Japanese 
Contact Yosuke HIGUCHI
- Visiting period
- December 2019 to March 2020
- Visiting university
- Johns Hopkins University
- Visiting country and region
- Maryland, U.S.A
Content of the study program
I worked on speech recognition research under Dr. Shinji Watanabe at the Center for Language and Speech Processing (CLSP), Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Speech recognition realizes speech-to-text conversion by a single deep neural network (DNN) model. Although recent research has drastically improved the precision of speech recognition, challenges related to extremely slow inference-speed due to the network characteristics remain. This program aims to build an end-to-end speech recognition model with a high inference-speed while maintaining recognition precision.
Study results
I worked on research for high inference-speed end-to-end speech recognition. I read many papers, including ones outside the field of speech. I spent time considering different ideas through discussions with professors and senior students. Most ideas did not produce the expected outcomes, and I was frustrated with the time limitation. In the end, I was able to set the direction for my research. I also learned the importance of perseverance and continuing to contemplate ideas through the knowledge gained from failures. Aside from the end-to-end speech recognition research, I incorporated my previous research. I deeply understood how new research could result from a gathering of students with similar research themes to share the knowledge and tools with one another. Such activities allow researchers to utilize diverse experiences as tools to enhance the enjoyment of research.
My experience abroad
Baltimore, Maryland is notorious for its rough neighborhoods in the U.S. Since this was my destination, I was filled with anxiety before leaving Japan. However, the area surrounding the university is relatively safe, and I did not encounter trouble. I enjoyed typical American events such as attending a Christmas party at the professor’s home and watching American football games. At the university, I participated in the research-paper read-aloud and progress meetings to present and to discuss in English. This was the first time that I used English for work, and it was great practice to explain the research content and answer/ask questions. I attended lectures on the topic of speech recognition, which are not offered in Waseda University, and participated in seminars that invited outside researchers. These experiences deepened my understanding of the state-of-the-art research content and my foundational knowledge of specialization.
Influence on my future career
After students were allocated to research labs, I began my research without much thought. I was hoping to graduate with a master’s degree. However, through the study abroad program, I started thinking about continuing into the doctoral program. Many students I met during the study abroad program were extremely ambitious in terms of research, although they were all in my age group. Our meetings and discussions helped me refocus my attitudes towards research. I want to further improve myself. By continuing my research in the future, I will be able to reach the same level as these students. Moreover, by engaging in more active interactions with students and researchers outside my Waseda research lab, I will be able to broaden my perspective and widen my opportunities for the future.
Other comments
I deeply appreciate the SGU program for providing me with a valuable opportunity and support. It provided both financial and safety support, allowing me to focus on research without any worries. I sincerely thank Dr. Kobayashi and Dr. Ogawa, who recommended me for the study abroad program, and Ms. Ikeda who quickly and carefully handled my last-minute application. Lastly, I deeply appreciate Dr. Watanabe who not only accepted me as a participant in the program, but also taught me countless lessons about and beyond research topics, expanding my opportunities in the future. Thank you very much.