English Opens Doors—Step into Otaru’s Vibrant Speaking Circle

About us

We conduct voluntary activities in English upon request by various organizations, including Otaru City. Otaru ESS was founded in 1966 by the late Professor Masashi Kitamura, Emeritus Professor of Otaru University of Commerce, and has been active for nearly 60 years through the efforts of the volunteers. In 2022, we registered with the Otaru Social Welfare Council as a volunteer organization aimed at promoting international exchange and multicultural coexistence.

Current members and their roles

We currently have about 30 members living in and around Otaru, with a third from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We hold regular meetings on the third Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm, providing an opportunity for members to report on their activities, improve their English conversation skills, interact with each other and have some fun. For about two hours, the Japanese members can have conversations with English speakers, making it a great opportunity for improving their English. It could serve as a good practice opportunity for those aiming for advanced English.

Recent translation and interpretation activities

In recent years, the AI-based translation and interpretation applications have developed remarkably and have gradually lowered the language barrier, enabling foreign individuals who are not proficient in Japanese to use such applications. Even so, in their daily lives, foreigners may not be able to participate in the local community, and they may not obtain enough information necessary to live in Japan. ESS would like to play a role in bridging that gap.

If you would like to join ESS, please feel free to contact us from here. There is no minimum English proficiency required.