KOREAN NET

The Detroit Korean School in the U.S. (President Dong-wook Kim) held the 29th storytelling contest on April 16. The writing contest held on the 5th of last month and this storytelling contest are the biggest events held in the Korean School in order to encourage children to use Korea and develop their writing and speaking skills.

Students and parents focusing on presentations of the participants

All elementary, middle and high school students participate in the writing contest under the theme of “My dream” and “My future.” A total of 34 students were awarded at the 24th writing contest held this year, including first place winners (elementary school: Ji-hyul Kim, Gyu-won Lim; middle school: Ji-man Park, Yoo-bin Song; high school: Moon-yeong Park, Che-rin Park), second place winners (elementary school: La-im Choi; middle school: Ye-eun Kim; high school: Ye-chan Kim, Jun-seo Byeon, Yoon-seung Seo), third place winners (elementary school: Ha-yun Song; middle school: Eun-woo Choi; high school: Ye-sol Yang), and fourth place winners (Ye-in Park and 19 others).

(Left) 5th graders of the Detroit Korean School participating the writing contest; (Right) Che-rin Park who won the first prize among high schoolers at the writing contest

The theme of storytelling contest was “My Dream” and “My Future” and students share their stories for 3 to 4 minutes. There is no restriction on topics for pre-schoolers so any topic is allowed if it can be delivered through storytelling. Participation is subject to students who wish to participate in the contest and 26 pre-schoolers, 15 elementary schoolers, 11 middle schoolers, and 2 high schoolers participated in the contest this year.

Che-yul Park (7th grade) sharing her promising experience about how to overcome difficulties when she first migrated to the U.S. under the theme of “I am hopeful”

Pre-schoolers and low-grade elementary students shared diverse stories about family, friends, cooking, ski resort, and dolls and also narrated stories like The Rabbit and the Turtle, and The King with Donkey Ears. Older students shared their dreams and what experience they are building on in order to achieve the dreams under the theme of “My Dream.” Sincere stories delivered by the students entertained and impressed the audience.

Sam Choi (7th grade) winning a medal

Given the number of participants and time, the contest was carried out in two categories, pre-school/high school and elementary/middle school, and the school provided all students with medals. The final results will be decided by three judges consisting of teachers and parents through a fair review and posted on the school bulletin on 23, a week later, and an award ceremony will be held during the closing ceremony planned for June 12.

(Left) Yeong Kim, Gi-hyun Ahn, and Dong-wook Kim as judges for elementary and middle schoolers; (Right) Eun-soo Song, Seong-rye Kim, and Ha-young Lee as judges for pre-school and high school students

Students who are awarded at the contest are qualified to participate in “My Dream Speech Contest” held by the Michigan Regional Council. The contest will be held at the Korean Central United Methodist Church on May 6 along with an event celebrating the Day of Korean School and students from Korean schools in Michigan will join the contest. The regional council will submit an application document and videos of the final winner to the National Association for Korean Schools. After presidents of the regional councils review videos strictly, 6 out of 14 regional council winners will be selected to participate in the finals.

Ha-jung Kim (2nd grade) sharing his stories under the topic of “My Favorite Sport Soccer”

The storytelling contest is a stage where the second and third generation Koreans growing up in the United States can express their dreams in Korean in front of their peers. For students who do not participate in the contest but attend the contest to listen to their friends stories, the contest may be an opportunity to think about their own dream and future. The storytelling contest, which provides all students with opportunities to learn, is a valuable cultural heritage of Korean schools. Storytelling contests will help our students build the right identity as Koreans and move forward step by step toward their dreams.

It is a cultural heritage that has a history and tradition as it provides students at Detroit Korean School with the opportunity to talk about their dreams and learn by sharing stories with one another.

▲ Source: Detroit Korean School