I was asked to deliver the opening speech for Niimi International Exchange Association's Get-together (Niimi English Salon #244) today(December 16, 2014).
I know I am not a good speaker, plus I always try to speak without reading a script, so this is what I tried to speak:
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls.
My name is Kiyoshi Yamauchi, I’m Professor of English at Niimi College, and one of the executives of Niimi International Exchange Association.
First of all, I’d like to thank all the people present at the party this evening on behalf of Niimi International Exchange Association.
Actually this party has five meanings just like my favorite author and Nobel Prize winning American Novelist, John Steinbeck told that his literary works have five layers, which mean, five meanings.
The first meaning of tonight party is to get to know Niimi’s proud Assistant Language Teachers, who have chances to come all the way to Niimi from their distant home, and are very supportive to English and International Education in Niimi School system. Thank you, ALTs!
The second meaning of this party is a congratulatory party to the all the attendees of Niimi International Exchange Association’s English Lessons. Congratulations, the attendees!
Thirdly, this is a Christmas Party, which is not a religious Christmas party, but the one where we can get together and have fun. So, merry Christmas, everyone!
And the fourth one is that this is what we call “Forget-the-year-party.” It is sometimes difficult to explain what “忘年会” is like in English, but I think this is the party to forget your bad things in the old year, and try to renew yourself for the coming new year.
And the fifth, the last but not the least meaning is to get to know, reunite, and find new friendship with each other. Because every member of this society is very busy and it is sometimes difficult to make time to get together. So this is a great opportunity for your friendship and companionship.
Today we have an honorable guest, Dr. Masayoshi Namba, President of Niimi College and Consultant to this Association.
He always advise us faculty members that our speech should be concise, precise and short.
Therefore I am going to stop here.
Thank you very much and please enjoy yourselves at the party this evening!
I know I am not a good speaker, plus I always try to speak without reading a script, so this is what I tried to speak:
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls.
My name is Kiyoshi Yamauchi, I’m Professor of English at Niimi College, and one of the executives of Niimi International Exchange Association.
First of all, I’d like to thank all the people present at the party this evening on behalf of Niimi International Exchange Association.
Actually this party has five meanings just like my favorite author and Nobel Prize winning American Novelist, John Steinbeck told that his literary works have five layers, which mean, five meanings.
The first meaning of tonight party is to get to know Niimi’s proud Assistant Language Teachers, who have chances to come all the way to Niimi from their distant home, and are very supportive to English and International Education in Niimi School system. Thank you, ALTs!
The second meaning of this party is a congratulatory party to the all the attendees of Niimi International Exchange Association’s English Lessons. Congratulations, the attendees!
Thirdly, this is a Christmas Party, which is not a religious Christmas party, but the one where we can get together and have fun. So, merry Christmas, everyone!
And the fourth one is that this is what we call “Forget-the-year-party.” It is sometimes difficult to explain what “忘年会” is like in English, but I think this is the party to forget your bad things in the old year, and try to renew yourself for the coming new year.
And the fifth, the last but not the least meaning is to get to know, reunite, and find new friendship with each other. Because every member of this society is very busy and it is sometimes difficult to make time to get together. So this is a great opportunity for your friendship and companionship.
Today we have an honorable guest, Dr. Masayoshi Namba, President of Niimi College and Consultant to this Association.
He always advise us faculty members that our speech should be concise, precise and short.
Therefore I am going to stop here.
Thank you very much and please enjoy yourselves at the party this evening!