Kaohsiung City New Immigrants Language Contest Features Multiculturalism of Southeast Asian Nations

The "111th Academic Year Kaohsiung City New Immigrants Language Contest" was recently held in Kaohsiung City. To display their academic results, 171 students from Kaohsiung City schools of different levels dressed in traditional costumes from Southeast Asia. The contest was split into the "Storytelling" and "Southeast Asian Song" categories. The presence of languages from Southeast Asian nations demonstrated the multiculturalism of the area. Non-second-generation immigrants students also took part in the event.

Southeast Asian Song Competition in the Kaohsiung City New Immigrants Language Contest.Photo provided by Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government

This year's Kaohsiung New Immigrants Language Contest had 171 contestants from 60 schools. They are not restricted to the status of new immigrants and can all compete as long as they are students attending Kaohsiung City. As a result, it also drew students who are not the second-generation immigrants.

The first student in Kaohsiung City to study Burmese as an optional is a second-grader (余言亮) at Zhongshan Elementary School in the Gushan District. His mother picked Burmese for him in the school's local language curriculum even though both of his parents are Taiwanese so that he could converse with his aunt who is from Burma. In addition to being able to speak Burmese with my aunt on the phone after more than a year of study, He also excelled in the "Storytelling" category of this year's competition and received accolades from the judges.

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Students who won awards.Photo provided by Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government

According to the Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, learning additional languages increases one's competitiveness. More individuals will be able to appreciate the features of other multiculturalism via language acquisition, which will also help to foster interactions and tolerance amongst various cultures. This will take root and cultivate the abilities of second-generation immigrants.