 Caroline Noel is the recipiant of the Critical Language Scholarship for Japan. Photo by Holt Menzies | The Appalachian Started in 2006, the program is designed to provide fully funded, group-intensive foreign language instruction and cultural enrichment for U.S. students enrolled in undergraduate, master’s and doctorate programs.
Russian, Chinese, Hindi and Arabic are among 12 other study programs taking place this year.
Noel is one of 575 individuals chosen from across the nation in 2010.
“I liked the idea of the government paying for everything,” Noel said.
Noel applied for the scholarship in December after her Japanese teacher made an announcement in class and sent out an e-mail.
She was notified in March of her acceptance.
Noel will travel to Japan June 10 to study Japanese until August 2. She finds out later this week exactly where in Japan she will be studying.
No school credit will be awarded to her for participation in the program, as it is not affiliated with Appalachian.
“[The program] is more about the cultural aspects, and the U.S. Government [is] trying to promote foreign language,” Noel said.
Though not a Japanese major or minor, Noel has been taking Japanese classes since sophomore year in High School.
She is currently in her third semester of foreign language at ASU and is enrolled in the “Intermediate Japanese 2” course.
Noel also said she would like to participate in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program after graduation.
The JET Program was started in 1987 and is sponsored by the Japanese government. They aim to hire college graduates from around the world who are interested in going to Japan to teach English, according to JET’s Web site.
“The JET Program has gained high acclaim both domestically and internationally for its role in advancing mutual understanding,” according to jetprogramme.org.
Story: WILL JOHNSON, Intern News Reporter |
