Activity Report

We hold STEPs Alumni on March 23.
In the alumni, we heard expectations toward us, advices and so on from teachers, officers and a senior. And we decided to work actively more than ever before.
Also, we realized that out activities can do thanks to a lot of supports from many people.
This oppotunity made us realize many things that we do not notice in daily meeting. 

On March 26, A graduation ceremony of Saga University was held.
Mr. YOSHIZIMA, Mr. MIYAZAKI, Mr. SHIBUYA and Mr. SATOH graduated from STEPs.
Thank you for everything you have done for us.
We hope for your success at your new ground.

 We reported this overseas training to professors in professor meeting of Science and Engineering Faculty.  And we also visited president room and reported it to the president of Saga university.
 
Miyazaki president said,
◎You should be able to make the difference between STEPs and another groups which exchange 　　　　　
   foreigner clear.
◎How do graduates from STEPs use the experience of STEPs?
◎Please have the pride as the best students and keep making efforts.
 
 It is difficult to make difference between STEPs and another groups, but I think STEPs members should be good model for other students because we are considered the best students. We want to keep making efforts with responsibility and pride.
 
 By the way, changing a topic, I talk about the Exchange Communication.
 We got two opportunities of it in November. We exchanged with Vietnam students (belong to Mishima Lab) and German student (belongs to Oto Lab).
 And we didn’t hold the time to only introduce each other, but also exchange traditions. We played “Fukuwarai” like we played during this overseas training. It seemed that we could be closer. If we hold opportunities this like, STEPs activities would be fuller.
 
 Sorry, it is short this time. But I have to return my research, please understand.
 
                                                                Koichiro Shibuya
 

We went to Taichung and Taipei in Taiwan in this year’s overseas training. It was a very good trip, where I felt the relation and differences in culture between Japan and Taiwan. So, I could know merits of each countries. Also, I was able to hear that it was good to go to this trip from the members.

In this trip, we visited the National Chin-Yi University of Technology and the National Taipei University of Technology, and interacted with the students of these universities. We also took a tour of the laboratories. I got the impression that industry-academic collaboration is progressing at both universities. The contents of education there seem to more practical than theory. This is a wonderful point for providing a good environment of study to the students who consider employment because studying at the university can be directly linked to actual works. Additionally, I felt high English ability of the local students through the interaction. I realized the immatureness of my English ability by comparing it with the students. I reflect on this, and decide to become able to exchange deeper by accumulating experience of conversation with international students.

 Also, we went to the National Palace Museum that called one of the world's four largest museums. In this place, there are many exhibits related to Saga; Arita ware, Imari ware, and so on, so I was able to know connection between Saga and Taiwan.

Finally, we sincerely appreciate the individuals who supported our training, and will encourage learning.

By Yuki Hada

Translated by Akihiko Nishimura
 

Sorry for our late updating. In this post we will report about our previous activities.
In the English Time in July we set a theme, “know more about Taiwan, Japan, and Saga.”
Then, we divided us into three groups and each group was in charge of a theme and made presentations for each other. I’m going to summarize what the groups presented!
 
About Taiwan:

• Capital City: Taipei
• Area: 36,000km²
• Population: 23,570,000
• Time difference between japan and Taiwan: 1 hour
• Climate: the subtropics in northern Taiwan and the tropics in south
• Industry:
  High-tech industry and IT industry has highly developed. Many kinds of parts for computers such as memory, semiconductors, etc. is manufactured in Taiwan and the major trading partners of the products are Japan and The U.S. for a long time.
• Popular spots:

- Miyahara (宮原眼科):
While the name, “宮原眼科(Miyahara eye hospital)” sounds not like sweets store, it is a sweets store in Taichung that represents “dawancake, 日出” group. Originally, the building of the store was used for an eye hospital in Japanese colonial period.
- Night markets:
 Night markets are the street markets a lot of stores and hawkers gather and open from the evening. In the markets there are a lot of food, clothes or shoes stores and hawkers, and it’s bustling with many tourists.
 
