MUNCIE, Ind. – The Japanese language is opening doors for a Ball State University student, including a visit to the Far East and translating at a local school.

Marc Musteric, a fifth-year senior, believes his future lies in teaching the Japanese language to college students. He recently served as a translator at Burris Laboratory School when a group of Japanese students visited with their American teachers and host families.

"It was really challenging for me because speaking Japanese as an adult is somewhat different than translating for the students," he said."The students used some words and phrases that were slang for them. It was difficult sometimes to translate that so adults could understand. That is the kind of thing you simply cannot learn in a college classroom."

Musteric was the lead translator for a group of 20 fifth- and sixth-graders from Okasaki, a laboratory school of 1,000 students located at Aichi University in Tokyo, Japan. He recently spent a year in Japan as part of a college exchange program between Ball State and Aichi.

Donna Biggs, principal at Burris, found Musteric to be invaluable during the visit by Japanese students.

"His ability to break down the language barrier was key to making this program work," she said. "His professionalism and maturity was evident during the exchange. And, I think the kids really enjoyed working with him."

The challenges of translating also may lead to a new career for the Japanese language major from Toledo, Ohio.

"I came here because I was torn between majoring in genetics or Japanese and Ball State had both," he said. "Luckily, I’ve been able to teach the language to young students at Burris on a regular basis. I think I’ll make a career of teaching the language at the college level. As the U.S. and Japan become more closely connected, we are going to need people to do that."

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Musteric at (765) 282-1249.)