On May 26th, ten (10) students from across the United States gathered virtually to compete in the 20th Annual All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest. Representing Texas were the 1st and 2nd place winners of the 2024 Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest Aurora Division, Lauren Tippin and Ian Barker.
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 Tippin-san and Barker-san for their stellar performances and wish them all the best as they continue their Japanese language learning journeys.
Congratulations Tippin-san and Barker-san!