Record of Our Activities

 On March 19th, nine students, divided into three groups, took part in SGH KOSHIEN in 2017 to compete.  At the competition, they were able to see how well they would give presentations about their research.

234 groups from 84 high schools joined this competition and gave their presentation about research themes of various global problems.  Our students also gave a presentation about what they had researched for a year.  Through this competition, they found that there were various ways of thinking or doing research according to the differences of regions or values.  They also learned the differences of dealing with the same topics.

From now they are going to deepen their research and give a presentation in English in the third-year SG Practical Research.

[the participants’ comments]

＊The competition was more stimulating than I had expected.  All the students I met there researched social problems with passion.  I was excited to discuss with the students.  We gave our presentation on the assumption that in spite of one-sixth of Japanese people suffering from poverty, most Japanese people don’t know about the reality.  However, students from Osaka thought about poverty more seriously and researched more deeply.

＊What I learned during the competition was the importance of positive action.  I was very surprised at the great efforts of some groups and their wonderful presentations.  Every participant must have thought it obsolete to say that they were too young to do something important.  I can imagine easily that the participants will mature to become leaders among global citizens all over the world.

From March 13th to 16th, 23 students and 3 teachers from Princeton High School in New Jersey of the United States came to our school.

In October in 2016, when SG course students went to the US for their Overseas Fieldwork, they visited Princeton High School, joined some classes, did presentations of their research, and did a homestay.

This time, students in Princeton High School joined many activities like lessons in our school, a lecture called ‘Challenging Flower Arrangement’ by our vice-principal, and first-year students’ presentations of SG Basic Research.  In addition, they stayed with families in our school.

[a host student’ comments]

＊I was able to appreciate culture in Kanazawa by thinking about where to take her and what to eat with her.  When I couldn’t understand what she said, I was able to talk with her using gestures and words, and I learned many English words and phrases.  It was a good chance to make foreign friends, speak English, and experience other cultures.

[comments from parents who accepted a homestay]

＊I am greatly relieved that we had a foreign students stay with us successfully.  At first, though my daughter was eager to accept a homestay, I couldn’t do it easily.  However, it was eventually a good experience and memory for my family.  Our guest student was well-mannered and bright, and talked a lot with us.  I am thankful for meeting her. 

 On Tuesday, March 14th, 9 groups of first-year students were chosen as a representative of each class, and made presentations.

First-year students in our general course are divided into 9 classes.  In the SG Basic Research, they discovered many local problems and thought about solutions since April.  This year, they decided to research themes from various points of view such as agriculture, forestry, traditional crafts and tourism.  They researched actively in fieldwork, sent questionnaires, visited related institutions, and interacted with people outside of school.  Now, they gave presentations confidently to all of the first-year students and Princeton High School students staying in Kanazawa.  The audience asked the presenters a lot of questions.

They will research new things in the second grade, making use of their first research experience.

 On February 11th, our school invited Tadashi Hongo from KOMATSU, which is a construction machinery company with which our school cooperates.  He gave a lecture entitled ‘For You Who Try to Become a Global Leader.’ 

Last Summer some students had already visited Awazu Plant of KOMATSU for their fieldwork.  On the lecture day, Mr. Hongo told students about the outline of global management of the company, which has expanded its business overseas.  He also talked about his overseas assignments in Brazil and gave some messages to students who want to play an active part in the world in the future.

Students should be encouraged to play an active part in the world, such as overseas assignments, in the future.

[the participants’ comments]

＊(a girl of science course)

I visited Awazu Plant last summer, so the lecture from a different point of view was interesting.  I was able to know much more about the business’ basic philosophy and how to run the business.  I was surprised by the large scale of KOMATSU’s business.  I was impressed by the idea that important parts were made in Japan to keep originality and safety of their products while expanding the business overseas.  In addition, we learned something important to help society from what he experienced.  We also learned that communication is essential, which is basic but most important.

