty heavily and mine was not so good so I only got an honorable mention.

I don't know if that's helpful; hopefully some other people can chime in with their own experiences!

TheVinster Wrote:As a question not related to this topic at all, has anyone outside of Japan ever gotten a kotatsu? I used one while in Japan and thought it would be a good idea to eventually get one (or hey, maybe just a coffee table) to use my laptop on. For some reason I just imagine it being more comfortable to sit on the ground while using my computer. Yeah, I know this second question is ridiculous.

I've wanted a kotatsu ever since we came back to the US from Japan. You can buy them at Mitsuwa, or at least you could last year (haven't been there this winter). But they cost around $250 if I remember correctly.

I have.

I believe it is essential to keep the composition as logical as possible.
They seem to prefer some well structured Ki-Shou-Ten-Ketsu kind of thing.

I participated in the same kind of speech contest, but in Canada, 2 years ago. I won the Intermediate category locally, then went on to not win the national final. The final was terribly nerve racking, but it was an excellent experience all-around. I learned a lot because I spent quite a bit of time concentrating on my pronunciation (and pitch) -- I think it would be correct to say that good pronunciation can make a big difference. Everyone comes with more or less perfect speeches, so unless yours is truly boring, good pronunciation will set you apart.

Most people, if not all, present speeches that are generally over they actual speaking abilities, and some students are heavily supported by their faculty's teachers. I remember how some beginners sounded completely fluent, yet had a very difficult time answering the judges' basic questions, or how one guy in my category (intermediate) was 3 and a half years into his studies, which would have qualified as advanced in the province where I participated. In other words, don't expect a perfect competition with perfect rules and conditions -- you have to do it for the experience.

If you do care about winning or, say, winning over the judges, be careful of the topic you choose. I had lots of sarcasm in my text, and while I was chosen in the end, one of the judges requested I made some amendments, thinking it wouldn't go over so well in the finals. The judges ultimately have to report back to Japan about whom and what topic they chose, so it has be compatible with Japanese officials' ideals. They may even publish the speeches if I'm not mistaken.

I'm considering participating again this year, but it now has to be in the advanced category as you can't participate in a category you previously won. Unlike last time, I don't care about winning as I'm not so keen on the idea of going to the stressful national finals and having to spend the week-end in a dorm.

Anyway, do it. You'll grow from it.

einahpets Wrote:I've wanted a kotatsu ever since we came back to the US from Japan. You can buy them at Mitsuwa, or at least you could last year (haven't been there this winter). But they cost around $250 if I remember correctly.

You're in Chicago? Fun day today, huh. I'm about 30 minutes from Mitsuwa. You? But yeah I did look at the ones on eBay and they go for $300 and up so I think you're correct as far as pricing. I only got to use a kotatsu once but it was pretty nice.

AlexandreC Wrote:I participated in the same kind of speech contest, but in Canada, 2 years ago. I won the Intermediate category locally, then went on to not win the national final. The final was terribly nerve racking, but it was an excellent experience all-around. I learned a lot because I spent quite a bit of time concentrating on my pronunciation (and pitch) -- I think it would be correct to say that good pronunciation can make a big difference. Everyone comes with more or less perfect speeches, so unless yours is truly boring, good pronunciation will set you apart.

Most people, if not all, present speeches that are generally over they actual speaking abilities, and some students are heavily supported by their faculty's teachers. I remember how some beginners sounded completely fluent, yet had a very difficult time answering the judges' basic questions, or how one guy in my category (intermediate) was 3 and a half years into his studies, which would have qualified as advanced in the province where I participated. In other words, don't expect a perfect competition with perfect rules and conditions -- you have to do it for the experience.

If you do care about winning or, say, winning over the judges, be careful of the topic you choose. I had lots of sarcasm in my text, and while I was chosen in the end, one of the judges requested I made some amendments, thinking it wouldn't go over so well in the finals. The judges ultimately have to report back to Japan about whom and what topic they chose, so it has be compatible with Japanese officials' ideals. They may even publish the speeches if I'm not mistaken.

