More than 15 Japanese language learners in Qatar demonstrated their linguistic abilities in three categories in the recently held 14th Japanese Speech Contest, held at Qatar University’s (QU) Research Complex.
The competition was organised by the Japan embassy in Qatar in collaboration with Qatar University and the Japanese Language Teachers' Association in Qatar (Jaltaq).
Japanese ambassador Satoshi Maeda expressed his appreciation to the sponsors, judges, participants, QU and Jaltaq for supporting and promoting Japanese language education in Qatar.
The envoy also emphasised that the speech contest leads to further deepening of the amicable relations between Japan and Qatar.
Fatima al-Marzoqi, a Qatari national, won the first-place prize in the advance category. She delivered a speech on the challenges she faced in her journey to master the Japanese language.
Ahmed al-Mohannadi, currently pursuing his master's degree at Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan under the Japanese government scholarship (MEXT Scholarship), shared his experience about life in Japan during an online talk session. He stressed the importance of studying Japanese language and how it opened up new horizons for him.
The following Japanese and local companies sponsored the contest: Chiyoda Almana Engineering, Chubu Electric Power Company, Darwish Holding (FNAC, Sony, Yamaha), Itochu Corporation (Junko Sushi and Japanese Dining), Jaltaq, LNG Japan, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG Bank, Ninja Ramen restaurant and Sumitomo Corporation.
The delegation of Japan’s Kyushu University, visiting Qatar on an official mission to promote studying abroad in Japan for Qatari citizens, also attended the event. They set up an information desk during the event where a number of participants asked questions about studying abroad in Japan.
Qatari national Fatima al-Marzoqi won the first prize.
