Danaya Rankin, Ami Hagiwara and Kim Tran

Ami Hagiwara, Japanese Language Instructor
The 28th Annual BC Japanese Speech Contest was held on March 5, 2016 at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Almost every year, UNBC sends students to this event. This year, Danaya Rankin and Kim Tran, were chosen as finalists in the beginner and intermediate categories. Only the top seven or eight students in BC are selected as finalists. Danaya and Kim worked hard to perfect their all-Japanese speeches. Rather than winning or losing , the greatest part of the contest is meeting people who love studying Japanese. Neither student was selected as one of the top three but the experience will inspire further flowering of their study of Japanese.

Kim Tran, Joint International Studies and Political Science Major
It was an honour to be selected to take part in the Japanese Speech Contest, again. I also attended last year. It was an amazing, scary, and fun experience. Simon Fraser University is located in a beautiful part of the Lower Mainland: on a hill, away from the city. It was a pleasant location for such an intense event. Although I practiced countless times, it never seemed enough. Nerves piling high as I stepped up to the podium, I delivered my speech, and when it was over a wave of relief washed over me. I did not win but the experience was unbelievable. The most important thing was that I was happy with my performance; I did much better than last year! I reached my goal of being accepted into the contest again and delivering my speech well.

Danaya Rankin, Anthropology Major
Participating in the Japanese Speech Contest was an eye-opening experience. It was incredible to be surrounded by not only students and their teachers, but also members of the public who were passionate about Japanese language and culture. It was a one-of-a-kind event, and a highlight of my university career! It encouraged me to be more open and confident about trying new things. I hope to have more opportunities like this to foster my interest in Japanese culture and language.