8th grader Taiki Ishibashi participated in the Bangkok Global Round of World Scholar’s Cup on September 2-7.

“Tell us about World Scholar’s Cup Global Round!”

This competition includes 4 different types of contests: Scholar’s Challenge, which involves solving problems on mark sheets; Collaborative Writing, which is team writing in groups of 3; Team Debate, or impromptu debates in teams; and Scholar’s Bowl, a quiz competition with a large-screen projection.

“Did you notice differences between this competition and those in Japan?”

There was a clear difference in the environment. Academic competitions in Japan normally involve solving problem sets quietly, but at World Scholar’s Cup, anything could be communicated through music, awkwardness was celebrated, and a stuffed alpaca could sometimes be seen flying through the air. Outside of the actual competition, I had a great time interacting with participants from all over the world at events such as Culture Fair and Scholar’s Ball. There were even Optional Tours that introduced us to the local area and culture. I believe such aspects are rare in competitions in Japan.

“What did you gain from the global competition?”

I believe I developed stronger language skills through being in an English immersion environment. As working with my teammates, reading the materials, and making friends all had to be done in English, I had no choice but to improve my communication abilities. Additionally, through practicing with my teammates on an almost daily basis during the summer holidays, I feel I have honed my competencies in summarizing the main points, collaborating with others, and pushing myself to go further.

“Finally, please share with us your personal impressions of the event.”

The best aspect of participating in World Scholar’s Cup was the chance to compete and interact with so many people. After the Kyushu Round, which was held at our school, I was invited to compete at the Bangkok Global Round. Most recently, I was invited to compete in the Tournament of Champions at Yale University 2022. At both the Kyushu and Bangkok Global Rounds, my teammates were incredibly supportive, and I cannot thank them enough. I will give it my all at the November competition at Yale, where I will surely learn a lot from the elite competitors.