ignite
Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology Education

Toyohashi University of Technology,
Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology
Education

News from Penang（Vol.7 2016/2/23）

Reports

Toward the globalization
Jongdoc Park, National Institute of Technology, Oshima College
１．A chance encounter at an international conference

assertiveness, communication skills, management,

IGNITE2016, an international conference, was held

knowledge of the culture, receptivity, flexibility,

on January 27-29 at Penang, Malaysia. In the Keynoteability to take action, and perseverance and the like.

presentation, there was a research topic that drew myWhat's interesting is, even though we switch from theinterest. He was a professor at Hokkaido University

word of “global concept” into the "domestic concept",

who has been a researcher of how to make thethe important element is not changed at all. In short,

Nano-particles and Nano-material. I was a little

there is no special ability of globalization. English isinvolved when I was in the laboratory in New York ofcompulsory, but it is not a sufficient condition. ToQC, thus, I wanted it to incorporate in my future

understand the essence of Japanese people and toresearch. I asked aggressively. We, he and I exchanged

speak Japanese language correctly, is I think the firstbusiness cards, then I would send him my research

step to realize a globalized society. This will guide

papers in the future. Such a chance encounter often

you to become tolerant to others including

occurs. Surprisingly, everyone becomes open minded

foreign people. To accept and understand the idea ofwhen they stay overseas. There is also a thing that canothers in flexibility, is the origin of the cross-cultural

be a good connection of research in Japan.

understanding, and is also the essential conditions forlearning a foreign language.

２．Global concepts"Mid-term Report Meeting of Penang overseas

３．Lecture of specialized subjects in English

practice trainee" was performed in TUT-USM

The first lecture began on 1 February in the PSP

Technology Collaboration Centre on January 30. 13 of(Politeknik Seberang Perai). During a short period of

the report, including the Japanese and internationaltime I arrived in Malaysia, I devised on how tostudents of TUT was performed in English, and while

proceed with the lecture and on how to prepare theI was giving the opinions from the standpoint of thepresentation material, and then I worked on the class

FD members, I was thinking about the global concept.

of specialized subjects for the first time in English.

The important element of the "global concept" is,The student level of PSP was considered to that ofsuperior expertise, language skills, negotiation skills,

National Institute of Technology (NIT), so I wasFig. 1 under the lecture

Fig. 2 consultation
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with the student guidance by teaching in English.
When I finished the work in one week of PSP, I had ameeting with the department chair of the Departmentof Mechanical Engineering for one hour. At that time,
I said my thoughts about the international exchange in
the NIT. It was recognized by each party thepossibility of international exchange activities not
only with students but also with the faculties.
Fig. 3 with the department chair
４．Application of English and future hopefocusing on what I am doing every day in Japan,

There is a cafeteria nearby the accommodation

which means, quizzes of each topic, the question andSeameo Recsam. It is a lot of fun to have conversation

answer, and interaction technique of Active Learningwith Malaysian people who work in Teacher’s training

expressions were adopted in order for students tocenter while dining every day. Everyone is very

participate actively. In my case, to target the PSP offriendly, so I often obtain the basic information inmechanical engineering students, the first lecture was

Malaysia

in the mechanical system of the theme that a little offromthem.

Using

Englishintheconversation flexibly with them who are speaking

expertise. Then I chose the Maritime English for theEnglish as a secondary language, has become a placesecond. In particular, the Maritime English wasof good practice for improving my communication

prepared with passion as a professional English courseskills.

for maritime system. (The first lecture is open on theIn the future, TUT-USM Technology Collaboration

following website https://youtu.be/_lmNptmFtII).

Centre will be encouraging that all of NIT students

Successfully finished the second round of lectures, I

can put in practice the English training in Malaysia. It

was invited as a guest teacher for the students’ Finalis expected as one of the countries in Southeast Asia

Project. I was able to listen to the four presentations

for the international exchange, where there are nothat were selected in a number of themes. Because thenatural disasters, affordable cost and security. When I

consultation for Final Project was almost the same as

go back to Japan, I am going to try to create an

the guidance of graduate studies of the NIT, so it wasenvironment of English in my College based on thea valuable experience for me to teach in English while

experience gained abroad so far.

being in contact with students nearby. Again, myEnglish communication skill is getting to be improved

Lectures and discussions about final project in PSP
Kenji Moriya, National Institute of Technology, Hakodate College
subjects because I intend to have these lectures in1. Lectures at PSP
I had two lectures which were about "ElectricEnglish in my college from the next school year.

noise problems (90min, 75 students)" and "Ideal andBecause all students were in dept. of electric

actual behaviors in OP Amp (90min, 45 students)" atengineering, they seemed to be interested in myPoliteknik Seberang Perai (PSP).

lectures.

I selected these6

(Photo) Group photo with final year
students(Photo) An exercise time: the student
was answering.
Accordingto

theresultsof2. Discussions about final projectthequestionnaire survey about the lecture, although

We had discussions with final year's students

my estimation of "English is effective" was relatively

about their achievements of final project which islow, they appreciated my "lecturer's attitude"; that is ,similar to KOSEN's project based learning. In thismy passion was accepted. And I'm glad that bothproject, they discussed what they wanted to create;"total satisfaction" were relatively high estimations,then, they designed an aspect and circuits; and circuit

which means they got any benefits from my lectures

boards were built with etching and assembled; finally,

and they could develop as electric engineer. If I had

they had a presentation. All projects I saw were veryspoken English more fluently, they might havenice concept and their creative idea, e.g. "Smartunderstood well. I have to have a continuous English

house", "The soil moisture sensor."
I believe "Global communication skill" is NOT

training.

only English skills because all native English speakers

What is the aim to have a lecture? I believe thatWe must

don't necessarily have it. Understanding personal

provide new useful topics and any benefits for

cultural background each other must be the moststudents; just conducting lecture is NOT important;significant. Thus, I recommend you speak Malay here.

and it is NOT related to languages. Is it obvious? Yes,

Some of them tried to approach us in Japanese, so, ofbut I strongly felt it again through these lectures.

course we should try to talk in Malay, shall we?

"for whom?" is the most significant.

"Terima kasih (thank you)", "Junpa lagi (see you)."

I believe the actual teaching is the best method toimprove "teaching in English"; of course, previous
English training must be required! I really enjoyedthese lectures; I appreciate student's curious and active
attitude.

Toyohashi University of Technology
Institute for Global Network Innovation in Technology Education
Center for International Education
1-1, Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Tel:+81-532-81-5161
Mail:unireform@office.tut.ac.jp

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