スクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは異なる場合があります。

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Build Up Our Future!

National Institute of Technology, Ishikawa College

T: Hello, everyone! Today we would like to talk about how to effectively use our time at Kosen. I'm Teruyo Uemura, and I'm in the 5th and final year of the Civil Engineering Course.

M: I'm Masaru Touzaki, and I'm in the 4th year of the Electronics and Information Engineering Course.

G: My name is Gakuto Kawagishi, a 1st-year Civil Engineering student.

T: We conducted a questionnaire with 1000 students at Ishikawa National College of Technology, INCT. We asked “Why did you choose Kosen?” Take a look at the pie chart. The answers were, for example, specific goals, high employment rate, independence, and school level.

M: When we look at the results, we can see that there are two types of students. Students who already have specific dreams and those who don't.

G: So that means there are two different types of students who are studying at INCT. Group one is the group of people who already have specific dreams. On the other hand, group two is the group of those who don't.

T: You're right. Why did you choose this school, Gakuto?

G: I came here with a specific reason. I moved to America when I was 5 and stayed there for 6 years. I lived in a rural area and I grew up surrounded by nature. Because of the beautiful environment, my father bought a boat and often went fishing at nearby lakes. While fishing, I saw herds of deer, beavers building a dam and other kinds of animals.

T: We can hardly ever see those animals in the wild here in Japan.

G: You are right. And my family often traveled. We went to many national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains. We also went to Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas. In the Bahamas I fed a wild iguana some grapes and had a chance to swim with a dolphin. I experienced many things and became interested in animals.

M: Oh! You had a lot of experiences abroad.

G: After I came back to Japan, I studied many environmental problems, and discovered that there are many species of animals which are near extinction. In order to save them, we need to stop destroying the environment and create a place where humans and wildlife can coexist. I entered the Civil Engineering Course to make this vision come true.

T: That's such a big dream! Then you must be in group one, a student who is studying at Kosen to realize a dream.

G: But I am still in my first year and I don't know how I should spend my time. What should I do here at Kosen?

T: Ok, I'll talk about myself, since I am in group one and have a specific goal. I entered this school because I wanted to save the world's oceans. I live in a port town called Ohno-machi. In elementary school, I had an opportunity to take a ship with people from the Japan Coast Guard and take a survey of water quality. I was shocked to know that the sea was polluted. Later, I learned at school there are many polluted seas around the world. So I decided to study at Kosen where I could learn more about water conservation. After I entered Kosen, I researched the water quality in Ishikawa for “The Only One Project,” a student led research project.

G: “The Only One Project”? I know about activities such as the Robot Contest, Design Competition, and English Presentation Contest. But I've never heard of “The Only One Project.”

M: “The Only One Project” is a project offered by INCT. Several students make a team to research and do projects by themselves.

T: Yes. I made an aquarium for “The Only One Project” in order to understand the situation of Kahoku-gata. Kahoku-gata is a marsh near INCT, which has serious environmental problems. The aquarium displays local fish and plants, so the whole school can understand the environmental issues of Kahoku-gata. For the project I studied water, biology, and plants, and actually visited Kahoku-gata. Without the help of other students and teachers, I couldn't have done this project. Since then, to learn more about animals and plants, I have joined seminars and grown organic rice after the project. And to know the world more, I participated in an English course at Singapore Polytechnic last summer.

G: Really? That must have been exciting.

T: Yeah! I learned not only English but also about nature. Because of these experiences, I learned more about Civil Engineering, broadened my outlook, worked with other people and became more independent.

G: Ok, I understand. Then I guess I should try many things like you did. But what about group two, students who don't have any goals?

M: I'll go next! Before I entered Kosen, I didn't have any goals for the future, but I had an interest in computers. While studying at Kosen, I began to see many commercials about voice retrieval on smartphones. I began to have an interest in it, too. When I asked my teacher about it, he said that in order to recognize spoken words computers need to distinguish individual sounds. Sound recognition is a part of phonetics and phonology, but there are no phonology courses at INCT. So I researched phonology by myself. And this led me to the Russian language.

G: Did you say Russian?

M: Yes! Russian has a distinctive opposition of phonemes but is very systematic and logical. I became more and more interested in Russian and Russian culture. Since I came to know more about the country next door, I have realized Russian people are similar to Japanese people. I also participated in an English workshop where I could meet students from Russia.

T: That's right. We have an international exchange activity called “English Workshop” three or four times a year. We invite foreign guests to our school, enjoy talking together, and get to know each other.

M: After talking with the students in Russian and English, I realized we should have more friendly relationships and international connections with cities around the world. I don't have a specific dream but found something I have an interest in. When I tried something new, I discovered that I want to create more connections between the people of Russia and Ishikawa.

G: Ok, I see. People in both groups found what they wanted to do in the future, and broadened their horizons. But doesn't that apply to only the two of you?

T: Then look at this survey. Students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th-year answered the question “Have your goals changed or have you deepened your knowledge to settle on your future since participating in different activities at Kosen?” Take a look at the pie chart. Thirty-five percent of the students answered yes and the other sixty-five percent answered no.

G: What!? Sixty-five percent of the students answered no!?

T: Actually, students who answered no have done nothing or given up trying. Students gave up because they thought it wasn't worth the efforts. But students who answered yes kept on trying.

G: So that's how the students found what they wanted to do.

M: Yes! Kosen offers many projects, contests, a school festival and much more. And there are many knowledgeable professors who teach here so we can get many new ideas. And you can get information from other departments.

G: We can cooperate and share information with students of other departments as well as working with professors who support us. Doesn't it sound like… a theme park to build up our future!

T: Oh, that's a good description!

G: And there are two kinds of people who can enter.

T: One group of people have a specific objective such as a certain roller coaster, for example.

M: The second group of people only came to the park because they were invited by friends or were attracted by an advertisement.

G: This picture illustrates our point. Different areas of a theme park are like Departments of Kosen and the employees are teachers. And attractions are Kosen's activities. You can stay in the park for five years. You can go to many areas and enjoy being with your friends. Also, there are employees who specialize in different fields and give advice to the participants. After you go on an attraction, you will discover and experience many things. Then you decide if you want to ride something again. If you don't like it, you might try a completely new ride.

T: It's the same as Kosen. You discover and experience many things there by participating in many activities. You decide what to do next and by trying something new, you discover what you want to do in the future. Whichever group you are in, there are no differences in the attractions you can ride. But you only have 5 years to do it all.

G: How should we spend the 5 years?

T: Let's go find our favorite attraction.

M: To make use of all the opportunities at Kosen.

G: And discover our goals. Let's use these experiences.

TGM: To build up our future!