Asia Griffis, a senior East Asian Studies major from Raleigh, N.C. has recently won the Gold Award in the 2021 J.LIVE Talk competition: A national speech contest for Japanese language learners. She received a scholarship package including a short-term study abroad program. Her mentor, Dr. Kinji Ito, assistant professor of Japanese, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, received a mentor award.
“I started studying Japanese in middle school and I knew I wanted to go to a college that would allow me to keep studying it as well as study abroad in Japan, which was what led me to Appalachian and pick East Asian Studies as my major. I haven’t been able to study abroad yet due to Covid, but I’m planning on studying at Kansai Gaidai in Osaka in the fall,” explained Griffis.
The J.LIVE Talk competition was Griffis’ first major project with Ito. Prior to the competition, Griffis had taken a few language classes and an Independent Study course with Ito to make sure she was still putting her Japanese skills to use since maxing out on classes to take.
“Over the course of the Independent Study he encouraged me to try out for J.Live, assuring me that even if I didn’t move past the preliminary round it would be a beneficial exercise. The entire process was rather scary and challenging for me, as I’ve always been a shy person who has a hard time with public speaking, but seeing how excited Dr. Ito and my other professors were, pushed me to give it all of my effort,” explained Griffis.
The competition required Griffis to give a speech live in front of a panel of judges as well as on Youtube.
“Winning the award felt almost unreal. It felt like the culmination of all of my hard work, not only in college but since middle and high school when I began studying Japanese. When I started studying I feared I would never be good enough at it to hold a conversation, let alone win a national competition. The competition was a monumental boost in my confidence in my abilities as well as an opportunity to work harder than I had ever done for anything else before,” said Griffis.
Winning the J.Live Talk competition also awarded Griffis the opportunity to study at the Naganuma School in Tokyo over the summer.
“Every professor I’ve taken courses with here has impacted me in some way, but there are a few I would like to shout out by name: Professor Misa Yamamoto, Assistant Professor Hiroka Shimoji, Dr. Stephanie Yep, Professor Sarah Miller and Dr. Jessica Martell, all of whom have mentored me or have a professor I’ve looked forward to attending class with. I’d like to thank all of them for all of their support and belief,” said Griffis.
Following graduation, Griffis hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Library Science.
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About the Department Languages, Literatures and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers courses that enhance students’ understanding of other cultures and languages as well as their own, making them prepared for lifelong learning in a multicultural world. Learn more at https://dllc.appstate.edu.
By Sophia Woodall
March 25, 2022
BOONE, N.C.
Senior East Asian Studies major Asia Griffis and Dr. Kinji Ito, assistant professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Photo submitted.
Senior East Asian Studies major Asia Griffis and Dr. Kinji Ito, assistant professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Photo submitted.