2017年3月の記事一覧

 On March 30th, three second-year SG course students visited Kanazawa University, and exchanged opinions with the president Mr. Yamazaki and two trustees Mr. Shibata and Mr. Fukumori.

The students who are studying measures to combat depopulation in Suzu city explained their ideas to set up the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Kanazawa University in Suzu city.  After that, they exchanged their opinions about joint projects between Kanazawa University and the local communities and discussed various problems in Ishikawa.

This interaction encouraged the students’ study very much.

 From March 27th to 28th, as the preparation for the next SG course research, 41 newly-elected students visited United Nations University and other cooperative institutions in Tokyo.

The purpose of this visit was to get some advice as to what to research and which problems to study by taking some lectures about global problems.

On the first day, at United Nations University, the students had lectures from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Information Center.  They learned the activities of the United Nations, which aimed at Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and made a tour of the United Nations University.  On the second day, during the training course separated with each group, they visited the Earth Park of JICA, Plan International, and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.  They took some lectures, made a tour and interacted with the students there.

   Based on what they learned from this training, they will then prepare to research.

[the participants’ comments]

＊What I was most surprised about is that the number of people who live in developing countries is 5.6 billion.  I also learned that it was not easy to support them because of the differences of religions and cultures.  I thought that it was important for us to find what we can do now and put them into action for international cooperation in the future. 

 

＊I was surprised that children also mine rare metals for cell phones with their bare hands.  Although I know there are some reasons for cheap clothes, I think it is difficult to change lives quickly.  I want to find out what I can do. The common ideas of UNDP and Plan International and JICA are that we should not give temporary help, but give them something that will last indefinitely.  I want to consider ideas that have long insight in mind.

 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.