Aileen ready to experience Japan | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

From more than 100 entries, Aileen Ryan from Stratford High School was one of 15 young New Zealanders to be selected for a Ministry of Education Language Emersion Award.

Students from across the country applied for the award, which entailed six months - all expenses paid - to the country of their chosen language.

Since Year 9, Aileen has been studying Japanese and when this opportunity arose she applied without hesitation.

Letters of support and recommendations, an interview and exam faced Aileen before she was accepted earlier this year. Aileen will join four other students to Japan and will be spending her visit with a host family in Chiba - 50km from Tokyo. The trip will be extra special as it is her mother's homeland. Aileen said she is keen to learn about her family history and fully enjoy the Japanese culture.

Only one other Taranaki student was selected - Douglas Midgley from Inglewood High School. He is heading to Brussels in Belgium. Aileen and Douglas will return to their school early next year.