Eliza Campbell, a student of Japanese language at Langley High School in Virginia, talks about her unique experience in a Japanese immersion program.


When I was in first grade my parents signed me up for the Japanese Immersion Program at my elementary school. It was a unique opportunity and they thought it would serve me well in my future. I went all through the program for the rest of my elementary school years, and in middle school and high school I had the opportunity to continue my studies. I decided to continue on that track because I found Japanese a very interesting and useful language. The culture is fascinating, and the opportunity to immerse myself in a language was too hard to pass up. Although I was not the one to initially choose Japanese, if I were put in that position, I would definitely choose it myself.

Japanese is a unique language that comes with many benefits. I feel that Japanese sets me apart from other students and has exposed me to a world of opportunity. After I completed my Japanese Immersion in sixth grade, I had the chance to go on a trip to Japan with my class. It was an experience like no other. It put the skills we learned to the ultimate test, and after returning home I felt like a more cultured person. Japanese made me more aware of the world we live in and has exposed me to a unique and fascinating culture. Now that I’m a high school student, college is just around the corner and I feel that by studying Japanese I have made myself a more appealing student. Japanese has set me apart and I can attribute much of my academic success to Japanese.

For anyone who has the opportunity to take Japanese at any point in their life: take it! The doors that open when you learn Japanese are never-ending. Japanese has made me a more confident student and has given me the positive mindset I need to succeed in school. Although it may be difficult at times, just know that with any kind of triumph, struggle is needed. Just continue to try your hardest because the payout in the end is well worth it. Some people have asked me, “Why continue taking Japanese when you’ve already studied it for 9 years?” To those people I explain how every day in my Japanese class I learn something interesting and new, and I also explain how much I genuinely enjoy Japanese. Choosing Japanese means choosing a future filled with countless open doors and opportunities, so sign up for Japanese and create a better future for yourself.

(February 2010)