Troy Athens Students Shine At Japanese Language Speech Contest

TROY, MI — Three students from Troy Athens High School recently placed in the high school competition at the 22nd annual Michigan Japanese Language Speech Contest at the Wayne State University Oakland Center in Farmington Hills.

Kristine Bassett finished in first place, Julian Gao in second and Laya Sathyan in third place. Michele Chen, also from Troy Athens, won Consul General’s Award, the Oakland Press reported.

The event, held March 25, was established to help students gain proficiency in Japanese language communication while encouraging excitement about the language and strengthening the bond between the United States and Japan, according to the newspaper.

“The Michigan students have worked very hard to have this chance to exhibit their Japanese skills,” Mitsuhiro Wada, consul general of Japan in Detroit, told the Oakland Press in a statement. “It is wonderful to see how they have developed such a deep-rooted interest in the Japanese language. Our world is now embracing a global economy which makes it ever more important to be bilingual in order to be successful in both business and cultural relationships.”

About 5,000 Michigan high school and university students are currently enrolled in Japanese language courses. Students who participated in the March 25 event presented their speeches in Japanese as a way to showcase their skills and understanding of the language. Prizes for the event were sponsored by Delta Airlines and the Japan Foundation, along with the event’s co-sponsors.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan and the Japan America Society of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario. It is open to the public.

Photo by US Naval War College via Flickr Commons