Ibunka-flyer

How the Book Works

Two-step Progression

1 Introducing Yourself

COMPREHENSION 3

Read the responses and mark the statements true or false .

The ways in which we present ourselves are deeply cultural. When you introduce yourself, do you focus on your uniqueness, or on how much you have in common with others? And how do you respond to other people’s self introductions? Do you usually compliment them?

Q3 Do you usually compliment people? How do you respond to compliments?

9

I compliment people if I really mean it. In the same vein, I don't like to be complimented when I know it's not justified. I feel embarrassed. I've noticed that Japanese people compliment each other consistently. It seems to me that it's a social rule. It "puts oil on the wheels" and makes for harmonious relationships. But personally I prefer more spontaneous, honest communication.

VOCABULARY

AUDIO

FOR TEACHERS

You and Your Culture Part 1

Marc Belgian,

businessman, lives in Japan

SURVEY WARM - UP

WARM-UP SURVEY

Answer the following questions about your daily life.

1-09

10

Joe American, university professor, lives in Japan, has lived in France

I tend to give lots of compliments when I speak Japanese. In the US, I give some compliments. In France, very few - it seems less common.

Q1

Q4

Imagine you are going to introduce yourself to a group. What kinds of things would you mention about yourself?

Do you think it’s normal to comment on someone’s appearance?

1-10

• Yes, in any case (positive or negative). • Yes, when it’s positive (someone looks good). • No, never. It’s rude.

• name • nickname • age • hometown

11

What surprised me at first when I came into contact with people from Canada was that, unlike in Japan, they openly praise their own family and relatives and accept compliments. When I first started interacting with others, I felt it was tiresome because I couldn't take praise honestly, and had trouble reacting to it.

Masako Japanese, salesperson, has lived in Canada

• your favorite food • your school / job • family

Q5

Imagine that you are introducing yourself at a club you just joined. What do you think you should do in order to make a good first impression?

1-11

• a general hobby (e.g. games, music) • a specific hobby (e.g. chess, jazz) • your connection with the group • make a joke • other: .................................................................

• talk humbly about yourself • be well-dressed • make eye contact • use honorifics • smile • use humor • be well-groomed (hair, nails, makeup, etc.)

True False

9 Marc thinks that it is best to always compliment people in another culture, regardless of how you feel. 10 Joe is certainly more likely to compliment others in Japan than in his home culture. 11 In Canada, Masako found it difficult to think of compliments for people she met.

Q2

When describing your abilities to others, do you …

• make jokes • laugh a lot

In Part 1 of each unit, You and Your Culture , students reflect on their own habits and preferences, compare them with their classmates’, and express basic ideas about culture. When you comment on what someone has said, do you compliment them (say positive things about them)? Q3 • talk modestly, putting yourself down? • talk honestly? • talk yourself up?

Part 2, People in Other Cultures , introduces students to other cultural patterns, and guides them to react to some examples of cultural differences and similarities. Draw a simple manga based on the topic of this unit. It may be from your experience or your imagination. CREATIVITY 1 2

1. to present oneself 2. uniqueness 3. to compliment 4. specific 5. modestly 6. to talk oneself up 7. to feel that way 8. appearance 9. to make a good first impression 10. honorifics 11. well-groomed VOCABULARY

• Yes, I always try to. • Only if I really feel that way. • No, I avoid complimenting.

VOCABULARY

1. in the same vein 2. not justified 3. harmonious 4. regardless of ~ 5. openly 6. to praise ~ 7. praise 8. tiresome

3

4

Unit 1 I Introducing Yourself 8 Guided Expression

Unit 1 I Introducing Yourself 13

Throughout each lesson, students are given a variety of scaffolded language models. Language “toolboxes”, developed over three editions of our best-selling Conversations in Clas s textbook, provide a springboard for students to express themselves.

In my experience, The way I see it, If you ask me,

in Japan

people men women

most many

give short responses

when

meeting someone for the first time

young people older people

1. I think that in Japan, when

meeting someone for the first time speaking to someone older speaking to someone younger taking a job interview introducing themselves to a class going on a first date

speak modestly

and I’m no different.

but I usually don’t.

people tend

use humor

.

to

look for things in common

2. In Japan, when speaking to someone you don’t know well, it’s common to and to .

show confidence

's response to be the most interesting B

. Personally, I tend to … C

I found Nira A

use lots of aizuchi

give short responses

A

B

C 1 Personally, I tend to … 2 It seems that … 3 I find it surprising that … 4 I always thought that …

1 Nira 2 Ryori 3 Émilie 4 Catriona 5 Jane

1 interesting 2 relatable 3 peculiar 4 striking

use honorifics

3.

give compliments

For intermediate-level EFL students with basic conversational ability , the next challenge is to learn to speak with nuance and express their opinions rationally: • qualifying what they say , for example by saying “Many elderly Japanese people like to … ” instead of “Japanese people like to …” • expressing their personal habits and points of view in relation to their society’s values: “Most university students in Japan … but personally …” • reacting respectfully to differences by explaining what they find to be and why: “I found this to be surprising because …”