＊(a boy of humanities course)

I was very impressed by his attitude towards work: he aimed for one thing together.  I felt it was important to begin by trying to convey something.  So I would like to try to send my ideas actively. Furthermore, I found it important to realize the situation properly by listening to what he said.  I understood that a decision without clear basis would cause troubles for others.  I would like to try until I reach a decision.

 Our school won the School Award from the “JICA Essay Contest of International Cooperation”.  Nitta Tomoki, a manager of JICA Hokuriku branch, visited our school and gave a certificate of commendation.

All the third-year students in the general course wrote essays as “Exploration of KnowledgeⅢ.”  They debated and practiced how to write essays based on the theme “Important Topics in the 21st century,” such as Prenatal Diagnosis, Science and Technology, Competitive Society and Personality.  After these activities, they wrote essays about global issues and applied to the contest.

In addition, “A New Proposal” by Wakana Tachiura won Hokuriku Branch Special Prize.

We won the School Prize last year, so the students will work hard on developing their international understanding.

 On February 6th, SGH and SSH students held an event of presenting their performances.  About 100 students’ parents and educators from in and about Ishikawa Prefecture took part in this event.

＊Practical English: a school-designated subject for second-year students in SG course

Students watched TED Talks about international social issues, explained and wrote logically their ideas and opinions about them in English.

＊SG Basic Analytical Skills: a school-designated subject for first-year students in general course

Students looked into the goals of institutions like the UN and relevant institutions, and considered current issues related to them.  They also proposed the possibility that technology would contribute to their fields when delivering their poster presentations.  This was their first time presenting their research, but they were very positive in the question-and-answer sessions.

＊SGH×SSH Oral Presentation by second-year students in SG course and Super Science course

Representative teams had oral presentations about their research as a collaboration project between SG and SS course students.  They exchanged their opinions and had question-and-answer sessions.  So far, they had mutual presentations and exchanged information while they engaged each other.  This time again they actively exchanged their opinions about their research fields.

＊SG Poster Presentation about their research by second-year students in SG course

Second-year SG course students delivered poster presentations about their research from the beginning of the school year.  They were divided into ten groups, and deepened their research by collecting information and carrying out filed work in Japan and abroad.  Many teachers and parents visited and gave them a lot of valuable advice.

＊Research Conference for teachers who visited the conference

We told teachers about SGH activities, our results and our problems.  We also had them watch the movie about overseas training and its positive effects on students.  We are going to make the most of the questions and advice from teachers in order to make SGH activities better for now on.

 On September 16th, the first lecture for training global leaders was held. Thirty first-year and second-year students participated in the event.  Masaya Hara was invited as a lecturer.  He is a student at the graduate school of Kyoto university and majors in Asian and African studies.  The title of his lecture was ‘Let’s Think about Support in Farm Villages in Africa’ and a group discussion was carried out.

They focused on the Republic of Zambia.  Students learned its life, culture, and Zambian values.  They discussed what is the support needed which will be essential for people there.  All of the students were positive and a lot of students asked Mr. Hara questions after the lecture.  Through this event, students’ outlook will broaden and the number of students who will be active in the global society will increase.

[the participants’ comments]

＊I learned about usual life in Zambia and the support they received.  I thought that giving some money was not good because local people would be lazy. However, I found it one of the good ways to develop a poor country because it would lead to economic activation and it would also lead to an increase of currency.  We should consider whether the country is really poor or not and we ought not to label the country poor with our self-centered view.  Even though only a little money is used in Zambia, it is not proof that the country is poor.  The degree of happiness in the country is not low.  I deepened my idea on the subject; I had a good time.

＊I thought I needed to replace my stereotype that African countries are developing and they are poor.  We should not accept whatever we see or hear in the media.  I think it is appropriate to approach and consider problems from many other angles, and it needs to be filtered into the society or people in developed countries.  I’d like to find various ways of supporting them by myself.  I came to be interested in JICA and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer.  I’m glad I joined this program.

