Promotional poster for the Japanese and Dhivehi Language Speech Contest 2016 to be held at MNU’s Faculty of Education on Nov 19, 2016. PHOTO/FACEBOOK
The Maldives National University will host a Japanese and Dhivehi Language Speech Contest this Saturday to present the speaking skills of local students studying Japanese language at the university.
In an exclusive interview to Mihaaru, MNU’s current leading Japanese Language teacher, Yuka Sasaki, said that the contest aims to motivate Japanese Language students to work harder through a friendly competition, as well as promote the university’s language courses to the public to lure more students next year.
Marking MNU’s tenth Japanese Language Speech Contest, the event this year brings something new with the participation of Japanese teachers working in the Maldives, who will give speeches in local Dhivehi language.
Yuka Sasaki (L-2) poses with participants of the the ninth Japanese Language Speech Contest in 2015. PHOTO/FACEBOOK
The Japanese teachers are members of Japan Overseas Corporation Volunteers (JOCV), a program of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to provide technical assistance in developing countries. Currently there are 17 JOCV volunteers working in different islands of the Maldives, teaching subjects such as Physical Education, Music and Computer Studies.
With speeches in Dhivehi, JOCV teachers will demonstrate their grasp of the local language during the time they have been working in the Maldives.
“I want to show how much JOCV can speak Dhivehi and get used to living with Maldivians,” said Yuka Sasaki.
The Japanese and Dhivehi speeches will be assessed by their respective panel of judges with special prizes planned for the winners. The Japanese Language judges include Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Kazumi Endo, and Resident Representative of JICA, Hiroshi Saito.
Yuka Sasaki (L) poses with Faculty of Arts’ Dean, Abdul Rasheed Ali, and Japanese Language teacher Zeenath Zaki. PHOTO/FACEBOOK
In addition to speeches by six local students and six JOCV teachers, the event includes some fun activities such as a Maldives-Japan fusion dance performed by current and former Japanese Language students, and a Japanese song to be enjoyed with the audience.
Expressing the desire to receive more students next year for MNU’s Japanese Language courses, which range from Basic to Advance, teacher Yuka Sasaki said she would like as many people as possible to attend and enjoy the Speech Contest.
The Japanese and Dhivehi Language Speech Contest will be held at MNU Faculty of Education’s auditorium at 7:00 p.m. this Saturday.
Organised jointly by MNU and Maldives Japanese Language Learners Community (MJLLC) with JICA as the co-organiser, the event’s main sponsor is Oregano Café with co-sponsors Procure Plus, Shell Beans, The Somerset Hotel and Champa Central Hotel.