Date: Sept. 14 (Thu.) 18:30-20:00　

　　Place: Midorigaoka Bunka Kaikan　　　　　　 　　

　Speaker: Ms. Chiharu Kawakami, Group Manager of World Heritage/International Education for UNESCO Association in Japan. With some 60 participants listening attentively , including the students of the Introduction to Italian course, Ms. Kawakami started the lecture with a quiz. She asked, "What is the symbol of UNESCO modeled on?", "Where is the headquarters of UNESCO?". She then　explained the activities and the history of UNESCO. She said, "Nongovernmental activities of UNESCO started in Japan and spread to many parts of the world. The enthusiasm of Japanese citizens helped Japan to gain membership in UNESCO." She then delivered her lecture in an easy-to-understand way on the Literacy Campaign and Japan originating the World Terakoya Movement, which UNESCO has actively engaged in to teach reading and writing to the illiterate in the world.

　Then, World Heritage was introduced on VTR, with an explanation of The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and natural Heritage.e. She cited a case of international cooperation which saved the Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt from sinking into a dam. She said, "Some World Heritage sites face serious dangers, ranging from natural disasters, acid rain caused by environmental pollution, the destruction of the environment brought about by massive development and destruction and pollution caused by careless tourists, which make it very difficult to conserve and restore World Heritage sites." She also said with enthusiasm, "World Heritage is not the only one that is valuable. It is also important to preserve and cherish the nature and culture around us. Therefore,　much is expected from the role of nongovernmental UNESCO."

　I left the lecture room with the thought that Japanese people tend to mistake World Heritage for a certificate to be a tourist attraction, but it really is not.

　　◆After the lecture, an orientation was given by the lecturer, Marino Salvio to the students of the Introduction to Italian course.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 By Yoshizawa

　　　Date: Sept. 11 (Mon.) 18:30-20:00　

　　 Place: Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan　　　

　Speaker: Mr. Noriaki Sagara, Director, Department of Overall Planning and Coordination, National Institute for Educational Research of Japan　 　　　　　　

　Mr. Sagara started the lecture by quoting the words of Mr. Haruhiko Kindaiti, "Human beings have characteristics as does society" to explain what culture is. He explained culture in the form of language the people use, then from the standpoint of etymology. He then explained how culture is different from civilization. He said, "Japan is an unusual country in that there is only one language. On the other hand, in France, there are many other languages than French, such as Corsican, Italian,　Alsace(German), Bretagne, Celtic, langue d'oc, Catalan, ad Breton. In that sense, it can be said that Japan is now losing its culture. The language of young people is not Japanese. The French people esteem French highly precisely because there are many other languages.

　"The purpose of education is to hand down the value which each culture has nurtured. Students learn the value because their culture approves it. Teachers should teach the value with authority. It is impossible to make culture inherited, if teachers have lateral thinking which many people accept. I am afraid that Japan may lose its own culture.

　"In the world of Noh and Kabuki, of which structure is unchallengedly vertical, culture has been passed on. Although a family is not such a special society, each family should have something to be inherited. Parents should bring up their children with parental authority." Then he asked,"How are children being brought up in your family?" I think the participants must have reflected on what the situation in their family is.

　In the end, he advised the students of French language courses to consult a dictionary as often as possible.

　◆*After the lecture, an orientation was given to the students of the Introduction to French course.

　　　　　　　　 By miyazaki&Hirata

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