I'm considering participating again this year, but it now has to be in the advanced category as you can't participate in a category you previously won. Unlike last time, I don't care about winning as I'm not so keen on the idea of going to the stressful national finals and having to spend the week-end in a dorm.

Anyway, do it. You'll grow from it.

Thanks for the info. It does force you to go above and beyond what you typically do, so for that I think it's good. I may pursue the opportunity given my Japanese friend will help me out a bit. I was just in Japan for about a month and I'm sure I could think of an appropriate topic assuming I was interested.

Aah, I participated in this a few years back. Freshman year of college, so it was category III. I got 3rd place.

My speech was kind of stupid... It was about how I used to be really shy and never talked to anyone. But then I started talking to people little by little, and now I enjoy it. Just a whatever story about overcoming an obstacle -- with 5 months of Japanese under my belt, it wasn't the greatest, but whatever.

As for who wrote good speeches -- I couldn't understand any of the speeches of the upper categories, so I don't know what they wrote. However, it's generally a good idea to write a story that has elements of emotion, that people can relate to, and is actually relevant. Some girl wrote a nice story about her mom -- and while it was emotional, it didn't really relate to any of the listeners, so it was kind of so-so. Another guy did a speech about whaling in Japan, and why it should stop -- It was quite relevant to the topic, but there was no emotion, just facts. One guy did a speech about connecting to people from different cultures and how it broadens your horizons -- if I remember correctly, he did pretty well.

how good is Japanese text to speech? you could type your speech in and listen to it each night or alternatively get a Japanese person to read out your speech, and listen to recordings of this.

TheVinster Wrote:As a question not related to this topic at all, has anyone outside of Japan ever gotten a kotatsu? I used one while in Japan and thought it would be a good idea to eventually get one (or hey, maybe just a coffee table) to use my laptop on. For some reason I just imagine it being more comfortable to sit on the ground while using my computer. Yeah, I know this second question is ridiculous.

I made one last winter using an ikea coffee table and a ceramic space heater. It's pretty simple to do and not that expensive.

TheVinster Wrote:Does anyone have any experience doing such a thing? I'm already not so great with speeches in English, and I have no clue what to talk about in Japanese. Just need some advice on what you guys might know.

I did one of those ages ago (while still in high school) and had a blast. Do it, by all means! If nothing else, you'll get to know a few other people who are learning Japanese, and probably get some Japan-themed goodies.

My speech was on my experiences with Japanese music, which was nice because I got to include a little bit of singing, which I think the judges liked

If I have one piece of advice it's be very, very careful about staying within the allocated time. I came out joint first with a guy whose Japanese was waaaay better than mine, just because he ran over by a minute or so and had loads of points deducted.

A while back, I did a speech on Onomatopoeia for a state competition. With my N4 knowledge, I tried to cram as much grammar into the speech as I could. Unfortunately, I got my ass kicked with the N2-N1 level kids with their near perfect Japanese accents and their emotional speeches on saving the planet, saving the animals and why I respect my parents so much. This competition wasn't on the classified into Japanese profiency but age. Nevertheless, it was a great experience and it gave me more motivation to work harder. I'd do it again when I'm a lot better.

TheVinster Wrote:

einahpets Wrote:I've wanted a kotatsu ever since we came back to the US from Japan. You can buy them at Mitsuwa, or at least you could last year (haven't been there this winter). But they cost around $250 if I remember correctly.

You're in Chicago? Fun day today, huh. I'm about 30 minutes from Mitsuwa. You? But yeah I did look at the ones on eBay and they go for $300 and up so I think you're correct as far as pricing. I only got to use a kotatsu once but it was pretty nice.

Yeah, I'm in Chicago too, also probably about 30 min. to Mitsuwa, if I had a car...Since I don't I don't end up going there very often.

Good luck on the speech contest! I looked at the link thinking I might try it too but I lived in Japan for 3 yrs. so I don't qualify.