Japanese Studies alumna puts success down to ’‘broad course of learning'

Following Katherine Wilde's success at the annual Japanese speech contest in London, fellow Cambridge alumna, Caroline Lewis, has won runner-up in the Sir Peter Parker Competition for business Japanese. She was praised by judges for her mastery of Japanese grammar, presentation skills and content.

Her eight minute speech entitled Shôji ga daiji, ‘The Devil is in the Details', not only demonstrated her understanding of the Japanese language but a deeper understanding of the culture and business environment as well.

Caroline, who graduated in 1998 in Japanese Studies said:

"Japanese Studies at Cambridge offers a very broad course of learning. You have a chance to focus on other parts of Japan, which is important because learning a language in isolation doesn't do much for you."

Caroline currently works at Daiwa Securities in London where she is the only non-Japanese employee in her office. When asked whether a degree in Japanese studies can help you get a job, she replied:

"You can't rely solely on your Japanese ability, don't assume that's all you need. You need a wide variety of other skills and interests. Think in advance of what your assets are and where you want to go."

The Faculty of Oriental Studies' East Asia Institute teaches Asian languages, investigating their culture, history, politics, law, commerce and social studies as well.

To this aim they hold a free seminar series each term, providing a wider perspective on their subjects, inviting expert speakers from across the UK and Europe.

In the upcoming lectures they will be looking into diverse topics such as inner party democracy in Taiwan, women and magazines during the 1880s and 1890 Meiji Japan and transformations of Japanese capitalism.

Tonight's lecture is entitled ‘Seeking pleasure and letting off steam: How older people in Beijing pursue a happy old age' with Dr Anna Boermel, Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Cambridge.

The East Asia Institute lectures take place each Monday at 5pm at the Faculty of Oriental studies. The lectures are free and open to all, for further details please contact Dr John Swenson-Wright by e-mail at jhs22@cam.ac.uk or follow the link on the above right.