Our Own Journeys: Readings for Cross-Cultural Communication

I tutor only Japanese students. I have used this book with all levels from fourth grade (he had been here since Kindergarten) to adult. The book contains stories of adults as well as children; and, although the book is now 16 years old, the situations could just as easily happen today. I find Japanese students better than myself at getting literal details, but not so comfortable with inference or expressing opinions. The questions cover all three levels. For lower level adults, the words we use to talk about emotions are helpful--confusing, embarrassing, to try to impress someone, for example.

I teach adult high beginner ESL in NYC. This book is wonderful because every student can relate to something in it. It is authentic stories of immigrants' early encounters with American culture. The exercises after each piece are well done. Includes vocabulary, comprehension questions, topics for discussion or writing, and something fun and challenging, such as a crossword puzzle. I think this could be used at higher ESL levels as well.

"Our Own Stories: Readings for Cross-Cultural Communication" is a great book. I have used it with my middle school and high school ESL students. The stories are great and relevant to my students (and yours too). Each story also has assigned work that relates to the story and then to real life. I find this aspect especially great about this book. I would recommend this to anyone who works with ESL students from 7th (maybe 5th) grade onwards. Get the book and enjoy the stories.