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

News from Penang
Look back on one year.

（Vol.6 2015/3/23）

7

Shin-ichi Akazawa, NIT, Nagaoka College

Tsutomu Iwashita, NIT, Ariake College

Looking back at this project, it seems liketime passed very fast.

The primary reason for participating in thisI experienced living

program is to improve my English skills. I felt

communally with this project's member at acompelled to participate in the program because I

dormitory for the first time.

At first, I worried

believe there is a strong possibility that I will use it

about joining this project, but since I wanted toin the future, particularly in teaching my courses

improve my English skills, I decided to join thisand handling foreign and Japanese students inproject.

Currently, my weak point which isinternational exchange programs. However, I

English writing has improved a bit, I know this iscannot feel any significant improvements in myvery good. On the other hand, since my speaking

English skills despite studying so hard. In fact, itability is not so good, I have to continue studying

was the hardest I've done in my life, so I felt very

English.

disappointed at that. I'll keep studying English, ofEnglish lecture is introduced not only atcourse, since it is needed to improve my English

Toyohashi University Technology （TUT） but also

skills for teaching English and for the developmentin KOSEN, gradually. We will not be able to stopof the international exchange program.

introducing English lecture.

We have to use

When it comes to the lecture in English, I

English to teach our students, but we need to keep

think I can give a lecture with some degree of

specialized knowledge level of our students.

It

confidence due to my experiences, i.e., going

There are a lot ofthrough the English training program in TUT andwill be such tough work.

students who don't like English.

It is quite

Queens College, and giving my several lectures inimportant to motivate our students to study English.

Penang. You might think that this is contradicting

It is difficult to do something without motivation or

my feeling about my English skills, as I've

mandatory task.

Therefore, our college ormentioned earlier. I felt, however, that I was able togovernment have to establish a social environment

tell what I wanted to say ---- important points, e.g.,

to be forced to use English.

during my lecture I was able to make use of someI made a lot of new friends in Japan, NY, andphrases I'd learned although I took a lot of time forPenang through the project. Also, I experienced apreparation. Of course, I cannot do it well in just

lot of things.

I appreciate

one shot. This is the feeling that I was able to get by

TUT and CUNY organizers and concerned persons.

going through the PDCA cycle --- preparation

I hope to go again there for my research work. I(plan),

appreciate

andimprovement (action). I know the difficulties andconcerned persons. I hope to go again there forproblems are not only in my lack of skills when

my research work. Also, I appreciate National

giving lectures in English but also in the students'

Institute

College

English skills. Therefore, I'll seek a better way toconcerned persons, accepted person's who part-time

deliver the lectures to accommodate both the

instructors of my lecture, and my students.

teachers and the students.

It is my great memory.

TUT and CUNY organizersofTechnology,

Nagaokapractice(do),review(check)and

Finally, I appreciate all your support thatallowed me to participate in the program. Thankyou so much.
8Toru Okawara, NIT, Kitakyushu College

Ryushi Kimura, NIT, Kochi College

Through this program, I have been thinking

When

I

look

back

on

this

facultyof what globalization is. In this letter, I’d like todevelopment program, my best memory is a

introduce you what I have experienced and learnt.

communal life in New York. I lived together withIn April, at the very beginning of thisDr.Fujiwara at Akashi College and Dr.Kobayashi at

one-year program, we took the global mind set

Sendai College for six months. We took dinner
together as well as possible. During dinner time, we

course in order to learn how to communicate withalmost always livened up discussing about various

people who have a different cultural background

topics such as KOSEN education, study in KOSEN,and how difficult it is. That is the start. Then, we

presence of future’s KOSEN, and sometimes

have learnt a lot of communication skills fromprivateEnglish native teachers at Toyohashi University ofaffair.

Theiradviceswithdifferent

perspectives based on their background were very

Technology. During this process, I could study

unique and positive, are helpful me. I believe that

actual cultural difference between Japan and foreign

taking dinner together and discussing frankly madecountries. At the beginning of July, we moved toour relationship of mutual trust better.