 On September 10th, first-year students had a special lecture about statistics.  Michiko Watanabe, a professor at Keio graduate school, was invited and she gave them a lecture about how the skill of thinking with statistics is needed in today’s global society.  She talked about how statistics are used in their lives and how to use it in the future.

Based on what they learned, the students will do statistic research about their theme by using analytical skills.

[the participants’ comments]

＊I learned that being able to read data and anticipating the future is so important in an increasingly globalized world.  Also, mathematics like statistics is more important than the mathematics we study at school.  However, making everything informational might create ethical problem and it might degenerate human abilities of compassion, so we should make a balance when using statistics.

＊We learned that by setting a target, we can analyze data from many sources even if they are abstract.  I had an interest in setting a goal and realizing it when I saw a lot of examples of high school students using data.  I belong to the tennis club, so I want to research data relating to victory and defeat.  I also want to research and develop food in the future so I would like to contribute to companies by using statistics. 

 On September 8th, a lecture about ‘omotenashi; how to welcome people’ was presented by Hiroko Fujii, an international manner instructor.  The title of her lecture was ‘Show Japanese Essence in Global Society; Learning Different Cultures from omotenashi mind.’

This lecture was started by Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education for all of the students from prefectural high schools.  The purpose was to help students learn the importance of welcoming people and to be considerate of others so that they would get along positively with them in society.  Omotenashi is regarded as a means of understanding foreign cultures.  Students are supposed to be proud of their Japanese identity with an omotenashi mind, and make the most of it when interacting with foreigners in the future.

Second-year students will have a school trip: general and science course will go to Taiwan and SG course will go to the US.  They will experience cultural exchange with local people by taking advantage of what they learned in this lecture.

[the participants’ comments]

＊My assumption, that only with the knowledge of foreign countries would I be able to fully understand world affairs, was proven invalid after this lecture.  I realized the importance of the knowledge of my own country.  I was surprised to know that some words common for the Japanese cannot be translated into foreign languages.  If I have the chance to visit the U.S, I want to discuss various types of hospitality or ‘omotenashi’ with local people. 

＊The theme of understanding foreign cultures was interesting because I’m now doing research on it.  I do feel pleased to be Japanese, because we always think not only about ourselves but also about others.  I hope our Japanese mind will be understood internationally and help strengthen the international community during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

 On August 18th and 19th, 29 second-year SG course students visited Suzu city to do field research.  

On the first day, the mayor of Suzu city, Mr. Izumitani, explained the situation and problems of Suzu city.  He told them about many projects that Suzu city is working on.  Among them were examples of counterplans to resolve the loss of population, health promotion projects, educational programs, and Oku-Noto Triennale.  On the second day, they went on tour and interviewed people based on their own themes.  They were able to learn many things on the fieldtrip, thanks to the City of Suzu, Kanazawa University, Iida High School, Young Men’s Association, Association of Bereaved Families, Suzu Transportation, and the citizens who helped with the interview.  

They will incorporate their field work done in Japan into their research, and prepare for fieldwork in the U.S. in October.

[the participants’ comments]

My image of Suzu changed completely today.  By listening to the mayor’s story, I learned that there are many projects that the city is working on to make Suzu a better place to live.

＊I was nervous at first when I started talking with the students from Iida high school, but they listened to us while nodding, and it soon became easy to talk. The stories told to us had more weight because it was their local experience.

＊I learned many good things by talking with the people from Suzu Transport.  They had many viewpoints that we didn’t realize.

＊I learned that it is important to deepen our thoughts about what we can learn from data.

＊I was deeply moved by the story people from the Association of Bereaved Families told us.  I felt that there is a big difference between reading things and listening to actual stories.

＊I learned about biomass and sewer systems.  The lecturers were kind enough to make their stories easy to understand for us.