Nov. 10, 2007 Yamaguchi - Management/ Consular officer Mark Baron gave a speech to approximately 80 students, faculty, and members of the community at Baiko Gakuen University in Shimonoseki. Mr. Baron discussed the modern influence of English and its impact as a global language in the 21st century, tracing the evolution of the language from the "Queen's English" of upper-class English society to myriad variants spoken throughout the world, in particular the development of the "American-English" vernacular spoken in the United States. Mr. Baron concluded by providing a short overview on the application process for obtaining a student visa, and encouraged the students in the audience to consider studying in the United States in order to improve their English language skills.