Chiaki Takagi (Post-secondary category)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Chiaki TakagiPlease join us congratulating the 2014 AATJ Teacher Award recipient, Chiaki Takagi. The AATJ Teacher Awards recognize outstanding teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, advocacy, and leadership in Japanese education both locally and nationally. During the luncheon at 2014 ACTFL in San Antonio, the 2014 AATJ Teacher Award was presented to Takagi Sensei. The following is her thank-you message.

“I am truly honored to receive this prestigious award, and I am very grateful to the AATJ Teacher Award review committee for choosing me. When I came to the United States and began teaching Japanese over 20 years ago, I never even dreamed of receiving such honor today. The last 14 years, promoting the Japanese program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has been the central commitment of my work, and I have been enjoying working with our enthusiastic students. I would like to thank Dr. Amy Williamsen, Dr. Andreas Lixi, Dr. Penelope Pynes, Dr. Susanne Rinner, Dr. Kathleen MacFie, and all of my colleagues for their support. Without their understanding, encouragement, and guidance, I would not have been able to come this far. Finally, I would like to thank my students from whom I have learned (and am still learning) to be a teacher. Last but not least, many thanks to Mrs. Marsha Leonhart for her patience and warm support.”