Thankfully, I had received copies of the students’ speech manuscripts in advance, so I was able to read through them carefully afterward.
On Friday, May 30th, the AMICUS Junior High School English Speech Contest was held. I had been looking forward to this event very much. However, on the morning of the contest, I threw out my back and it had become difficult for me to come to work.
Many of the speeches were based on the twelve Round Square IDEALS, as AMICUS is a proud member of the Round Square network. Students selected themes such as Internationalism, Courage, Spirit of Service, and Leadership, and wrote their speeches by incorporating personal experiences and stories of admired figures.
Topics included the nervousness and joy of meeting American students for the first time, the values of democracy exemplified by Nelson Mandela, and the confidence gained through taking on new challenges. Each speech was filled with individuality and heartfelt expression, showing that the students had truly made the IDEALS their own.
It is no easy task to express one’s thoughts in English, but through these manuscripts, I strongly felt the fruits of the students’ learning and their undeniable growth. Their desire to communicate clearly came through more than just pronunciation or fluency.
Through their speeches, I was once again reminded that AMICUS’s educational philosophy—understanding diverse values and working with others to create a better society—is deeply rooted in each student. The quality of the speeches was truly outstanding—something rarely seen in public schools. I firmly believe that opportunities like this will continue to foster the students’ global perspectives and expressive abilities.
As of this writing, I have not yet heard the official contest results. However, I can say with confidence that each speech was well-structured, used concrete examples effectively, included powerful supporting quotes, and concluded with a clear, compelling message. It would have been difficult to rank them.
I was also deeply impressed to see how well the students had been taught to compose speeches of such high caliber. It’s a testament to the dedication and expertise of the teachers guiding them.
To all of our strong, growing AMICUS students—I give you a heartfelt “Bravo!”