Back row - from left to right: Phil Gabriel, Dian Li, Kim Jones, Alison Jameson, Theresa Jensen, Maggie Camp, Takashi Miura

Front row - from left to right: Josh Schlachet, Scott Gregory, Heng Du, Nathaniel Smith, Wenhao Diao, Rae Dachille, Hai Ren, Albert Welter, Jiang Wu, Mariko Karatsu

Missing Feng-hsi Liu and Sunyoung Yang

Register at events.duolingo.com/tucson

This is a free language event near the University of Arizona, sponsored by Duolingo and not associated with the East Asian Studies Department. However, it's a wonderful opportunity for our students to practice their Mandarin.

Congratulations to Anthony Burtman, an EAS major who won the First Place at the Advanced level in the Chinese Bridge Southwest U.S. Preliminary Contest, held at UA campus, April 28. Participants from Arizona, New Mexico and Texas competed in the event. Anthony gave an eloquent speech on the theme “One World; One Family”, citing his experience of studying Chinese medicine in Henan and drinking tea in the Ali Mountain in Taiwan. He also performed a musical piece. “Galloping Horses”, with the Chinese instrument Erhu in the talent show. Anthony will compete in the second round of Chinese Bridge competition in China this summer.

Olivia Bowers from UA won the Third Place at the Intermediate level, and Kianny Calvo received an Honorable Mention.

Thanks to Xia Zhang and Jingjing Xu, who spent much time helping students with their speeches.

Congratulations to Yi Wang for winning the Tao-Chung Ted Yao Memorial Award at the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association (CLTA) Annual Conference, held in Washington DC, April 6-8. The paper she presented at the award competition is entitled ‘Navigating the Path: Language Ideologies among Long-term Study Abroad Students in China’.

The Yao Award was established by the Chinese Language Teachers Association in 2015. It supports graduate students in the U.S. to present papers at national or international conferences sponsored or organized by the CLTA. Each recipient receives a certificate and an award of $750 to defray conference expenses. 

Julian Tran, our JPN 202 student, received a "most original" award at The 29th Annual Arizona Japanese Speech Contest. The contest was held at Pima Community College (West Campus). 

Julian's speech title was A Letter To Myself. The letter was to himself at age 14. This kind of style of speech was unique in a language speech contest setting. He gave very wise and heart-warming  advice, capturing the hearts of the audience and the judges. 

There were 37 participates altogether from the following schools: UA, PCC, ASU, NAU, Paradise Valley CC, Mesa CC, Glendale CC, Gilbert High School, Valley Vista HS. Two students from JPN 202 participated, and also two UA students came to volunteer. 

Dr. Takashi Miura participated as a contest judge.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIXgiS8R8j8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLABpeDRajQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-mg0V3rGv8