On Air: Rainbow Plaza Information/2013.10.7(Mon)/8:35～
Rebroadcasting: 2013.10.12(Sat)/10:00～

The 11^th Annual Japanese Speech Contest will be held on Sunday, October 20 in Fukufuku Hall, located on the first floor of Fukufuku Plaza, in Arato in the Chuo Ward of Fukuoka City. Doors open at 9:30 AM and the contest begins at 10 AM. The contest is expected to conclude around 3:10 PM.

It is a two-tiered contest, with the morning part of the event being a competition between foreigners studying and learning Japanese at Japanese language schools in the Fukuoka metropolitan area. The second part is a contest for foreigners studying the Japanese language under the guidance of volunteer teachers in the Fukuoka metropolitan area. Japanese teachers will judge participants in the morning portion of the contest. Participants in afternoon portion of the contest will be judged based upon the votes of the audience.

Advanced reservations are not required, and there is no entrance fee! Bring your friends and come find out what everybody is talking about!

For further information, please contact the Japanese Speech Contest Executive Committee of the Fukuoka International Association.

You can do so by phone at 092-733-5630.

The annual Home Visit Program for International Students introduces international students enrolled in colleges or language schools in the Fukuoka metropolitan area and Japanese families in Fukuoka interested in international exchange, providing the opportunity for them to meet regularly and deepen mutual understanding. Since 1989, more than 30 pairs of host families and foreign students have taken part in this program each year.

Participants visit Japanese host families at their home and enjoy time together, such as conversation over meals. Each student-family pair is free to decide on where and how they would like to spend time together. In principle, the period of exchange between host families and foreign students is from November of this year until March of next year. However, over the years, many have kept in touch with each other of their own accord, even after the home visit program’s conclusion.

Interested parties, should fill out an application form and send it, or bring it, to Rainbow Plaza by Thursday, October 10th. Application forms are available at the international student section of colleges, or at language schools, as well as at Rainbow Plaza. The first time for families and participants to meet is scheduled for Sunday, November 10th.

Rainbow Plaza is open from 10 AM until 8 PM.

For further information, please contact Rainbow Plaza by phone at 092-733-2220.

You can also always get information by visiting the website at http://www.rainbowfia.or.jp/.