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1. What prompted you decide to participate in the "JSPS Science Dialogue" program?
I think it is a very good idea to bring foreign researches into contact with Japanese High School students since it is difficult for them to "experience" interaction with a non-Japanese person, his/her cultural background, and practicing communication in English. Moreover, I was very interested in it when I heard about this program because for me this is an interesting experience, too, and a nice opportunity to get into contact with different people.
2. To what did you give greatest attention in preparing and giving the lecture?
I found it very difficult to estimate what the pupils (2nd grade High School) may know and what not. So my main concern was, to prepare the physics-related part of the lecture in a way which is not too difficult to understand for them since they have another difficulty to master: Listen to a lecture (or better: lecturer) in English.
3. Did you find it difficult to give a lecture in English to Japanese students? Could you give some advice to future lecturers on how to facilitate communication with Japanese students?
- As mentioned in the answer of question 2 I tried to make it easy. Therefore I didn't spend too much time on my own research field but chose things which I believed are easier to understand (though I do not know if it worked). However, it was nice that I got the question "What are you doing?" at the end of the lecture. At that time I found it easier to answer it instead of using my special research interests as a starting point of the lecture.
- In any case, it is a good idea to bring a Japanese native speaker who can provide further explanation in Japanese.
- My main difficulty was to estimate the physics level of the pupils since I come from a country where the school system is different: I did not know what "2nd grade High School class" means. But I learnt it now!
4. Could you give your impression with regard to participating in this program?
As mentioned above I judge this program as very useful. I enjoyed giving the lecture and would definitely do it again. I also recommend any other fellow to participate in this program since oneself can learn many things.
5. Was it meaningful in terms of your fellowship activities?
Yes, in that sense, that a research stay in Japan for me also includes to learn about the country (beside physics).
6. In what ways do you think the students benefited from the program?
I hope that they benefited, although it is difficult for me to judge it. In the best case, they (or some of them) got more interested in science (discover nature) and / or in foreign countries and people (discover culture).
7. Could you give some overall advice or comments to future participants in the program?
If you get the chance to participate, do It (unless you completely dislike interaction with other people)!
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