The Japanese National Honor Society recognizes and encourages achievement and excellence in the study of the Japanese language. The American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) is pleased to assist teachers with a way to recognize their outstanding students, to encourage them to continue in the study of Japanese, and to promote activities that give students ways to use their language skills. In order to qualify, students must complete the first term of their second-year Japanese language course. students must also maintain a 3.5 GPA in Japanese and an overall 3.0 GPA. Inducted students will receive a pin and an certificate. A red and white cord will be presented at graduation.

Denison University just announced that it will award up to 4 college credits for students earning the Seal of Biliteracy!

The application window for Juniors is open for the Ohio Seal of BIliteracy. Please share this information with your students and encourage those with high proficiency levels, and meeting the English Language Requirements to apply. More information can be found on our website at: ccsoh.us/SealofBiliteracy.

This summer Ms. Evans accompanied 9 students to Japan for a sight-seeing tour. Below are some pictures from their trip!

The Japan Bowl® is a Japanese language competition created by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC in 1992. The Japan Bowl tests the achievements of Japanese learners throughout the US and other countries. The Japan Bowl in the United States focuses on high school students.

What makes the Japan Bowl unique is that it goes beyond language and asks students about their knowledge of Japanese culture, society, daily life, history, geography, and current events. Participants compete as members of 3-person teams, based on how many years they have studied Japanese.

The Japan Bowl is not an exam; it uses a “quiz bowl” format. Students hear – and don’t read — the questions. They are given a timeframe, usually 30 seconds, within which to respond. The questions are asked in both Japanese and English and answered in a variety of ways.

The Japan Bowl was first held as a local competition for high schools in the Washington DC area. Within a few years, high schools from other parts of the nation joined the competition in Washington, and it became the “National Japan Bowl.” In addition to the National Japan Bowl in Washington DC, there are Japan quiz bowl competitions throughout the United States. Beyond the Ohio Japan Bowl, there are also official Japan Bowl competitions in Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, and California.

The Japan Bowl seeks to motivate students to higher levels of academic achievement. It strives to impart the kind of real-world communications skills and cultural knowledge that will help students in their high school years and beyond. Most Japan Bowl participants say they plan to continue to study Japanese during their college years, and almost all hope to study abroad in Japan.

Japan Bowl participants say they hope to have a “Japan connection” in their adult lives, whether in business, academia, the arts, or public service. No matter which profession they choose, the knowledge and skills they acquired as Japan Bowl competitors will help them become future leaders in the US relationship with Japan.

Every other year, on the odd years, we host 8-10 students from our sister school in Hokkaido, Japan. Please consider hosting March of 2021!!

Wow! This year flew by so quickly! I have loved seeing the enthusiasm for Japanese my students bring to class every day! It inspires me to be better each day! This year I taught Levels 1 -5, which included an 8th grade class from A.I.M.S (Arts Impact Middle School). I love the joy and smiling faces the 8th graders brought to class each day! Semester 2 was quite busy this year. In March, we hosted 10 students from our sister school in Hokkaido as well as had 2 students (Hunter McBee & Aiyana Perry) represent Fort Hayes in the First annual Ohio Japan Bowl. They worked hard and put in many hours of preparation. JASCO executive director Dr. Benjamin Pachter was a guest lecturer. He shared his knowledge of Japanese Idols.

This summer I am looking forward to spending a month in Japan visiting my in-laws as well as seeing the lavender fields in Hokkaido. As this year wraps up, I am already getting ready for next school year and the exciting changes that will come! I wish everyone a happy restful summer! See you in the fall!