On January 19, 2025, the 20th Tottori Competition of "Let's Speak Korean" was held in Yonago City, hosted by Tottori Prefecture and the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka, with co-sponsorship from the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka and King Sejong Institute. Six students from our university, enrolled in the Trilingual Training Program and Intensive Korean courses, participated in the competition, and four of them won top prizes, including the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, Encouragement Award, and the Special Jury Award.
The presentations and awards received are as follows.
Grand Prize (1st Place): Ayumi Nakamura (Sophomore, School of Letters)
・Presentation Title: 나의 한국 여행 기록 (My South Korea Travel Diary)
The presentation shared various experiences from a trip to South Korea, including moments when the presenter was mistaken for a local, the joy of successfully communicating in Korean, and reflections on the kindness of Korean people, personal realizations, and self-growth.
・Prize: Round-trip airfare between Seoul and Yonago, ¥50,000 Amazon gift card
Excellence Award (2nd place): Soyoka Engauchi (Sophomore, School of Integrated Arts and Sciences)
・Presentation Title: 언어를 배우는 즐거움 (The Joy of Learning Languages)
Based on experiences studying abroad in Russia and traveling to South Korea, the presentation discussed how learning a language deepens interest and curiosity about the country and how engaging in communication allows one to experience the warmth of people.
・Prize: ¥30,000 Amazon gift card
Encouragement Award (3rd Place): Sara Takashima (Freshman, School of Law)
・Presentation Title: K-POP 이 넓혀준 나의 세계 (My World Expanded by K-POP)
Before discovering K-POP, the presenter saw Korea as just a neighboring country. However, through K-POP, she developed an interest in Korea, traveled there, made friends from Kazakhstan who share the same interests, and took on new challenges. She shared how K-POP has broadened her world.
・Prize: ¥10,000 Amazon gift card
Special Jury Award (4th Place): Kouki Ichiyasu (Sophomore, School of Integrated Arts and Sciences)
・Presentation Title: 직접 경험하는 것의 중요성 (The Importance of Firsthand Experience)
Through participation in a university student exchange program organized by the Japanese and South Korean governments, the presenter had the opportunity to visit South Korea. This experience allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the country beyond what is available on the internet or social media. He realized that firsthand experience is crucial for truly grasping the essence of things, and presented his insights on this topic.
・Prize: ¥5,000 Amazon gift card
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