January marked the start of a new semester at SMKN 1 Kutalimbaru in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. The beginning of the semester also signaled the much-anticipated Local WORDS Competition. ETA Brady Allen and fellow English teachers welcomed the participating students to the competition on the third day of the New Year’s break. Brady was thrilled to have seven eager students participating.

All participants came well-prepared with their storybooks and stories in hand. The storybooks showcased impressive artistic ability, while the stories themselves highlighted the creativity of each participant. The competition was tight, and the storytelling performances grew stronger with each turn.

At the end of the competition, Brady tallied up the judges’ scores and announced the top three. To build suspense, Brady started with third place, then moved on to the second. Finally, he announced that Kevin had won first place! Kevin did an outstanding job, displaying great emotion during his storytelling. His hard work and practice paid off, and Brady couldn’t have been prouder or happier for him.

It was a wonderful competition, highlighted by the participants’ confidence and creativity. Brady eagerly looks forward to seeing Kevin shine on the big stage in Jakarta in late February.

Brady Allen is currently teaching at SMKN 1 Kutalimbaru, North Sumatra.