The Preliminary round in the 2015 Jikei English Speech Contest has begun, with this year marking the 6th year of the contest. Fifty-three competitors from 50 schools across the country have signed up, the largest number of participants so far.

 

The theme for this year’s contest is "Selling Yourself in English." The entrants have been tasked with envisioning an interview overseas for a job related to their field of study. They need to clearly explain why they should be hired from among the many applicants and sell themselves to the interviewer.

 

The entrants’ speeches will be recorded by a professional camera operator, and the judging will be based on that recording. The final winners will be chosen by a panel of judges on October 27 with 5 contestants to be selected to receive an Award of Excellence. Each winner will be awarded a 5-week intensive English course at either the University of West Florida in the United States or the University of Queensland in Australia, both partner institutions with the Jikei Group of Colleges. The award will cover not only tuition for the 5-week course but also a round-trip airline ticket and homestay or dormitory expenses.