On June 26th, nine (9) students from across the United States gathered virtually to compete in the 17th Annual All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest. Representing Texas was the Aurora Division winner of the 2021 Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest, Johnson High School of San Antonio’s own Elianna Moore.
This annual contest, hosted by Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation (JLSF), in conjunction with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), provides opportunities for high school students studying the Japanese language in the United States (whose native language is not Japanese) to make presentations in Japanese and to inspire others to improve their proficiency in Japanese. It is also hoped that the contest will encourage students to further their understanding of Japan, its people, and its culture.
Participants in the contest were selected from among recommendations submitted by organizers of regional contests held throughout the country. The winner of the national contest will have the honor of representing the United States in the “Overseas Students’ Japanese Speech Award (JSA) Contest.”
We at JASH celebrate Elianna Moore for her stellar performance and wish her all the best as she continues her Japanese language learning journey.
I intend to further my language study to become an interpreter, so that I can help with solving problems in this world. Whether it’s in the world of business, literature, or alongside my personal work in the dojo, I believe that with my second language skills in Japanese, [I] can help to break barriers and create a better world for everyone living in it for generations to come.
Elianna’s speech was titled “My Own Path” and discussed the struggles she faced growing up and how her dedication to martial arts gave her not only comfort but also the strength and dedication to succeed.
Congratulations Elianna-san!