Today　we　had　the　first　Showa　Gakuin　Elementary　School　English　Speech　Contest.　In　preparation,　1st　through　3rd　graders　who　wanted　to　participate　took　part　in　an　audition　last　January.　Those　who　passed　went　on　to　the　speech　contest.　All　the　students　read　stories　that　they　had　been　learning　in　English　class.　1st　graders　read　from　“Ten　Things,”　2nd　graders　read　from　“The　Spider’s　Web,”　and　3rd　graders　read　from　“Sad　Sam.”　The　English　teachers　and　the　principal　graded　each　speaker　and　awarded　1st,　2nd,　and　3rd　prizes　to　each　grade.　Students　practiced　not　only　reciting　the　story,　but　using　expressions　and　gestures　to　make　the　story　more　interesting　for　the　audience.　We　hope　lots　of　students　will　try　out　again　next　year!