Students from the Department of East Asian Studies (EAS) are celebrating success after winning a number of prizes at the Regional Ontario Japanese Speech Contest on March 4.
The contest — now in its 41st year — was held at the University of Toronto, where 28 students from across the region — including nine from the department's Japanese program — presented language skills gained from their studies.
Three EAS students took home awards, including a first prize.
First prize winner Cho Yee Michelle Lai
Cho Yee Michelle Lai, a member of Woodsworth College, received first prize in the open category with a speech titled, "My Nutrition Facts." In her winning speech she spoke about how her multicultural background has helped to build the person she is today.
Beginners Category, Annie Liu
In the beginners category, Annie Liu, a member of Innis College, received third prize with her speech ‘The Bigger Reason’, where she spoke about her passion for learning foreign languages.
Special prize winner Chloe Wong
A special prize was awarded to Chloe Wong, a member of Victoria College, for her speech ‘Adulthood’. Wong spoke about how her perspectives of becoming an adult have changed and what she thinks now as a young person who is soon graduating from university.
The department would like to congratulate all students who participated and won prizes. Well done on your outstanding achievements!
Lai will now go on to participate in the 34th National Japanese Speech Contest which will be held at the Japan Foundation in Toronto on Sunday, March 26, 2023. A live stream of the event will be available to watch on YouTube.