JLTI Language Contest @Ireland 2024

JLTI Language Contest 2024 Details

The Japanese Speech Contest in Ireland https://jlti.org/speech/

In order to encourage and promote Japanese language education in Ireland, the JLTI are delighted to host our annual Japanese language contest with the support of the Embassy of Japan in Ireland, Post-Primary Languages Ireland, the Ireland-Japan Association and the Japan Business Society in Ireland.

This year, the theme is “Japan and I”, and we are inviting entries in the form of a speech or a Japanese language soundtrack video which ties in with this theme. The Japanese Language Contest takes place online.

The entries will be evaluated on a variety of criteria such as language level and expression, creativity and performance, and the prizes will reward a range of different styles, abilities and effort. The judging panel will take into account the language background and learning experience of the entrants which will be documented through their application forms.

For the latest news, please follow us on Twitter @JLTIcontest

Enquiry: Twitter account @JLTIcontest OR jltilanguagecontest123@gmail.com 

Application forms: 

Consent forms:

Guidelines for Video Production and Uploading Video to YouTube: 

  • Video production must be original work. In the open category, if you use music and/or pictures, they also must be original or copy-right free materials.
  • The entry should be your own work (or the work of the members of your group). Only limited help or input from a teacher or native speaker or other is permitted.
  • Participants should submit a YouTube video link. See the following instructions on how to upload your video on YouTube:

  • https://youtu.be/VtF2AgFSLAw

    • The setting of your video privacy should be “unlisted” 
    • Please title the video with your name

  • Secondary School Category: TY/LC1 Category & LC2 Category

    • Video clip of a self-introduction speech 
    • One individual speaker should be clearly shown making their speech on screen. 
    • No use of special props or items, other speaker or background noise or music etc is permitted.
    • Duration is 1 - 5 minutes 

  • Open Category

    • It can be individual or group production
    • Open format; (i.e.) speech, conversation, skit, drama, song, poetry, show & tell, presentation or animation 
    • There must be a soundtrack in Japanese voiced by the entrant(s)
    • If entrants are not shown speaking on screen, then a separate short video must be provided with the application form which clearly shows the entrant(s) giving their names and speaking the lines. This video will not be evaluated for judging purposes.
    • Duration is 2 - 7 minutes

Application Deadline: March 18th 2024

Results will be announced in early April.

Criteria for Participation:

  • Participants must not be Japanese native speakers
  • Participants must be residents of Ireland.
  • Secondary School Category: This category is open to individual entrants of Secondary School age only.
  • Open Category: Participants cannot have lived in Japan for longer than 5 years in total. This category is open to entrants of all ages.
  • Neither participants themselves nor their immediate family members may be members of the JLTI.
  • Only one entry per category per person, regardless of whether individual or part of a group.
  • Participants should submit the application form including their YouTube video link and consent form(s) by the deadline. 
  • A signed consent form must be provided for each member of any team entries for the Open Category.
  • For individual entries, the file names for the YouTube Videos and Consent Form should include the name of the entrant. The group name should be included in the file names for group entry videos and group member consent forms.
  • Applications will be accepted until March 18th.

Organised by Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland (JLTI) 

This event couldn’t go ahead without help from our sponsors; PPLI, IJA, and The Japan Business Society in Ireland, judging support from the Embassy of Japan in Ireland and the Japan Foundation London office, and, of course, our JLTI members who encourage and inspire their students to participate in the Contest.

