Benrontaikai Japanese Speaking Competition and Written Japanese Speaking Competition 2023

The 47th Benrontaikai Japanese Speaking Competition and Written Japanese Speaking Competition will soon be held in Prague again! More information about this year's competition and how to apply can be found in this article.

Added 19. 1. 2023
Vendula Petrová

The competitions offer participants the opportunity to prepare and deliver a formal speech about their experiences, thoughts or opinions and gain experience in public speaking in Japanese. After their speech, each contestant will answer several questions about their speech. A panel of expert judges will evaluate the accuracy of the language used, the engagingness of the speech and the answers, and the best participants will receive prizes in kind; all participants will receive participation prizes.

Date of the competition 15 April 2023 (Saturday)

Venue to be announced later (in Prague)

(1) Speaking Competition

Conditions of participation

Participation is open to anyone learning Japanese in the Czech Republic.

Beginners:

CEFR A1, A2 (Common European Framework for Reference for Languages)
Participant must not have experience of studying Japanese in Japan.
The winner from previous years may not participate in the same category in which he/she won.
Speech length max. 2 minutes.

Intermediate:

CEFR B1, B2 (Common European Framework for Reference for Languages)
Indicative: Genki 1, 2 or Minna no nihongo shokyu I, II.
Maximum duration of stay or study in Japan 6 months.
The winner from previous years may not participate in the same category in which he/she won.
Speech length max. 4 minutes.

Advanced:

Previous residence in Japan is not a barrier.
Length of speech max. 4 minutes

CEFR Framework of Reference:

Use the following links for reference:

JF Standard - Whole

JF Standard - Global Scale

If you do not know which category to enter, consult your Japanese teacher.
If you are self-taught and unsure of the appropriate level, please contact the competition organiser.

The organizer reserves the right to reassign a contestant to another category depending on placement in previous editions of the competition, the content of the speech, etc.

(2) Written Speech Competition

The aim of the competition is to give participants the opportunity to write an essay in Japanese about their own experiences and improve their written expression.

The essays will be judged by a panel of professional and lay judges. The best ones will be awarded.

Conditions of participation

Participation is open to anyone learning Japanese in the Czech Republic.

Beginners:

CEFR A1, A2 (Common European Framework for Reference for Languages)
The winner from previous years may not participate in the same category in which they won.
Text length 400 - 600 words

Advanced:

CEFR B1 - (Common European Framework for Reference for Languages)
Indicative Genki, 1,2, Minna no nihongo I, II
Text length 800 - 1200 words

* There is no obstacle to living or studying in Japan.

* The winners of the previous year's Advanced category are welcome to participate.

Competition topics

Choose one of the topics listed for the corresponding category and conceptualize it based on your own experience and judgment. Be sure to give your own essay an original title.

Beginners