Queens College in New York, the United States of

After we go back each our college, we will

America. I have indulged in both English study andabsolutely meet again at the meetings related toscientific research. When I was in NY, I was taking

global engineering education or management. I am

Organic Chemistry II. The teacher is a Judish guy

looking forward to discussing deeply with themand my supervisor is Indian. A student who has

when we meet again.

introduced me a ramen restaurant is Jamaican and a

Actually, I brought carefully three plates we used

student who played with me in the dormitory is

at dinner in NY. It is not only for one of good

Taiwanese. So, we no longer need to think the

memories, but also for keeping my motivation todifference one another. Everyone knows different

remember our discussing at times nicely, at times
strictly. We will go back to Japan soon, and a lot of

people have different opinion. At the same time,ordinal tasks are waiting for me. However, I want tothey share the final destination and make something

work as early as possible because I took a leave

good.
To

me,

“globalization”

doesn’tfrom my job for a year.

mean

I will practice various educational methods

speaking English or going abroad. The importantsuch as active learning and English education to mything is that even though there are different types oflecture, study, college management, instruction forpeople, we should respect each other and sharestudentsanything.

I make effort to return the result of thisfaculty development program to many students andstaffs.
In closing, I would like to express my appreciation
for all of staffs at Toyohashi University ofTechnology, KOSEN headquarter, Kochi College
and Queens College of CUNY. Moreover, thankyou very much for 10 KOSEN friends because I
could learn about your thoughts and attitudes
related to your educations and studies.
9Hideyuki Kobayashi, NIT, Sendai College Hirose

Jun Sakamoto, NIT, Gifu College

HTML pages, which is a kind of deliverables

Last year, I held a workshop on urban

about this project, were made by us. The pages willtransport issue in NY. It was one of my mostgive a lot of benefit for the teachers who will havememorable experiences in this program. I would

some classes that is in English. My department islike to talk about it.

Information Systems; therefore, I had to create theI started living in NY with my colleagues last

pages. However, I had never created any web pages

July. At that time, I often discussed with myand handled any team projects. Especially, we didco-researcher, who is also a Japanese researcher,

not have enough time on Penang. I was wondering

how to do my research during that period. One day,that we finished creating the pages at the end of thishe said, "Why don't you hold a workshop aboutterm.

Japanese and American urban transport issue?" It

It was so difficult for me to create the pages

was a wonderful idea; however, I had no clue wherethat were designed cool, useful, easy to use andand how to start it.

simple because I did not have any skills for creating

One month later, I got in touch with myweb pages. However, we were able to create almost

mentor, a Queens College professor. He introduced

all the pages. I feel relieved.

me to different professors, who is urban transport

Although I leave a judgment of the pages

researchers. They supported my proposal and thendesign to someone else, all of our contents is great.

we started working on it for three months. Finally, I

We could do it because our member had great skills

was able to hold the workshop on December 4th. In

and passion that is to deliver good quality pages tothe workshop, I and three Japanese researchers

you and we would use the pages to improve own

discussed about urban transport issue with students

teaching skills.

and professors from various universities and college

I thought our member had great spirits about

professors from Queens College, City College,teaching and to improve own skills. I proud to meet

CUNY (The City University of New York). The

all of us.

event

Therefore, the pages is great without favorable

wasreportedTransportation

by

UTRC

Research(University
Center)opinion for us. There are variable reasons. First, if(http://goo.gl/8eSp23). This report is one of myyou have never had classes in English, it was usefulcherished works.

for you. Another, if you want to get new knowledge

However, through the event, I encountered aabout teaching in English, the pages are able toproblem and this is, of course, my lack of English

purvey it such as native teacher’s movies and ourskill. Even now, I find communicating with native

survey reports.

speakers rather difficult. I would like to continue

Finally,I

appreciate

supportingfrom

my English training and doing researches for a

Teachers of Toyohashi University Technology andpossible 2nd workshop in the future.

Queens College, City University of New York.

In conclusion, I would like to express myThank very much.

sincerest thanks to all the TUT professors, QC
professors, and all the other people who supported
this program.

10

Seiji Fujiwara, NIT, Akashi College

Shoichi Furuyama, NIT, Toyama College

This global FD program is going to be over

I was convinced that Japanese education

soon. I remember clearly that I was asked at thesystem was w ell because I did not find any new

beginning of this program, “what is globalization?”technologies, methods in New York. There were no

I feel that I have thought about what is globalization.

impressive things about education. However the

It is often said that globalization is English ability,communication skills with students were very welland understanding cross culture and history.

and to include information technology (IT) as

However, is it surely the globalization?

convenient tools for education was very quick

Although Japanese are often said to be notdespite of they were challenging methods. To

able to speak English, it is an inevitable result.

