Lecture in Yamagata City

Hanum likes tart

Alex likes biscuit

Autumn is start

Let’s give new spirit

On October 12, we joined Sato sensei’s lecture for a new students at Yamagata University which located in Yamagata city. There were four participants from our laboratory members taking this valuable opportunity, there were Shirai san, Hoshi san, and us (Dian and Azka san). A few days before, we had to prepare interesting presentation which explained about the function of snails for ecosystem and ecosystem function for agriculture from our research point of view. For us, it is very challenging because we are not only make an attracting power point but also learn how to be a good speaker using simple English to make the audiences understand about our story. So, let’s start the journey!

10月12日、私たちは山形市のキャンパスで行われる1年生を対象にした講義に参加しました。この価値ある機会に研究室から4人(Shirai, Hoshi, Azka, Dian)の学生が参加しました。私たちはマルタニシの生態系への影響、生態系の機能がもたらす農業への影響をテーマに、興味あるプレゼンができるよう数日前から準備をしました。留学生の私たちにとって、魅力的なスライドを作るだけでなく、わかりやすい英語を使い発表するという課題もあり大きな挑戦でした。

さあ、出発しましょう！

We left from the laboratory around 10.30 AM because the lecture will start at 1.00 PM and it took about 2 hours to go to Yamagata city by car so we had to leave as soon as possible. We went there by car which driven by Sato sensei and choose high way to have faster route and shorter time. Along the trip, we felt more relax because the time for being serious was over, so we started to have a talk and discussions (hehehe). We were talk many things, started from our plan for today’s presentation, Japan and Indonesia condition, traffic road, our future, and etc. Besides, we were so amazed with the views especially for autumn leaves view along the trip. We tried to take some pictures but it was difficult. Perhaps because we enjoyed the trip, without realizing we finally arrived at Yamagata University around 12.15 PM. It was faster than we estimated. Then, because it was afternoon and have enough time, we had lunch at restaurant before the lecture. Sensei treated us Soba and kind of Japanese cake with chestnut and soy bean cream. This is our very first time ate Soba and the cake, and both of them were so delicious. The interesting part is when we all eat Soba and the sound will like “sluuuuuuurrrppppttttt”. For us, that sound was like representing that the food is very delicious and made everyone who hear it want to eat the food also. That was a nice lunch with delicious meal. Emmm very delicious! Thank you very much Sato sensei 😊

講義が13時からであること、さらに鶴岡から山形まで車で1時間30分かかることもあり、私たちは10時30分に研究室を出発しました。先生の運転で高速道路を使い、少しでも早くつけるようにしました。移動中、緊張していたため会話をしてリラックスしようと心掛けました。私たちは多くのことについて話しました。例えば、プレゼンテーションの内容について、日本とインドネシアの違いについて（交通事情も）、将来の夢などなど。また車内から見える紅葉もすてきでした。写真を撮ろうとしましたが、難しかったです。移動中を楽しく過ごしていたためか、私たちは気づくと山形市についていました（12時15分でした）。 予想よりも早かったです。なので、昼食をとることになりました。そこで食べた料理はとってもおいしかったです。ありがとうございました、佐藤先生。

After having lunch, we went to Yamagata University to start the lecture. When entering the class, we felt a little bit shocked because there were many students in the class. This is our first time join the lecture in Yamagata city, so it makes us little nervous at first. Then, before the lecture started, all of us helped to distribute the questionnaire and copy of presentation file for each student. After that, the lecture started and all of the student gave their attention. The lecture was about beneficial insects contributed to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) especially in agriculture. The tactics of IPM Arsenal are cultural controls, selective insecticides, and biological controls. One of example for biological control is by using natural enemies such as predators, parasites, and pathogens. So the role of natural enemies is very important as part of ecosystem functions. The lecture was so attracting and informative because Sato sensei explained very well using some videos and pictures. Some of students also gave their good responses. After a while, it was our turn to do the presentation. First person was Shirai san and he was very good in presenting about the function of mud snails in ecosystem. Second turn was Dian san, she presented about the application of natural materials using plant to control pest in post-harvest especially in the rice storage. It was a good presentation because some students were very interested with the topic. Third was Hoshi san. His presentation was interesting by using body language to explain the function of snail in ecosystem. Last but not least was Azka san. She was the last presenter because her topic was about the importance of diversity in agriculture so it was like a conclusion for all presentation. Well, after we done the presentation, Sato sensei continued his lecture until around 2.30 PM. Before we left, every student had to write their impression, comment, and advice of the lecture. We think that it is very important to do something like that because from their comments, we can learn what the good and bad things. It will be very useful to improve our skill better. Then, we immediately left campus and went back to the Faculty of Agriculture in Tsuruoka because we have to do lab cleaning and Shirai san had a class at 4.20 pm.

昼食の後、いよいよ講義スタートです。教室に入ったとき、あまりにもたくさんの学生がいたためびっくりしました。これが初めて山形市で行うプレゼンだったので、初めは少し緊張していました。講義の前に学生に資料と感想カードを配りました。講義が始まり、参加した学生が集中し始めました。講義の内容は益虫を農業に利用したIPM（総合的害虫管理）についてです。IPMは耕種的防除法、科学的防除法、生物的防除法に戦術が分かれます。その一つである生物的防除法は、捕食者、寄生者、菌類を利用して害虫を防除します。そのため生態系の一部である天敵の役割は重要です。佐藤先生による講義はビデオや写真を取り入れ、とても魅力的なものでした。講義を受けていた学生もよい印象を持ったようです。講義の途中、私たちのプレゼンテーションの時間がやってきました。はじめは白井さんがマルタニシの機能をテーマに、次にDianさんが植物由来の原料を用いた稲の保存（ポストハーベスト）に関するテーマでプレゼンテーションをしました。Dian さんの発表に対し、興味を持つ学生もいたようです。三人目が星さんで、生態系におけるタニシの機能をボディーランゲージを交えて発表しました。最後はAzkaさんが農業における生物多様性の重要性をテーマに発表しました。研究室の学生による発表後、引き続き佐藤先生が14時30分まで講義をしました。講義終了後、受講生は感想や意見を書きます。私たちにとってそれらは良い点、悪い点を学ぶために重要です。そこから私たちはスキルを磨き、改善をしていきます。講義終了後、すぐに鶴岡に向け出発しました。なぜなら白井さんが16:20から講義があったからです。

Today was a delightful experience for us. Hopefully, we can have another experiences and do better than before. Thank you very much for this opportunity

今日はとても素晴らしい経験になりました。またこのような機会があればもっと良い発表をしたいです。