The 9th Padjadjaran English Competition came to an end after another successful year, showcasing the talents of students from both high schools and universities in Speech, Storytelling, Short Story Writing, Poetry Reading and Writing, and Essay Writing. This year’s competition certainly lived up to expectations, with participants not only showcasing their English abilities but also sharing their unique experiences and ideas.
Made Dennis Darian Wisnawa, the first-place winner of the High School Level Speech competition from SMA Negeri 34 Jakarta, shared how the competition exposed him to various unique performing styles. “I think there are many styles—whether it is writing, speech, or storytelling—and everyone has their own unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. And I think that’s the beauty of competitions like this. You get to experience a lot of different people, styles, and their abilities in English.” For him, the competition was not only about winning, but more about discovering the diverse ways people express themselves in English. Made also admitted that he truly appreciated the competition for keeping English as its main focus, while allowing participants to showcase their originality through their performances. “It is all about the language itself,” he added.
The event also left a lasting impression on returning participants, including Javier Maverick Tristan, who was not only one of the finalists from the previous competition, but also this year’s second-place winner in the Varsity Level Speech competition. Javier shared his hopes for the next event, stating, “I hope the Padjadjaran English Competition will continue to grow in finding their participants. I hope it will continue to improve in creating an environment where everyone can gather to learn from each other, share ideas, and have critical discussions.” Moreover, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunities the competition provided and reflected on how the experience helped him learn about different cultures and perspectives. For Javier, the competition was a chance to enhance his speech skills, sharpen his critical thinking, and widen his horizons.
The enthusiasm and positive energy of the participants also deeply resonated with the organizers. The project officer for this year’s event, Nauli Angeline Marpaung, was given the chance to express her thoughts and share her appreciation, saying, “To see youth from many places gather to talk and share their concerns, I am truly thankful for everyone’s enthusiasm in the competition.” Additionally, she expressed her admiration for the participants’ passion for sharing their opinions on the issues they cared about, highlighting how they were able to make efficient use of the opportunity to voice their ideas. “I hope the Padjadjaran English Competition can continue to be a place where people from diverse backgrounds share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas,” she continued.
Ultimately, the 9th Padjadjaran English Competition was about more than just language skills. It brought people together through a shared appreciation of language as a way to understand each other and express themselves. This year, the competition upheld its reputation, once again creating an environment where participants could grow and inspire each other.
The success of the 9th Padjadjaran English Competition would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors and media partners. We extend our gratitude to Bank Indonesia, Detik Print, Aminda Hotel & Casa de Aminda, and The British Institute for their sponsorship. A special thanks also goes to our media partners: The Jakarta Post, Divia TV, English Speaking Union Unpad, Ikom Radio, Radio Untar, RadioMU, and Radio Unpad.
