The All-Kitakami Junior High School English Competition

I am one proud mama-jamma today. For the past week, I’ve been helping students practice for the All-Kitakami Junior High School English Speech Competition. Students choose grade level appropriate speeches and rehearse them for pronunciation, intonation and expression then compete against other students. It’s a challenge for most students and the speeches are full of lingual traps for Japanese tongues. Sounds like “l” “r” “v” and “f” are the kiss of death to most students. Japanese just doesn’t have the harsh pronunciation that English does. So while I was coaching these students, I felt like the Chinese restaurant owner in “A Christmas Story” who was teaching his staff to sing “Deck the Halls.” 

“Not ‘ra ra ra ra ra,’ ‘la la la la la.’”

At わが中学校, I coached two girls, one who was giving a speech about elephants, one who told the story of Terry and Calvero from the old movie, “Limelight” starring Charlie Chaplin. You read that right. We drilled the tricky sounds, but the most fun we had was in practicing gestures. The judges look for appropriate gestures and intonation when it comes to getting the message of the story across. I have what you might call a “flair for the dramatic,” so this was a fun exercise for me and the girls. Every day after school, we battled through pronunciation then swept arms, averted eyes, pressed hand to heart, shook fists…it was all very theatrical. 

Students practicing in the park

Today was the big day! Across the street at the Contemporary Poetry Park and Museum, students and their teachers and families gathered to practice English communication. Outside, I ran into my two students. I asked them how they were and they both said they were “bad,” as in “nervous.” I told them to do their best and I would watch them. They seemed excited, but still a little anxious so I wished them luck and went inside. I was very impressed with many of the students…and devastated by some of the material. Students recited about survivors of the Titanic, Mother Teresa, Christmas Day in No Man’s Land… 

Some of the students were very impressive, and it was obvious who had been coached by an English native speaker. One girl was very interesting to watch: I got the feeling she was coached by someone with a music instruction background. The way that she swayed and moved her arms looked a little like she was conducting a concert! My ladies had a touch of Isadora Duncan with a Koplacki chaser. 

There was also a special segment of originally written speeches. By far, the most personally touching for me was by a girl named Toko. Her speech was titled “Your Name is a Gift.”  During her childhood, she hated her name because it means something like “clay child.” To her, it sounded old fashioned and ugly compared to modern Japanese girl names. But, she explained, her parents named her Toko because the kanji they used meant “to create” and “joy.” They wanted her to make her own life and to fill it with beauty, creation and joy, like making a beautiful ceramic. She said that when you are named, you are given your first gift. It’s a reminder of what your family wants for you and what they think of you. I was very moved because I struggled in the same way. I didn’t know any other Martas. I didn’t know why I wasn’t a Katie or a Brittany or a Sarah. The Banana Name Game branded me “Marta Farta” for years. And my middle name! I felt like a freak because it was too different, too foreign, too hard to pronounce. But I came around to my name and embraced it for the unique and beautiful identity it gives me. 

On the lighter side of life, four elementary school children told the story of the very hungry caterpillar! Their teacher wore a caterpillar sock puppet while the children held up felt fruits and foods for the caterpillar to munch on. And at the end, the two little girls flitted around the stage like butterflies and then posed in the cutest tableau to adoring applause. 

In the end, my student who told the love story of Calvero and Terry won third place for the second and third year division! I was incredibly proud of her: the speech is difficult but she did a great job and clearly delivered her speech like a true story teller. She may not have won first place, but I hope she’s proud of the work she put into it. And as for the other student, I hope she realizes she was up against some serious competition and I think she did a great job. I told them both during the break that they were wonderful, despite their protests. I hope tonight they go to sleep remembering that I am proud of them and they don’t feel too disappointed. 

Japan may be results oriented, but the journey matters too. The director of the competition, in his speech, reminded the students of that. He thanked the students for their work and encouraged them saying  “I wish you luck and encouragement as you continue your English studies. Thank you for your hard work!”