March 5, 2004 For Immediate Release

University of Northern British Columbia student Joseph Hegel is in Vancouver this weekend for a prestigious Japanese language competition.

The annual competition is presented by the Consulate General of Japan and is aimed at recognizing achievement among BC and Yukon residents for their proficiency in Japanese as a foreign language. Joseph, who is of non-Asian ancestry, is the first UNBC student to be selected to participate in the competition, and will be participating in the Advanced category.

Joseph graduated from UNBC with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies in 2000 and then went to Japan for nearly three years to teach English. Upon his return to Prince George, he decided to study Japanese more formally, and is currently in a third-year Japanese language course in the University’s International Studies program.

“This is a very exciting accomplishment for Joseph and for the program generally,” says Japanese language instructor Hiroe Wood. “His success can also be seen as a good measure of proficiency among all of our students and for the general quality of the program.”

Japanese is one of the biggest language programs at UNBC, with three classes at the first-year level, and classes at both the second and third-year levels. The courses are part of the International Studies degree program.

“Language instruction has been a big part of this degree since day one and is meant to provide students with skills that they can transfer to careers around the world,” says Heather Smith, Chair of the International Studies program.

The BC Japanese Speech Contest will be held on Saturday, March 6, at UBC.