Japanese Language Festival (JLF) Practice Buddies will help you with your Japanese pronunciation and give you helpful tips on how to better perform your speech or skit. Practicing in front of someone and receiving useful feedback is essential in delivering an optimal performance! If you’re a student who’s competing in the Japanese Speech & Skit Contest and you want to practice your speech or skit with a native Japanese speaker, you can sign up to be paired with a JLF Practice Buddy!

アメリカワシントン州シアトルで3月13日に開催されるJapanese Language Festival (JLF) は、ワシントン州での日本語学習そして文化の習熟を促進する目的で、地元のコミュニティー団体が協力し共催するフェスティバルです。JLFでは今年39年の歴史を持つSpeech &SkitContestがあり、コンテスト参加者の練習を応援する日本語ネイティブスピーカーのボランティアを必要としています。コンテスト参加者が用意したプレゼンテーションの発音や抑揚(早い、遅いのスピードや元気よく!や、元気が良過ぎ?等)の注意点をアドバイスするもので、練習は一回約10~20分、回数目安は2,3回、練習中の使用言語は日本語でも英語でも可等、パートナーとの話し合いで決めて頂きます。
バディー(パートナー)とのマッチングは、随時ワシントン州日米協会で行います。ワシントン州で日本語を勉強しコンテストに果敢にチャレンジする学生のサポートに興味のある方は、 jassw@jassw.org へ今すぐご連絡ください!

PURPOSE: To provide students with an opportunity to practice and get advice for their speech or skit with a native Japanese speaker. Practicing with a Japanese speaker can help a student feel more confident in their speech or skit and help improve their Japanese pronunciation, intonation, and speaking speed.

日本語を母国語とするボランティアの協力で、スピーチやスキットを練習する機会を提供し、日米交流を図りま
す。 コンテスト参加者は、日本語を母国語とするボランティアから、日本語の発音、抑揚、会話の
スピードのアドバイスを貰い練習することで、プレゼンテーションの質を向上させスピーチやスキット
に自信をもってコンテストに臨むことが可能です。

Practice Buddies are allowed to:
Correct students’ pronunciation, intonation, and speaking speed. Provide helpful tips on how to give a good presentation and encourage students to have the right energy.

Practice Buddies are NOT allowed to:
Correct any language mistakes (vocabulary, grammar, etc.) nor change the content of the
students’ script.

発音、抑揚、会話の速度の3点に関するアドバイスのみに徹し、コンテストの参加者が作成したプレゼンテーションの単語や文法等スクリプトの内容を変更することは不可。

Who can register?
High school and college/university students who are competing in the 39th Annual Japanese Speech & Skit Contest.


How long are the practice sessions and is this service FREE?
YES! It is free and most practice sessions will be 10 – 20 minutes long depending on you and your practice buddy.


How long are the practice sessions and is this service FREE?
YES! It is free and most practice sessions will be 10 – 20 minutes long depending on you and your practice buddy.


What can a Japanese Language Practice Buddy help me with?
Improve your Japanese pronunciation and intonation and give you helpful tips on how to give
a good speech or skit performance. Your Practice Partner will not help you with any vocabulary or grammar mistakes, and they will not change the contents of your speech or skit.


Until when can I meet with a Practice Partner?
Up until January 23 (Sunday), 2022 (Pacific Standard Time, USA)


Where do I sign up for Practice Partner?
Please contact jassw@jassw.org to be paired with your JLF Practice Buddy!

Learn more about the Washington State Japanese Speech & Skit Contest here.

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Hiroki IshiiJune 26, 2018 ~ August 31, 2018
Yuka MuroiFebruary 7, 2018 ~ March 2, 2018
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Nao MiyamotoJanuary 28, 2018 ~ April 1, 2018
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