Translated by Cara Steenstra
News released by Government Information Office
Release Date: 2006-05-27

On May 27, Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu attended an English improvisation speech contest for high school students of Taichung City. Mayor Hu was there to cheer the students on, he also gave a two minute improvised demonstration speech. Mayor Hu's speech topic was on how to utilize your time to learn English. He expressed that learning English allowed him to broaden his views and change his life, and that the key words in learning English is to "just do it!" and "just say it!".

Organized by the Rotary Club of Taichung Tatong, this was an English improvisation speech contest for high school students of Taichung City. Mayor Hu was invited to pick a topic and give a two-minute improvised speech. Mayor Hu followed the speech contest rules and began his speech immediately after the ring of the bell. During his speech, Mayor Hu encouraged students to seize opportunities in learning English, as he himself received chances to study and work in the US and in the UK because he learnt English well.

According to the organizers, this contest was the first of its kind in Taichung City, and there were a total of over 50 top English students from various high schools who competed in this contest.

In an effort to encourage the improvement of oral English skills of high school students in Taichung city, special limitations were set for this speech contest; students who have lived in English speaking countries for six months or more consecutively, and students who have attended international schools or schools for foreign expatriates for six months or more consecutively are not qualified to join this contest.