Sayembara Lisan: Indonesian Speaking Competition

For several years, Saint Ignatius College has been a proud participant in the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers’ Association (VILTA) Sayembara Lisan (Speaking Competition), which gives primary and secondary school learners of Indonesian the opportunity to test their skills against students from other schools. This year on Wednesday 2 May we hosted the event for the second time, welcoming over 200 students from ten regional schools. We were especially delighted to welcome Drysdale Primary School’s first ever competitors who were brilliantly prepared by their Indonesian teacher who just so happens to be Bridget Henry, 2011’s Saint Ignatius College captain.

Competitors were evaluated by volunteer assessors, who included Indonesian teachers and language assistants, Deakin University’s leading Indonesian teacher and volunteer students, and were required to engage in general conversation, present a prepared speech, and answer unrehearsed questions on that speech.

As always, the standard of competition was very high, and everyone involved is to be congratulated on the excellent effort they put in. The students who have earned a place in the regional rounds are now eligible to represent the Geelong region at the State Finals of the Sayembara Lisan at the University of Melbourne on 2 June. Good luck to all our competitors and we wish them all the best in the competition!

Ms Julia Hall Language Learning Area Leader

I enjoyed having the challenge of speaking to the head of language from Deakin University. Emily Jones, Year 11

I liked being able to maintain a conversation without a word of English for 8 minutes. The competition will be the stepping-stone for the Indonesian VCE oral exams, as well as providing us with the confidence to speak the language with native speakers when we embark on our Term 3 school trip to Indonesia. Will Bothe, Year 10

I enjoyed that we got to practice our Indonesian skills in a competitive way with some very skilled Indonesian speakers. Tex Hallam, Year 11

The assessor gave me feedback for what I need to work on with my Language. This will help me get better and improve. Emily Henry, Year 10

This year the questions were more interesting to answer than previous years. Izaac Gillies, Year 10

The things I enjoyed about participating in Sayembara Lisan this year is the fact that I got to learn new things and I was exposed to a different kind of pressure. I think by competing I am more confident and I know that if I try my best that is what counts, no one is trying to make you stuff up and the judges are still there for support even when you have no clue what they are saying. Charli Nisbet, Year 9