Persian Program Nowrouz Speech Contest

The event features Nowruz 1404 Persian Speech Contest: "Why I Learn, Why I Speak: My Persian Language Journey", Music, Performance and Dinner

Here is the description of the subject of the contest:

🎉 The Persian Program at UBC invites all UBC students to participate in our Nowruz 1404 (March 22, 2025) Persian Speech Contest—a celebration of language, culture, and personal expression! 🎉

As we gather to celebrate the Persian New Year at UBC’s Asian Studies Department, we warmly invite you to take the stage and share your own story of what learning Persian has meant to you.

Prompt:

In an age where technology can translate at the push of a button, why do we still learn languages? More importantly, why do you learn Persian?

We believe that learning a language is more than acquiring linguistic knowledge for a specific purpose—it is a journey that forges meaningful connections, binds us to communities, and transforms how we experience the world by revealing cultural insights that surprise, delight, and enrich us. We invite you to craft a speech that is deeply personal and reflective of your unique experiences.

Tell us about the moments that have made Persian learning meaningful for you. Go beyond the obvious—take us on your path. Bring us into a memory, share an experience that changed your perspective, and perform a story that only you can tell. This is not an essay—it’s a performance. Whether your speech is heartfelt, humorous, poetic, or unexpected, the stage is yours.

Guidelines:

• Your speech should be 3-5 minutes long.
• It can be in Persian, English, or a creative mix of both, as long as it enhances your message.
• Your presentation can take any form: a personal story, a dramatic monologue, a poetic reflection, or even a blend of styles.
• Be expressive, be bold, and most importantly—be yourself.

Rewards & Recognition:

Participants will receive bonus marks for taking part in the contest, with additional bonuses for those who write and perform in Persian. The top three winners will be awarded gift cards.

✨ We can’t wait to hear your story. ✨

Host or Publisher UBC Persian Program and UBC PLRC