Alumni

March 31, 2019 at 10:20 pm

Anthony George’s Mastery of Japanese Language Enhances His Skills to Develop His Career

Anthony George, portrait

Anthony George, former student of the Japanese Language Program.

Ohio University alumnus Anthony George utilized Linguistics’  Japanese language program to shape his future career. Currently, he is working in Columbus, Ohio, at Batelle.

In 2018, he completed his M.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tokyo, a premier university in Japan. He has recently returned to the Columbus area. Studying in OHIO’s Japanese language program in the Linguistics Department gave him a solid platform to gain competence in the language so that he could pursue his higher studies in Japan.

“If you are also someone who dreams to combine your passion for science and language, the Ohio University’s Japanese (program) can help kick start your journey. Take advantage of all the opportunities to meet the many Japanese speakers on the Ohio University campus and, if you can, I definitely think study abroad is a must!” says George.

He started his career in Japanese eight years ago, in 2010. In that year, he served as a conversation partner to Japanese students studying in OHIO from Musashi University and Chubu University. In 2011, he took an introductory course in Japanese as part of his Japanese language and study abroad program at Ohio University. The following year he took three more Japanese language courses, did a short-term (three-month) study abroad program at Chubu University in Japan, and passed his Japanese Language Proficiency Test at the pre-advanced level. In 2013, he received the JASCO Speech Competition “Excellent Content” Award, passed his Japanese Language Proficiency Test at the advanced level, and had a one-month farm-stay experience in Gifu, Japan.

Anthony George and wife, whom he met while in Japan

Anthony George and wife, Akane Odajima (小田嶋茜) whom he met while in Japan

In 2014, he graduated from Ohio University with his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and, applied to the IME (The International Graduate Program for non-Japanese students) master’s program at the University of Tokyo. During his master’s, he joined the Nomura Lab in the university’s Institute of Industrial Science at Komaba 2 campus to do research for his master’s thesis.

“It was a two-year program called UTokyo IME, made to promote international students, like myself, to study as a graduate student. My experience at the University of Tokyo was a validation of my hard work as an engineering student and as a Japanese language student at OHIO. My unique experience allowed me to find success as a real-world researcher.”  George is presently employed at Battelle Memorial Institute where he is responsible for cyber security, and laser engineering. “I am definitely using everything I learned at OHIO and UTokyo, so it is an ideal job for me.”  He met his wife Akane Odajima (小田嶋茜) while in Japan, and they married in 2017.

He not only credits the Japanese program with preparing him for his career, but also notes that he has made long lasting friendships because of this experience. “Whether it’s in the US, Japan or anywhere in the world, the friends I have made through the OHIO’s Japanese Language and Study Abroad program are still my closest friends today.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*