Safety First: How Yellow Tape Became the Secret to Success for Saitama Automobile College Students

Recently, the SLCC Tech automotive department hosted 26 students and two instructors from Saijidai, Saitama Automobile College, Japan. The visitors participated in an intensive 10-day study abroad program facilitated at the SLCC Miller Campus, where the Saijidai students learned, implemented, and enhanced their newly acquired skills.

Zac Taylor, associate dean of Aviation, Transportation, and Related Technologies, shared his excitement about welcoming the students and about providing SLCC instructors with a unique opportunity to teach international students.

"This is a wonderful opportunity not only for the Saitama students to expand their skills, but also for the SLCC instructors. It allows our instructors to strategically communicate and teach effectively while teaching students who have a language barrier."

The students were trained in three disciplines: custom painting, facilitated by Hondo Espil; panel fabrication, by Kirk Miller; and high-performance racing, by Derek Aramaki.

Learning

Hondo Espil, who was inducted into the Utah Hot Rod Hall of Fame earlier this year, shares that he was excited with the opportunity to teach Japanese students custom painting.

"I knew we had had an interpreter to teach these students, and I had absolutely no reservations about it. They are all great, and incredibly talented," he explains while proudly showing the students' spray-painting jobs.

With the translators, language wasn't a barrier, but general experience was. As student Genki Takahashi says, these skills were all completely new for many of the visitors.

"I have never done custom spray painting and the other two areas, but it has been an amazing experience learning it from the professors who were kind, patient, and willing to share their skills. This entire experience has been amazing."

Implementing

Kirk Miller, an associate professor, taught panel fabrication and plastic welding skills that require students to weld and adapt to the needs of the trade, as well as use ingenuity while implementing the newly acquired welding skills for the panels.

"I appreciate the sense of humor and willingness to learn that this group of students has," he says, "The first group learned rather quickly that the sparks from welding were no joke, so they started wearing tape on their shoes — not as a fashion statement, but as a safety measure."

Takanobu Komuro, along with other classmates, strategically placed yellow tape on the toe box of his shoes to avoid sparks while practicing and perfecting his recently learned welding skills. Pointing at his shoes between smiles and laughter, he shares, "I simply adapt to the environment and continue to do the best that I can."

Enhancing

The students encountered several challenges during their short time at SLCC, both in and out of the classroom. However, their willingness to embrace discomfort fostered an ideal learning environment. By rotating through different disciplines and gaining hands-on experience during their study hours, the students had the opportunity to adapt their learning approaches and further enhance their new skills.

"Being here under unique circumstances, the Japanese students did a great job overcoming the language barrier. With an eagerness to learn both automotive techniques and American culture, the students appeared to soak up as much of both as possible." Derek Aramaki.

Experiencing

All Saitama students shared the same energy and level of gratitude for the opportunity to learn from SLCC Tech instructors. While they encountered many cultural shocks during their intensive study abroad program, the one that stood out most was that, compared to American movies, the college experience at SLCC was more personalized.

Yugo Kawakami shares he was impressed by the facilities where he spent hours learning: "The spaces are far bigger and cleaner than what I had expected. We were welcomed to all spaces, and for that I am grateful."

To the Saitama Automobile College students, thank you for coming and for your positive, willing attitude toward learning, practicing, and perfecting the recently developed skills. We wish you all the best in your education and professional career.

ありがとう(thank you).