Williams Japanese Language Program- Extracurricular Events
Japanese Language Table
Power Dinner and Power Lunch are times to practice your Japanese conversation and listening skills in a relaxed environment. All levels are welcome and there is no pressure to perform. It’s a great chance to meet other aspiring Japanese speakers and students, and to get to know your faculty outside of the classroom. Conversations at meals cover a broad range of topics and can often lead to valuable cultural insights by both students and professors. This is by no means a mandatory event, but all students who enjoy using and speaking Japanese should consider this opportunity to share experiences in a fun way.
Curry and Sushi Parties
In late September every year, a Curry Party provides new students a chance to meet the program faculty and fellow students over home-made curry prepared by the faculty. And on the last day of classes in December and May, students look forward to the end-of-term Sushi Party–a delicious way to end a semester of hard work.
December 2012.
December 2011.
End of Year Sushi and Karaoke Party
September 2011.
First Year Japanese Students Welcome Party & Study Abroad Information Session
May 2010.
Movie Night
Twice a semester, the Japanese Department holds a Movie Night, a chance to meet with professors and fellow Japanese students for dinner and a Japanese movie. It is an opportunity to both practice Japanese in a casual setting and to engage in Japanese culture through film. Announcements for Movie Night are made in the classroom.
Speech Conference
Advanced Japanese language students participate in Boston Area Japanese Speech Conference held every spring. Students from Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis University, Harvard University, MIT, Tufts University, Wellesley College, and Williams College, give 4-minute speeches and answer questions from the audience.
2011 at Tufts University
Kimberlee Sanders (’12) 「市電」
Madelein Watson (’12) 「はる君との会話」
2010 at Harvard University
Diqian Wang (’12) “Religion in Japan”
2009 at Wellesley College
Flora Lim (’10) “Tyoi-waru-oyazi and Japanese salary men”
2008 at Northeastern University
James Whitledge (’09) “Yakuza In America”
2007 at Tufts University
Matthew O’Donnell (’07) “My First Memories of Japan”
Matthew Rogers (’07) “Finding Japan at the Public Baths”
2006 at Boston College
Tomio Ueda (’06) “History of Origami”
2005 at Boston University
Romina Bernard (’05)”Unusual Experience”
Charlotte White (’08) “Why I, who likes cats, study Japanese”
2004 at MIT
Greame Biervliet-Schranz (’04) “A Brief Discourse on Mayonaise..”
Lillian Diaz (’04) “Wearing a Kimono”
Roderick McLead (’05) “Korean Summer”
Essay and Speech Contest
Consulate General of Japan in Boston Essay and Speech Contest is open to undergraduate students enrolled in a university/college within the six New England states with a Japanese language course.
In 2010, Jackson Lu won first place in the essay contest with his essay, “What we can do for Japan-US relationship.”
Tianyue Zhou won first place in the speech contest with his pseech, “Wings”.
In 2008, the essay theme was “Nihon ni Manabu.” James Whitledge (’09) won third place.
In 2007, the essay theme was “Watashi no Nihon”.
Youngkyoung Kim, who is a visiting student from Yonsei University in South Korea and studying Japanese at Williams College, won first place in the advanced level category.
