The　4th,　5th,　and　6th　graders　showed　off　their　excellent　English　speaking　skills　today　at　the　first　Showa　Elementary　School　English　Speech　Contest.　The　4th　graders　auditioned　in　January,　and　those　who　passed　spoke　in　today’s　speech　contest.　They　read　the　story　titled　“Sad　Sam”　in　groups;　it　was　a　story　they　had　learned　in　English　class.　The　5th　and　6th　graders　all　auditioned　in　class,　and　those　had　excellent　speeches　read　individually　about　their　dream　or　about　Japanese　culture.　1st,　2nd,　and　3rd　place　were　awarded　to　the　4th　graders;　and　another　1st,　2nd,　and　3rd　place　were　awarded　to　the　5th　and　6th　graders　as　a　whole.　Many　of　the　students　read　with　great　expression　and　gestures　to　help　convey　the　meaning　of　their　speeches　clearly.　We　look　forward　to　next　year’s　contest　as　well!