Local student wins gold in Japanese speech contest

Nambour State College Year 12 student Akemi Shih-Evans has once again proven her linguistic prowess by clinching her third consecutive gold medal in the Japanese speech category at the Language Teachers Queensland (LTQ) Sunshine Coast Branch Speech Contest 2024.

Held at the University of the Sunshine Coast on August 25, students from all over the region competed in Japanese, French, German, and Italian speech divisions.

Competitors in Years 11 and 12 must write their own speeches which are delivered in front of a judging panel.

While hoping to study medicine next year at university, Akemi finds great joy in studying Japanese alongside her other passions, math and science.

“I find learning a language motivates my brain to think laterally to when I’m in my other classes,” said Akemi.

“I have enjoyed taking part in the contest every year as a chance to further my speaking skills and to extend my Japanese ability outside of my classwork.”

Akemi is very grateful to her teachers Ms Miho Davis at Capricornia School of Distance Education, and Mr Steven Diamond at Nambour State College, for constantly encouraging her to extend herself.

Akemi with her speech contest certificate.