List of Winners

Japanese Language Contest @ Ireland 2024

Open Category

Japanese Language Award: Sam Faron

Best Performance Award: Emily Asada

Special Mention Award: Jacqueline O’ Keeffe

Special Mention Award: Claudia Garcia

LC2 Category

Japanese Language Award: Cait Whitmore

Best Performance Award: Shay Byrne

TY/LC1 Category

Japanese Language Award: Liam McManus

Best Performance Award: Emma Folan Garcia

Special Mention Award: Jina Cronin

Japanese Language Contest @ Ireland 2023

Open Category

Japanese Language Award: Marco Perez-McKay

Language Achievement Award: Nadia Lagrutta & Xiadani Ortega Ramirez

Special Mention Award: Maria Mardiki

6th Year

Japanese Language Award: Andy Yu

Language Achievement Award: Ben Whelan

Special Mention Award: Meenakshy Bino

Language Recognition Award: Weronika Strek

5th Year

Japanese Language Award: Stefanie Reji

Language Achievement Award: Aeryn Noble

Special Mention Award: Aimee Fanning

Language Recognition Award: Cáit Whitmore

The 20th Contest: 31 March 2022

  • #### Open Category

Japanese Language Award: Eli Unger

Best Performance Award: Ronan Keohane

Special Mention Award: Kate Rasmussen and Loreto Japanese Club

  • 6th year

Japanese Language Award: Isobel Levingstone

Best Performance Award: Jean Beatrice Rosales

Special Mention Award: Alex Ringhoffer

  • TY＆ 5th year

Japanese Language Award: Darragh McCarthy

Best Performance Award: Meenakshy Bino

Special Mention Award: Weronika Strek and Ben Whelan

The 18th Contest: 7 March 2020

  • General Category: Laoise Murray “Who Are the Tsuchigumo of Today?”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Seaeon Lee “If I Went to Japan”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Simon Harshman-Early

The 17th Contest: 9 March 2019

  • General Category: Aaron Mischa Goldstein “Thank you Karaoke”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Aya Abubakar “My Friend”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Cahir O’Donnell

The 16th Contest: 10 March 2018

  • General Category: Olaedo Opara “Making New Friends One Sentence at a Time”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Stephanie McWilliams “My Friend”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Evan Kenny

The 15th Contest: 4 March 2017

  • General Category: Neil Montague “In the Age of Globalisation, Can Using Their Own Language Help Countries to Maintain Their Distinctiveness?”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Nicole D’Alton “My Favourite Town”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Isabelle Price

The 14th Contest: 5 March 2016

  • General Category: Leonardo Vitor Firmo Cavalheiro “Airplane to a New World”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Min Ji Jung “My Favourite Band”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Roisin Neville

The 13th Contest: 7 March 2015

  • General Category: Shereen Perera “‘I Don’t Get This Place’ - Overcoming Culture Shock”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Amber Thompson “My Favourite Movie”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Ryan Daly

The 12th Contest: 22 March 2014

  • General Category: Joe Moore “The Tiger’s Cave”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Simon Benson “My favourite people”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Patrik Malec

The 11th Contest: 2 March 2013

  • General Category: Rebecca Bourke “A Silent World”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Soh-Hyun In “My Dream”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Chloe Carroll

The 10th Contest: 3 March 2012

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Nina Ruminska “Kendo and I”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Daniel Quinn “Japan and I”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Tami Mulligan “My Hobbies”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Orla Delaney

The 9th Contest: 5 March 2011

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Richie Kirwan “Thank You Japan!”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Jo Jo Li “The Charms of Modern Japanese Music”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Asma Almaksy “My Dream”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Shelly Carlyle

The 8th Contest: 6 March 2010

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Danielle O’Brien “Developments in Japan’s Entertainment Industry”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Anthony Kelly “Japan and I”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Jojo Li “My Hobbies”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Ruadhan Treacy

The 7th Contest: 21 February 2009

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Maria Oleynik “Japan and I (What is Manyoushuu to me?)”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Danielle O’Brien “The Appeal of Japan”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Rebecca Bourke “My Friend”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Lauren Healy

The 6th Contest: 1 March 2008

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Edel Waters “Japan and I”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Ian Suttle “Japan and I”
  • Secondary School: Leaving Cert. 2: Gloria Soon “My Hobbies”
  • Secondary School: Transition Year / Leaving Cert. 1: Aoife McCarthy

The 5th Contest: 10 March 2007

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Eddy Ospina “Kanazawa and I”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Maria Oleinik “Japan and I: Hokkaido and Its Surrounding Islands”
  • Secondary School: Samantha Marie Garcia

The 4th Contest: 11 March 2006

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Colm Caffrey “More Than Music”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Myra Mohar “Japanese Memories”
  • Secondary School: Anthony Robinson

The 3rd Contest: 26 February 2005

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Donagh O’Sullivan “Life with Children”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Tara Madden “My Father’s Zen Garden”
  • Secondary School: Beibhinn Kelly

The 2nd Contest: 21 February 2004

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Niall McGrath “Irish Fighting Spirit”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Marguerite Ryan “I Think We’re Turning Japanese”
  • Secondary School: Mark Aristizabal

The 1st Contest: 22 February 2003

  • Intermediate / Advanced Level: Jingde Yang “The Power of Words”
  • Beginner / Intermediate Level: Caoilfhionn Nic Fheara “Differences between Irish & Japanese Secondary School Students”
  • Secondary School: Mark Aristizabal