Arden wins Japanese speech contest [1]
Friday, May 15, 2015 - 12:12. Updated on Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 17:14.
Arden ‘o Halekulani Fatai (18) of Vava’u High School is Tonga’s nominee for a study tour to Japan after winning the 6th Japanese Speech Contest open category on Thursday, 14 May in Nuku’alofa.
The Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Yukio Numata said the educational contest is an exciting initiative to help Tongans study Japanese.
“I am truly grateful to the leaders of education in Tonga for their persistent efforts to promote the education of the Japanese language in secondary schools and tertiary institutes," he said.
A total of 16 students competed in the contest that included two rounds of Form 4-7 level with each specific themes. A second round was for the open category (18-year-old plus). Winners of each level were awarded Japanese school materials.
Meanwhile, Arden for her prize will be recommended by the Embassy of Japan to the Japan Foundation as a candidate for the Japanese Language Program study tour of Japan for two weeks in August this year.
The Japanese language was first introduced in Tonga in 1986. There are now six schools teaching the language, including Tonga High School, Tonga College, Tailulu College in Tongatapu with ‘Eua High School, Vava’u High School and Tailulu College in Vava'u.