capture the trend of new technology quickly was

While the Japanese learns English at a junior highvery impressed me. To achieve the new education

school or high school, it has been restricted for ansystem, the separation of job is required between

examination, and an opportunity of having aengineering staff and teachers. As a result, teachers

conversation is definitely few. However, I found incan concentrate to create new ideas of education.

the FD program that the grammar ability of theI had one private task for participate theJapanese is superior to foreigners who are notprogram. It was to keep good body condition. Whennative speaker of English. Therefore, all we have toI stayed Australia for one year in 2007, I needed a

do is improving the conversation ability of English.

lot of days recover the body condition. I studied theWe have to increase the opportunity to talk andtime scheduling and steady life was very important

think in English for that. From this aspect, I

things in abroad. Of course it is best not to catch astrongly approve of conducting the lecture incold. During the program I tried to get up 4 am andEnglish. However, only becoming able to speak

to go to bed before 10pm. Exercise was also

English is not the real globalization. For instance,

important. I run every day and I had healthy foodsomeone can speak English and go on an overseas

with supplements. As a result I did not catch cold

trip every year. However, we do not say them to be

for one year and I believe I did good work while

a global person. They like mere overseas travel. We

project.

have to make students gain the knowledge ofI acknowledge Toyohashi University oftechnology through English as a KOSEN. If they

Technology (TUT) in Japan and Queens College

can work globally based on the positive technology,(QC) in New York. I also thanks to staff andthey would be said to be the global person.

students of National Institute of Technology (NIT),

If we think about fostering global human

Toyama camps.

resources, we tend to focus on English education.
However, it may be said that KOSEN teacher who
can teach a sure technology through English is theglobal person. I have to dedicate the fostering
global human resources as the showing of this FD
program. Although it is very important duties, I feel
challenge about it. Finally, I express my thanks toeveryone who concerned this FD program andsupported my participation.
11

Yoshitaka Matsumoto, NIT, Toyota College

Shinichiro Mito, NIT, Tokyo College

I wrote in QC letter of my first tern, I
supposed

that

not

only

developing

The Project is almost done. I can recall manysomethings I did. It feel like it’s been a while, but itcompetency in English language and teaching skills

could have been a short while. I have received

in English but also discovering the factor to be areally good training, and I have to find a way toglobal teacher are our necessity in this project. I’ve

give something back to society. One of the ways isspent almost seven months since I wrote that. I

fostering global engineers. A global engineer is

attended English classes and did research withrequired not only good English skill but also highinternational students during TUT period. I enjoyedlevel of expertise, and well-rounded and highly

doing research with researchers and students incultured character. It is difficult to teach theseEnglish and attended biogeochemistry class, which

requirements completely in a class. So the students

I've got amazing volume of assignments, quizzes

want to independently learn and think. I rather thinkand preparations that overloaded me during QC

it is one of the most important qualities of global

period. We created the brand-new teaching material

e

n

g

i

n

e

e

r

s

.

how to teach our subjects in English for KOSEN,

Recently, I went to Penang Science Cluster,

TUT and NUT teachers, and I completed teaching

and have learned Spark Interest program. This is the

my subject in English at USM during Penang

education program which reignites children’s

period.

suppressed curiosity. This program provides someI'm not satisfied with my achievement that I

motivation to learn individually, and the children

decided when this project started. However, I had abecome an active-learner and raise their curiosity.

bunch of experiences as I stayed in a multicultural

In the case of global education, I have to begin with

community and met lots of people having a various

having interest in overseas. I will enjoy, learn about,background. I well remembered the phrases that myand struggle with overseas. Then I want to ignite

friends gave me; "Be Wild" and "Be Wolf". And I

the student’s curiosity by sharing my personalinspired another phrase to be the global teacher.

experience.

That is.... Sorry, I don't have enough space to tell

Finally I would like to express my sincere

you the detail of these phrases. I wish I want to tellgratitude for the support of Toyohashi University of

you about long and funny stories of them that I've

Technology, City University of New York Queens

got during this project with beers. Anyway, I've

College, and National Institute of Technology,

created the huge, complicated and strong humanJapan. I deeply appreciate the professors of

network with guys; they are so nice and wonderful.

Department of Electronic Engineering, NIT Tokyo

I'd like to say, "thank you very much, buddies", andCollege. I tender my cordial thanks for the kind

I keep in touch forever. The next project for myhelp of the Global FD members.

own is to create the newvalues in the educational
field or research field
sharing with people havetheir

original

culturesusing the network I've
created.
12

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.jp

13

Mail: