Help please? Urgent....

[cLam]

I`m not entirely sure if this belongs in this section... but I was hoping that since there since to be so many people with great Japanese here that maybe you guys could help me out.

Right now, I`m in Japan teaching English at a high school. Tonight, will be my welcome party, and the teachers are expecting a short speech from me -- I have already introduced myself during the staff meeting at the beginning of the month, so I have no idea what to say anymore. The school festival was held these past two days, so I was kind of hoping to say something like how I enjoyed it and had fun -- since it isn`t something we do back in Canada.

I wouldn`t have this problem if I were to do this in English, but the teachers seem to want it in Japanese -- I`m only studying towards passing JLPT 4 right now, so my Japanese level is almost next to none. All the teachers are busy with the festival... so can`t really ask them for help.

If some of you can just come up with something short for me to say, I would be VERY grateful! Doesn`t need to be long, just a few sentences should be fine.

Please help me!.. and thanks!

Cindy

[Rod Wadd]

The school festival was held these past two days, so I was kind of hoping to say something like how I enjoyed it and had fun -- since it isn`t something we do back in Canada.

gakuensai - school festival

or was it a culture festival? If so, that's a bunkasai


がくえんさい　は　たのしかった　です。　　カナダ　は　がくえんさい　が　ない　ので、　とても　おもしろかった　です。

[cLam]

yeah.. it`s a bunkasai, my mistake.

Thanks!!! Anything else you.. or anyone else can think of? I have no idea what they`re expecting.

Oh, anyone know how to say `thanks for having a welcome party for me`? And possibly also something along the lines of... although this is the first bunkasai I`ve been to, I think it was a great success.

I hate making speeches like these... I hope I won`t have to do them too often.

[Rod Wadd]

thanks for having a welcome party for me

かんげいかい　を　あいてくれて　ありがとう　ございます。　

although this is the first bunkasai I`ve been to, I think it was a great success

ぶんかさい　は　はじめて　ですが、だいせいこう　だった　と　おもいます。

This is how I would say it. Can't guarantee anything though

[jkid]

For "although this is the first bunkasai I`ve been to, I think it was a great success " I would say:

ぶんかさいにいくのはこれがはじめてなんですが、だいせいこうだった　と　おもいます。

This translates (to the best of my knowledge) to "although this is the first time I've come to a bunkasai I think it was a great success.

Please let me know if the charecters do not appear properly for you.

[Javizy]

Wow, I'd hate to do that now, let alone as a beginner. I don't really know what you could say in English, let alone Japanese, but maybe these opening/closing phrases could be useful.

みなさん、きょう は きて くれて ほんとう に ありがとう ございます。
Thank you for coming today, everybody.

こんなに かんげいして いただいて こころから かんしゃ して います。
I'm deeply grateful for such a warm welcome.

みなさん、これ から も よろしく おねがいします (typical closing line)
In the future, I hope to get to know you all (or something to that effect).

It'll be pretty tough if you don't understand the grammar and stuff, but I hope you can pull it off. I was wondering about the politeness level as well, but if they understand you're a beginner, I doubt they'll expect you to use keigo. Good luck.