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2009 Contest Location & Guidelines
26th Annual Japanese Language Speech and Skit Contest
for WA State High School Students
Details coming soon.
SKIT CONTEST: Guidelines and Rules
- Levels: ALL levels
- Time: 5 minutes maximum, including set-up and take-down; 3 minutes minimum for the skit
- Participants: 3-4 people per group are allowed to be on the stage.
- Entry limits: Per school- four skit entries in total: one entry per level at Level 1 and Level 2; up to two entries total in Levels 3 and 4.
- Placement: A skit team is placed at the level of its highest-level member.
- Levels 1 & 2: Each group is required to implement grammar appropriate to level provided in Grammar Guidelines (distributed with application).
- Levels 3 & 4: Groups may be mixed with different ability levels. Participants will need to demonstrate their understanding between casual, humble, and honorific language. They will also need to incorporate their knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture in their skits.
- Participation: Group members are expected to participate equally and points will be deducted from the team score for unequal participation. Each group is required to incorporate at least 70% of skit time using Japanese language. Groups that substitute this time with actions not related to language (i.e. dancing, singing) will result in deducted points.
- Students may not enter both the Speech and Skit Divisions. Choose one.
- Groups will be notified once they have reached their 5-minute limit. Groups that continue 30 seconds over the 5 minutes will be stopped by the head judge.
SPEECH CONTEST: Guidelines and Rules
- Levels: Level 1(beg), Level 2 (beg-int), Level 3 (int), Level 4 (adv)
- Time: Level 1 & 2: two minutes; Levels 3 & 4: three minutes
- Entry Limits: Per school, 5 speech entries in total: up to 3 entries per level
- Questions:
- Contestants in levels 3 & 4 will be asked TWO questions in Japanese directly about their speeches, following their speech. Questions are not considered as bonus points; Properly answered questions will add points to the overall score. Incorrectly answered questions will deduct points to the overall score.
- Students may not enter both the Speech and Skit Divisions. Choose one.
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) if 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. However, other criteria may give a student certain advantages over other competitors and cause him or her to be placed at a higher level. Teachers are requested to establish the proper level for each entrant and should call HBCC if unsure. The Speech & Skit Contest Committee reserves the right to make the final determination and to disqualify students whose experience gives them unfair advantages over others in the highest level of competition. Depending upon number of applicants, inclusion (or cancellation)of the additional Level 5 in all categories will be decided by the Committee.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Judges will base their decisions on the 3 main categories of: delivery, language and content. In the skit category, participation (equal participation of group members) is an additional category.
Judge’s set criteria are based on the student’s ability to use the language effectively and accurately—not on their depth of knowledge. The main points of delivery are: smoothness and natural flow (fluency), organization, memorization and poise. In the category of language, the important points are: correct use of grammar, breadth and variety of vocabulary and natural pronunciation. In the category of content the important points are: socially and contextually authentic (natural) use of language, breadth of discourse and creativity and originality. For skit contestants, amount of language is important. Don’t forget that judges make decisions based on language ability-not acting ability!
Important notes:
- The stage is large so students need to project their voice in order to be heard…and judged!
- Presentations should be original and written by the students. Plagiarism is easily recognized. Speeches and skits appearing to have had too much input from a teacher or native speaker will be noted by the judges, negatively affecting the student’s score.
- Skit lines should be memorized and practiced often for a smooth presentation.
- Speech contestants may use notes but points will be deducted for reading all or part of the speech.
- Subjects relating to violence, discrimination, or stereotypes will be disqualified immediately.
- Authenticity in verbal and non-verbal body language will add to your scores (including bowing as a greeting, taking off shoes to enter a home etc) stereotype Japanese behavior is discouraged (emphasized karate motions, etc)
- Video tapes of previous Speech & Skit contests can be checked out from the HBCC offices.
HINTS FOR SUCCESS:
Write your first script in Japanese, as translated texts don’t always cross over effectively. For both contests, emphasis should be placed on delivery and language that is natural and expressive, using culturally appropriate body language. Think Japanese! How would they do it? Use authentic body language and motions commonly seen in Japan and avoid overemphasized, superficial Japanese behavior. That said, this is a first and foremost a speech and skit contest.
LUNCH:
Lunch will not be provided. Please bring your own brand of deliciousness with you to the event.
PARKING:
REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
Questions?
Contact: John Charlton, Cultural Outreach Coordinator
Hyogo Business & Cultural Center
2001 6th Avenue, Suite 2610, Seattle, WA 98121
Tel: 206-728-0610 Fax: 206-728-1452
E-mail:
- Download a PDF of the Contest Guidelines
- Download a PDF of the Grammar Guidelines
Speech & Skit Home | About the Contest | Evaluation of the Contest
Posters for Print | 2008 Contestants & Winners | Slideshow
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