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

News from Penang（Vol.17 2018/4/11）

Reports

Review for 4th GFD activities (2017.4 – 2018.3)
Fumitake KATO, National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College
Prof. Kato, Prof. Shakochi, Mr. Yoshinaka, Mr. Roger,

Introduction
On 7th December 2016, there was a first

Ms. Motoyama, Ms.Delgard, Ms. Tamura, Ms. Vanya,

announcement of TUT GFD recruitment in my college.

Ms. Irna, and Mr. Pascal. I still remember well theAfter I applied it, there was an e-mail that I was

visiting of ‘turtle café’ of Toyohashi with professors

officially accepted as a GFD member of the year on

and tutors.

18th February 2017.

If I could count from the firstannouncement day in 2016, I joined and worked forthis project more than 1 year.

July 14 to December 25 (New York)It was unforgettable

Based on what we learned in Toyohashi, GFD

for my life, and precious experience for my career.

started training in QC, CUNY (Queens College, City

In this script, I would like to review and summarize

Univ. of New York).

the whole term of GFD project I joined, with thebrain into real and practical English, we joined thefragments of my memories and photos.

classes of ELI (English Learning Institute) of QC.

At first, in order to dip our
In

ELI, I joined the writing class of Ms. Debby Horowitz,
reading class of Ms. Robin Weltz, speaking class ofApril 3 to June 17 (Toyohashi)
Our training has started from TUT Head Quarter.

Ms. Roberta Chacon, and listening class of Ms. Sara

Under the warm instruction and strong supports, we

Miller.

GFD trainee learned English skills such as reading,truly professional for each class.

listening,

thethings for reading, listening, wring, and speaking.

refurbishment of our English skill, the training of

After the one and half months of ELI classes, theTeaching in English (TiE) was also carried out.

science classes has started.

Especially I learned the importance of interactive

electromagnetism and data structure.

communications between a teacher and students. I

classes, not only the theories, I learned so many

appreciate the professors, instructors and tutors astechnical English such as mathematical expression,

writingandspeaking.

With

These teachers are friendly, passionate andI learned so many

I joined the classes ofIn the science

follows; Prof. Ryan, Prof. Levin, Prof. Fernansdez,

Photo 1: Beach of Toyohashi, where the sea turtles
Photo 2: With Ms. Debby Horowitz.

visit for egg laying
1

I appreciate her instruction

logical explanation, and vocabularies.

I alreadyprofessors’ passionate explanation and the students’learned electromagnetism, when I was a university

diligent and friendly attitude of the class.

student, but the class of Prof. Takei showed meclasses of engineering and another class of technicalanother way of learning electromagnetism as a style ofEnglish.

American science and technology.

often asked questions and gave comments.

The class of Data

I had 2The students’ reactions were nice, they
Including

structure by Prof. Chao Chen was also useful and well

the outdoor activities (which was called tropicalorganized to teach computer science especially“heavy rain” forest jungle walking), all of programs

machine learning.

In QC, I could see various ethnic

and activities were well arranged, and thanks to this,background, not only European, but also Asian,

our mission which we teach in English to the PTSB

Hispanic, Jewish, and Afro American.

It was quite

students was also quite successful. I appreciate

stimulating and exciting experience to overview the

Director Mejar(K). Mohd Noor bin Shahudin, Prof.

global society in one place. In addition to academic

Shamsul, Prof. Zamri, Prof. Azhani, Prof. Koh, Prof.

subjects, the area of Queens borough taught me also

Khairul、and Prof. Fauziah.

multi-ethnic, multi-culture and multi-religion society.
We GFD trainee learned science education also with
Prof. Michelle Fraboni, Prof. Eva Fernandez and Prof.
Jennifer Valad.

The class was mainly discussion

style. Through the discussions, I learned the processof technology learning and the improvement ofcomprehension and misconception. To skill up more
our technical English, QC provided another class by
Prof. Ann Larios.

The class was customized by ourrequests, and we learned especially pronunciation andgrammar of Technical English.

Thanks to Ann’s

offer, we joined the science café of Natural History
Museum in Manhattan. That is also wonderful andimpressive memory.
January 14 to March 5 (Malaysia)
In order to finalize and display our achievement

Photo 3: ジャングルの中の滝

what we learned in Toyohashi and New York, thetraining in Malaysia has started.

