The Kansai Gaidai University English Studying Society celebrates its 40th birthday this year. This organization provides students with innumerable opportunities to enhance and expand their English language skills. E.S.S. members enjoy rewarding experiences and form life time relationships while participating in various E.S.S. club activities. These are the attributes and goals of the E.S.S. Club at Kansai Gaidai University.
E.S.S. chairperson, Miho Ueda arranges weekly agendas and maintains contact with club members. General Affairs Manager, Azusa Tsujiuchi reserves rooms and equipment for various activities, as well as makes E.S.S. pamphlets and takes photos of all events including graduation ceremony photographs. Sayaka Okuda, Vice-President, provides a bridge between club sections by planning special activities club members may participate in during the year. 2006 plans included spring training camp in March, followed by the Cultural Exposition in June when club members managed a hotcake shop sharing hard work and good times. E.S.S. Club members went to Okayama Prefecture during August to stimulate English skills and share experiences. The final activity for ES.S. this year will be the farewell party held on February 12th. Such activities serve to connect different sections of E.S.S. during the year. Vice-President Hiroshi Kagiyama of the Financial Department has a great deal of responsibility managing E.S.S. funds, but says, "Though often tired managing club funds it's a pleasure to serve as club treasurer because of my love for the E.S.S. Club." Communication between club members and departments is maintained by E.S.S. Club secretary Masayuki Yamamoto. Masayuki, says, "Letters I write are simple, but important. They help members make improvements and clarify ideas concerning the club. I like to help plan club events and make club rules with club members." These different departments co-operation together has provided E.S.S. with a solid foundation for success.
The E.S.S. Club sections are overseen by section leader Shunsuke Masuki. His responsibilities include managing E.S.S. section initiation, holding summer programs all E.S.S. members may join that provide motivation to improve English skills, holding meetings between section leaders, and finally guiding freshmen interested in joining E.S.S. to participate in various opportunities E.S.S. provides. This year 17 freshmen entered the E.S.S. Club. Shunsuke said, "I hope all members have enjoyed themselves and have spent valuable time in the E.S.S. Club. I'm sure it will be one of the best memories of their university life." Ryuichi Ogura of the Co-ordination Department supports various E.S.S. sections by finding judges for E.S.S. contests and visiting K.G.U. faculty to explain contest guidelines for participating contest judges. Ryuichi said, "This was a rewarding experience because I could talk with teachers and learn about managing events."
The E.S.S. Club has four main sections. The Drama Section is lead by Yuki Fuji. The Drama Section's daily activities include all English language skills required for drama presentation to the KGU community and public. Two dramas are presented annually: the Scenario Reading and the Autumn Public Performance. This past summer a Scenario Reading 'The Wizard of O,' was performed. The Autumn Public Performance is the main event of the year for the Drama Section. Speech Section members enjoy various activities such as circuit speech practice, which is like a game, the Freshmen Speech Contest, and the Kansai Gaidai University Oratorical Contest. Members participate in speech contests at other universities as well. Speech organization, discussion of pronunciation and delivery, and speech practice are all part of the Speech Section members activities. Speech Section leader, Tamae Doi, says, "Our members have great motivation to present wonderful speeches and enjoy speaking English." The Debate Section is lead by Shunsuke Masuki who asks, "Why am I debating? I have realized that debate is really fun, interesting, but difficult. Debate provides training in skills such as impromptu speaking; developing logical thinking and English fluency improves with such practice. We can explore serious social issues such as euthanasia, the death penalty and so on. This encourages curiosity and develops our character to be productive citizens in the future after leaving Kansai Gaidai University." Kumi Onoe is leader of the Guide Section. There are two main activities this year for the Guide Section. The first semester was spent studying Kiyomizu Temple, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku Temple. Brochures will be made about these topics. Once a month members visit Kiyomizu Temple to guide foreign visitors. During the second semester the Guide Section made a presentation about Japanese culture for the Guide Contest. During this contest each participant gave a conversational-style presentation using slides to a native English speaking teacher. In the future the Guide Section will learn about new temples and plan visits to guide visitors there as well. Through these activities members have the opportunity to develop their English skills for practical purposes, meet foreigners providing real experiences in using English outside of the university, and to explore Japanese culture.
The E.S.S. Club consists of 50 members. The E.S.S. Club provides newly arriving freshmen with the opportunity to develop their English skills in a variety of ways according to their own interests and goals. As Shunsuke said, "Studying English is difficult, so a student may give up or not be able to maintain their motivation with the normal stresses of university study and life. Therefore, the E.S.S. Club's permanent goal is to help students enjoy activities and study English while attending Kansai Gaidai University." With forty years of experience the English Studying Society has and will continue to provide Kansai Gaidai University students with opportunities to build on their English language skills while enjoying life experiences and forming relationships among students, faculty, administration, and the community that will last a lifetime.