WHAT IS HEC?
The Hokkaido English Challenge (HEC) is a Hokkaido-wide English speaking contest that offers students the chance to improve their English and win amazing prizes, like a homestay in an English-speaking country, an electronic dictionary, or a place at the annual HEC English summer camp (five days of unadulterated fun and mayhem!). Started by Hokkaido JETs in 1994, the purpose of HEC is to encourage students to use and improve their spoken English, to interact with their ALTs, and to reward them with fantastic prizes for their efforts. It gives ALTs the chance to become more involved in their students’ study of English and gives both student and ALT a great goal to work towards together. The test format is in contrast to examinations students sit in school, with a heavy emphasis on communicative ability rather than written or grammatical accuracy. It is organized by ALTs residing in Hokkaido and funded by money raised at HAJET events held throughout the year. ALTs regularly laud it as one
