Queen Salote College made their debut in the annual Japanese Speech Competition for schools, and won two first prizes for the form 4 and 5 levels.
The contest was held at the St. Andrew High School Hall on Friday 13 September.
The Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, HE Mr. Inagaki Hisao, was impressed with the contestants’ presentation and dedication to demonstrate their Japanese language skills on stage.
“A language represents our culture and even our society itself,” said HE. Inagaki “by learning a foreign language, we could really understand its culture and society and, more importantly, we could establish better relations and cooperation.”
The Japanese Speech Contest is a development of Tonga-Japan relations since 2010. The contest plays a crucial role in Tonga and Japan’s cultural exchanges which has been supported by JICA volunteers since 1986.
A growing number of high schools are adopting and teaching the Japanese Language, with seven schools now teaching the Japanese Language in Tonga, including in the outer islands.
Top 3 for each category:
Form 4:
1st – Maama Lomu, Queen Salote College;
2nd – Crystal Hausia, Tonga High School;
3rd – Sione Taufa, Tonga College.
Form 5:
1st – Lotolua Sharkey ‘Ofa, Queen Salote College;
2nd – Uliafu Taumoepeau, Tonga High School;
3rd – Solomone Lemoto, Tonga College.
Form 6:
1st – Lepolo Sikuvea, Tailulu College;
2nd – William Felemi, Tonga High School;
3rd– Tupou Afu, Tailulu College.
Open (18years +):
1st– Ernest Pasifikitonga, Tonga College National Form 7;
2nd– Sione Ta’ufo’ou, University of the South Pacific;
3rd– Kuini Matewai, Tonga High School National Form 7.