In the first week,

we had meetings with Professors in Politeknik Tuanku
Sultanah Bahiyah (PTSB), Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM), and Politeknik Seberang Perai (PSP), todiscuss and to specify what each school’s students
need to study.

After the preparation in TUT Penang,

the stay in PTSB started. PTSB is located in Kulim
city, Kedah state.

I could observe the facilities andworkshops in PTSB, and I am impressed the2

Photo 4: The visit to Sanmina Sci BHD

so that students can enjoy it.

I appreciate Prof. Rizal

the Dean of the Electric and Electronic Engineering
Department, Prof. Fadzil, Prof. Junita, and Prof. Haidi.
To say honestly, it is not so easy to take photos withstudents while I making a lecture.

Not to repeat the

problem, I could take photos in the final class in USM.
Photo 5 is taken just after the class.
Conclusion and acknowledgement
I learned the basic part of English communication
Photo 5: With the students of USM

and class going in Toyohashi, refurbished andreconstructed my English skill and Science in New

Next to PTSB, we visited in PSP. PSP is located
It is industrial city, andYork, and finally I had classes in English (plus bits ofthere are some Japanese companies such as Toray andMalay language as well) in PTSB, PSP, and USM.

so on.

Through this GFD activities, I always have beenin the city of Seberang Perai.

In PSP, I had 2 classes for Electric department
They were

wondering about global style or “global person”. I am

curious about my classes and I could do well of thenot sure if I got the true answer, but each placeclasses.

Toyohashi, New York and Malaysia gave me so manyand Computer science department.

During the mission in PSP, we had an

opportunity of visiting Sanmina-SCI Penang, thecues.

company of producing wireless devices such as

border, we must have the skill of foreign languages,

walky-talky, in Penang Island. In the company also,

the information of the destination, and the knowledge

they use the word “KAIZEN”, “KANBAN” andabout the cultural background of the people we meet.

“POKAYOKE” for the quality control.

In the final

New York the melting pot showed me very wide range

invited to the Indian festivalof the people’s life style, and how they survive in theevening, we werewhich is called “Pongal Festival” in PSP.

city.

It

When we try to do something beyond the

The city of Penang and cities of Main Landcelebrates the harvest of the rice and vegetables. So

showed me what they have and what they need for the

many dances, singing songs, martial arts and funnysociety progress.

talks were performed.

I appreciate Director Mejar

continue working related to global and international(K) Zulkifli bin Ariffin, Prof. Nasir, Prof. Mariappen,

field in the future as well. I could get so many things

and Prof. Zuraila.

After the PSP visit, the final

to feedback and contribute to TUT and my college.

training in USM started. The campus is located in

Finally I appreciate Prof. Inoue, Prof. Shibata, Prof.

Parit Buntar.

Nagao, Prof. Daimon, Prof. Akiba, Prof. Matsui, Mr.

When I looked around the city, fromI really and strongly hope tothe guest house’s window, I sensed that I am looking

Fong, Mr. Ishino, and Ms.Suzuki.

over the small part of Asia continent. The vast andappreciate Ms. Suzuki’s contribution for our activities’

flat land spreads, even a short glance of the view insupport all through the term.

Malay Peninsula. The campus is well facilitated, andcolleague Prof. Kashine and Prof. Iida. I really anda room was given for each GFD member.

sincerely gratitude their generosity and patience to me.

Actually

And I appreciate myI thank everyone involved this project.

while I am writing this script, also preparing the finalclass for USM. I will do my best for the final class,3

Especially I

Memories in GFD program
Kenji Kashine, National Institute of Technology, Kagoshima College
In this GFD program, I could get a lot ofexperiences

andunforgettable

memories.

respectable teacher who teaches this class. The teacherAll

was always taking care about students’ understandings

experiences are important for me, and they made me

and their future career. And also, he took pride in his

develop my teaching skills. On this report, I would

work. I was impressed with his attitude for teaching

like to show the impressive memories of each stage inand his personality. I thought that I have to set mythis program.

mindset like him and continue to develop my teaching

The first stage was taken place in Toyohashi

skills.

