Nurulafifah Hassan receiving her prize as the winner of the Advanced Level from Vice President of ANA Singapore Tsubaki Risa while the Japanese ambassador looks on. - BB
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Nurulafifah Hassan from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), the winner in the Advanced Level category of the 34th Japanese Speech contest 2023, said she was always interested in learning foreign languages.
“I’ve learnt Korean language as a child and in 2017, I began learning Japanese language. By having a good command of many languages, it can help shape me into being a better person. Its interesting to know many foreign languages,” she said.
Nurulafifah won a ticket to Japan yesterday with her presentation titled ‘Children’s Safety’.
Liyana Nadhira Yussof was placed second and Muhammad Nur Amin Muhaidini was placed third.
Nurulafifah said: “I felt surprised when I was told that I was the winner. It was unexpected as this is the first time I entered a speech contest. I am happy to be going to Japan.“
Nurulafifah took up Japanese language in her second year and this year’s semester.
“Trying to incorporate theatrical knowledge into practice especially in conversation is one of the challenges of learning new languages, It’s different knowing how to read and write and to being able to converse well.”
Meanwhile in the Beginner Level, Arissa Azzahira Md Sofian from Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre was placed first followed by Fatimah Amalia Nasuha. Third place went to Omar Mohamad Maher El-Itani.
Arissa said, “I feel very happy to have won this competition because I wasn’t expecting anything and I was really nervous. However with the contest’s topic ’Importance of Courage’ I tried to be courageous.”