About Japan:

• Area: 378,000km²
  The area of Taiwan is as large as that of Kyushu, Japan
• The number of tourists (per year)
  - Taiwan to Japan: 4,564053
  - Japan to Taiwan: 1,895,702
• Japanese inventions
  -  Compact Disk (CD), QR code, Karaoke, Rice cooker, etc.

 
About Saga:

• Population: 850,000
• < >- Karatsu Kunchi (唐津くんち)

The Karatsu Kunchi is an annual fall festival that held in November 2, 3 and 4. It is the fall festival of the Karatsu shrine and the biggest event in Karatsu city. Another way of writing “Kunchi(くんち)” is “供日(the meaning is the day for offering harvest to the god)”. As you can see from the name, this festival is put in gratitude for harvest.
- Saga International Balloon Fiesta
     The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is an event of hot air balloons held in every fall and attract around one million of visitors. It is one of the biggest balloon competitions not only in Japan but also in the Asia in numbers of balloons. This event is attended by 70-80 balloons from ten or more countries every year. In some balloon events one of the competitions is called “task”. That compete how accurate pilots can drop a sandbag called marker to the assigned target.
 
In this presentation, we can learned not only just the basic knowledge of Taiwan but about the relationship between Japan and Taiwan, and about Saga. Learning the basic knowledge before visiting Taiwan would make our studying in Taiwan more meaningful. And we will get ready to introduce ourselves well in English.
 
By Konan SAKAMOTO
 
Translated by Yasushi SATO
 

Hi, This is Koichiro SHIBUYA.
I have not tell yet, I’m 8th STEPs leader.
Last month, the ceremony was held to commend the best students of each departments and 7 new members determined joining STEPs.
I renewed a list of members.


Representing new members, NANRI who is 4th grader and HADA who is 3rd grader told their hopes, so I introduce.

Hello, I am Kanta Nanri and will belong to STEPs since this year.
I was attracted to being able to overseas training and international exchange in STEPs, so I decided to become a member. Each member’s goal is varied, But I hope we can become new self by improving their English and communication skills.
Thank you.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kanta NANRI


Hello, I’m Yuki Hada. I’m third-grade student. My department is Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I’ve hardly had opportunities to communicate in English and never done an international exchange. I knew about STEPs activities. Then, I decided to join STEPs because I want to expand my viewpoint and get a chance to deepen the human interaction through communicating in English. I’ll come into contact with many people and culture and improve myself with pleasure among the activities.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yuki HADA


Also, I received a message from previous leader, TSUJI.

Last year STEPs, I acted as a representative. To be honest, I do not know whether I had leadership well, but I was able to finish the STEPs seventh period safely. Although a short time of once a week that STEPs was held, I thanks to the members who worked hard and made STEPs a lively organization. This year, I will be doing activities in the position of M1. I hope I can support what I can do. I still do not have English ability enough, so I try to improve my speaking and listening skills. And I would like to do fun activities.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Shigeyuki TSUJI

Thank you everyone.


By the way, I declare three policies as this year’s policies.
① Satisfying English Time
② Learning about Japan and Saga
③ Announcing the commendation of the best student

About①
This year, there are many participant so we practice English separated into groups consist about 4 persons in order to each member can talk more.

About②
It was determined that we will go to Taiwan this year as overseas training. We will learn about Japan and Saga not to mention Taiwan, and we will go overseas training being a sightseeing ambassador of Japan and Saga.

About③
There are few persons who know the commendation of the best student and about STEPs. If we announce it to them, I think an ambition of all students will be increased, as a result, a scholastic ability of them will be increased also.


I declare the above mentioned items.
STEPs consists from a lot of members in this year, so we make activities cheerfully.
I feel they are peculiar, but I will make efforts to lead them as a 8th leader.
Thank you.
　　　　　　 8th leader, Koichiro SHIBUYA