University of Technology (TUT). The duration of thisThe third stage was taken place in Penang,

stage was about three months. Our GFD members

Malaysia. The duration of this stage was about two

took several lectures for teaching in English, such asmonths. We had an opportunity to have a lecture forEnglish pronunciation, conversation skills, culture

Malaysian students in English. Our lectures were held

understandings and so on. And also, we couldon two polytechnics and one University in Penang. I

participate a laboratory which is related to own

had a lecture of Energy conversion engineering for

research field. In this stage, my best memory is thethose students. In this lecture, I explained the latest

Showcase Wrap-up. In this showcase, our GFD

Japanese technology such as maglev train, fuel cell car

members had a trial lecture which is related to own

and so on. Malaysian students were having great

specialties in English. At the time of my trial lecture,interest in the Japanese technology and culture, somany of students who were belonging my laboratory

they listened to my lecture carefully. Also, I could

in TUT came and listened to my lecture. I was so

enjoy the teaching for them. In this stage, I could

surprised, and then, I appreciated their hospitality andrealize the pleasure of teaching for younger people.

kindness.

In this GFD program, I could meet many people.

The second stage was taken place in Queens

All of people took care of me and gave me the worth

College (QC), New York. The duration of this stage

experiences. If I haven’t met them, I could not do

was six months. At the first two months, we studied

nothing during this program, and I could not get such

English at the English Language Institute in QC. At

as wonderful memories. I hope I will be able to meetthe latter four months, we participated in a class whichthem again at somewhere in the world, and I would

is offered for current QC students. I took a computer

like to express my appreciation to them.

programing class which has hand-on training using a
microcomputer board. In this stage, I could meet a4

Looking back on this program
Tamio Iida, National Institute of Technology, Gifu College
1.

Introduction
Our on-the-job training for two months in Malaysia

is about to over at the same time that lectures in USM
are completed and we will also complete the global
faculty development (GFD) program for a year. In thisreport, I am going to describe on-the-job training at
the USM in which I have conducted the lectures.
Furthermore, I would like to look back on this year.
2.

Lectures in USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
I conducted two-hour lecture once at USM. In thesituation at the two colleges so far, I was able to teach

Lecture scenery at USM

the contents of the lecture which I hoped. However, attell my thoughts in more detail in English when I

USM, as the lectures actually being held in semester

attended

was appointed, I was very nervous about the heavyinternational student to my school. It was under these

responsibility. These lectures of electronic circuits

circumstances that the public invitation for thiswhich are being held simultaneously in several

program was began. It was a courageous decision for

departments were attended by not only electric andme to apply for this long-term GFD program, and I

electronic engineering students but also mechanical,

thought that if I missed this opportunity, I probably

chemical, and medical engineering students. Since the

won't get any chances to study English again fromcontents of the lecture were already decided based on

now on. Then I decided to apply and I was able to get

the syllabus, the lecture content range differed fromnotice of adoption in the last year of the second year

the lectures I have done in other colleges so far.

project. This year which I had spent with multicultural

Therefore, it was necessary for me to prepare a lot of

people was irreplaceable experience.

international

conferenceandaccepted

new contents. When the meeting with professor who

Before participating in this program, it was not

was in charge of my lectures, she told me it was

clear at all that what was lacking in my English ability,

difficult to adjust the content difficulty and grasp

especially when conducting classes in English. But

student comprehension. The reason is that the number

now I can self-analysis what is lacking and find how

of students is very large and the background of

to learn it. I think that being obtained this ability fromengineering is different. However, there was a Chinese

this program was the greatest achievement for me. I

New Year before my lectures at USM. Therefore, I

am going to continue making efforts to cultivate ourwas able to get a sufficient time to prepare my lecture.

students who will become global people by utilizing

In addition, I was able to know the atmosphere of thethe experience gained through this program. Finally, I

lecture in advance by observing the lecture of thewould like to express my sincerest thanks to all theprevious week, and I managed to complete my lecture

people who supported me in this program and I am

without significant problems.

grateful for my wife and children who were always

3.

encouraging me during the program.

Look back over the past year
Until now, I have been a lot of things I wanted to5Completion Ceremony of Global Faculty Development Program in TUT-USM Penang

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.jp6