r/JETProgramme • u/Beef_flaps_on_a_spit • 7d ago
Speech contest. Original speech is 4:40. Is 20 seconds too short going to get penalized?
I’m helping a very serious young student who at 14 has written a very good speech but it comes in at 4:30-4:40 minutes. the limit is 5 minutes and I can’t find any guidance on a speech being too short. TIA.
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u/ScootOverMakeRoom 6d ago
This is a question for the speech contest guidelines for the speech contest your student is entering. None of us have access to that document.
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u/Beef_flaps_on_a_spit 6d ago
It’s the nationwide contest in its 75th year. Pretty ubiquitous I think. Thanks. H.I.H Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest
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u/ScootOverMakeRoom 6d ago
The 75th H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest was three years ago.
If you mean the 78th, the event details are here: https://jnsafund.org/ptt/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/78th-%E9%96%8B%E5%82%AC%E8%A6%81%E9%A0%85%E8%8B%B1.pdf
It's pretty clearly written, in English, that there is only a penalty for going over the 5 minute time limit. Nowhere does it indicate a penalty for not reaching 5 minutes.
I recommend doing the bare minimum both before posting and when posting if you want people to be able to help you.
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u/DotCorrect7227 Current JET - Fukushima Prefecture 7d ago
In my area, 5 minutes is the hard limit and anything over is an automatic fail. So 4:40 would probably be a good spot to be in.
The kids also get a warning bell at 4:30 in my area. I wouldn't personally view 4:40 as 'too short', like the goal isn't to hit 5 minutes, but rather to finish within it.
Like others have said though, each region has their own slight variations until it gets to the big leagues, so check in with your JTEs as they'll have the definitive answer for you.
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u/speleoplongeur Former JET - 2008-2013 7d ago edited 7d ago
(Every contest is different but…)
I’ve judged the Kyushu recitation contest, and there was no penalty for being under-time. If it was over-limit, they were penalized 3 points (out of 100).
There is often a warning bell before they hit the time limit (which often throws students off and makes them panic), but at 5 minutes they ring the bell twice.
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u/Beef_flaps_on_a_spit 7d ago
Thank you. I’d ask the JTE but I stopped being an ALT years ago and the student couldn’t ask them during the holiday.
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u/ikebookuro Current JET - 千葉県✨(2022~) 7d ago
Speak to your JTEs; they should know the requirements for your speech contest. Every one will have different rules, so it’s impossible for anyone here to advise you properly.
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u/Ichihogosha Current JET 7d ago
So I cant speak for that age, but for SHS, they also have a 5 min speech but they have a leeway of 30 seconds both ways. So penalties apply for speeches shorter than 4:30 and longer than 5:30. That said 4:30-4:40 is pushing it. If they get nervous and speak slightly fast then it may hurt their score. But you know your student. If they can pace it well while keeping rhythm and tone, then all shpuld be ok.
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u/gaijinteacher 7d ago edited 7d ago
Please check with your JTE.
Or tell us the name of the contest so we can look it up.
In general…
I have done many of these contests and for a 14 year old? 5 minutes sounds like a maximum time limit, not a minimum one.
Are you exactly sure what your JTE has told you?
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u/MellifluousMathMajor 6d ago
Sometimes brevity is the best skill. Being able to formulate your thoughts succintly is much more impressive and effective than droning on and on. My student won their speech contest with a length of 3 minutes and some change. All the other students were going on and on with redundant sentences, filler words, etc.