Bandung, UPI

The director of students directorate of UPI, Dr. H. Mupid Hidayat, M.A has delivered a welcoming speech to the six finalists of Bahasa Indonesia speech contest 2017 at Teleconference Room of University Center building, on Tuesday (7/3). Hosted by Vidi Sukmayadi, S.S. M.Si., the welcoming session was also attended by the Head of Office of International Education and Relations (OIER) UPI, Dr. Vanessa
Gaffar

“The finalists, all of you, are surely great. You had been competing with many participants from diverse universities in around Indonesia. I am very proud of the finalists who are able to deliver a speech in a language that is not your first language. Finally, to keep learning on anything is the key of successful achievement, especially for this speech contest; please keep practicing to understand Bahasa Indonesia. When all of you have been really well prepared, you will be ready to win and even to lose in this contest.” said Dr. Mupid.

The finalists consist of Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh (Vietnamese, Universitas Negeri Malang). Le Phong Vinh (Vietnamese, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta), Yamai Hiroko (Japanese, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia), Yuyin Hua (Chinese, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang), Mahfujur Rahman (Bangladeshi, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta), dan Vu Ngoc Thuy Trinh (Vietnamese, Universitas Negeri Lampung). They had learnt Bahasa Indonesia in various period times: from one semester up to 4 years long.

“I had learnt Bahasa Indonesia since six months ago. I like the cultures of Indonesia; it is very beautiful and interesting. I know some traditional dances, music, and else like culinary delights and clothes. I imagine if I understand Bahasa Indonesia, I can explore the culture more widely.” said Yuyin Hua from Tiongkok, an alumni of tourism studies of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, one of the finalists of the speech contest.

The speech contest is conducted by the students in 2013 batch of Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Science Studies Education (FPIPS UPI). This event of an implementation of a course entitled Event Management was supported by Department of Communication Studies FPIPS UPI, Balai Bahasa (language center) of West Java, Asosiasi Penggiat dan Pengajar Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing/ APPBIPA (the association of the enthusiasts and teachers of Bahasa Indonesia for foreign speakers of West Java. The team who calls themselves ‘BRAVO Event Organizer’ was intended by Vidi Sukmayadi, S.S. M.Si. as the lecturer of the course. “While our friends at class A was assigned to organized a seminar event, our class (class B) was appointed to organize a contest event. This one month audition speech contest had encouraged the international students in many universities in Indonesia to upload their own script speech performance in YouTube. The final of this ORASI contest will be held on Wednesday, March 08, 2017 at the Hall of Balai Bahasa Jawa Barat, at Sumbawa street Number 11 Bandung.” said the coordinator of programming division, Nurul Nurjanah.

A briefing was delivered by Vidi Sukmayadi, S.S., M.Si. after the welcoming session. In a discussion about a good public speaking performance, the finalists showed their enthusiasm by fully paying attention to the performers. As issued ORASI “Indonesia di Mataku” (speech about Indonesia on my eyes), the speeches were fully given in Bahasa Indonesia in a way of formal performance. The president of The Association of UPI International Students, Lookman ‘Luki’ Hossain Khan, expressed his appreciation for this meritorious event. “This is good for international students since it can encourage them to practice delivering formal speech which is different from daily chatting. I think it can gain more enthusiasms, the audition is also conducted in real performance and the publication of the event is broadcasted more extensive. Hopefully, the committee can make a follow-up to the winner; promote him or her to be a Bahasa Indonesia ambassador of international students, or probably propose him or her to be a teacher of Bahasa Indonesia.” said Luki. (Nadya/OIER).