A TAVISTOCK College Japanese student is celebrating after making it to the national final of a public speaking competition.

Ellie Oaten, 12, was one of just six students across the country to be selected for the Key Stage 3 final of the prestigious Nihongo Cup, held at the Japanese Embassy in London.

Ellie's Japanese teacher, Sally Benson, said: 'She did brilliantly; she delivered the speech really well and it was all her own work. We're really proud of her for making it into the top six. It's only the second year she's done Japanese and she can enter the same age group next year which the judges have asked her to do.'

Ellie said: 'I was really surprised to get into the finals. I'm definitely going to enter next year.

'I like how learning Japanese is really different to European languages; it's a completely different culture.'