Unit 1 Who Studies at College ESL? Most American colleges and universities have English as a Second Language programs. Who are the students? They are adults of various. What are their? Some students have studied it before, and other students have not. Are they all new to America? Some students are new to America, but other students are not. Some students didnt study English now. They families and didnt have time to study. Classes people from various nations. Japanese are a large group in some of the U.S. In other areas, there are not many Japanese. 149
Unit 2 Understanding Universities in the U.S. The United States has over 1,200 four-year colleges and, though many of them are not nationwide. Almost every state has at two public universities. In, these universities usually have some campuses. Most students come from that state, because students from other states must pay more. Some private universities are very old, and those universities have beautiful buildings. Public universities are quite. They built many of their buildings in the 1960s, and they dont look very. They are just simple buildings. 150
Unit 3 Student Visas for Foreign Students Japanese can enter the United States as without visas for short stays. After 90 days, that ends. For many Japanese, studying in America sounds. To study in America,, a person needs an F-1 visa. To get an F-1 visa, a person must have an I-20 from a college or university. You must for the F-1 visa and receive it before you enter the U.S. You cannot apply for it in the U.S. Even though the process seems a bit, this rule is very strict. 151
Unit 4 Going to a New School in America Americans do not have a upon entering a new school. They celebrate from a school. When they are younger, they usually go to public schools with other children from the. At every level, there are many students who have gone to school together for many years. At the same time, Americans moving normal. The school often makes new students. Schools show their students their differences in homework, testing and events. Such a system may give you. Actually, many Americans have exactly the same. 152
Unit 5 People with Liberal or Conservative Backgrounds Americans often speak freely of and romance. When speaking of life in, many strong opinions are commonly. Some opinions have few supporters. For example, during elections, choices are defended strongly by voters, even by those who vote for, candidates. However, this does not Americans always act freely. Many children are raised by parents. Those parents may feel it is their job to decide their childrens, music, even dating habits. Among school-age children, some are to date at an early age and others are not. Americans are not surprised at how differently various families act. 153
Unit 6 Various of Parties for College Students American student clubs used to have the biggest parties at universities, but other kinds of parties and events have become more important. students in often have informal parties themselves. parties are small and just include groups of friends. Now Those Many students make a lot of their friends at such parties. Universities the biggest events to make them successful. Those events are both large and. Normally, they are daytime events such as large sport or graduation ceremonies. Almost all students will club, dorm and university events at some time their student life. 154
Unit 7 The Most Important Item a Student Owns When Americans enter college, many of them have computers. In years, computers have become the most popular graduation for students finishing high school. Some computer makers have high school students for computer sales. Makers hope students will brand loyalty and buy their computers again. know students do their school work on computers every day. Students who have a good experience with their computers will want the same computer in the. To sales, stores often include popular software which students may. So, the months before school starts have become important for stores and computer makers. 155
Unit 8 American People and Directions Most Americans are quite to give directions to their homes or anywhere else. Sometimes those directions may include some. They might not that a store or office has changed its name. They could confuse the of street names. They might incorrectly tell you to go three signals, but it is actually five signals. Getting good directions with times and distances is not very likely. Not many people directions with all the facts right. Some people think of distances. Others think of the time which is needed., most cities have straight streets. Also, most people are very good with compass directions. These two things mean that even wrong are not much of a problem. 156
Unit 9 Various Ways of Saying Good-bye At the end of a social event, hugging, kissing and/or hands are expected. This may when the guests leave a party. Some women hug their friends when they say good-bye. Hugging is also within families. Shaking hands is the way for businesspeople to say goodbye. commonly wave their hands on the street. Still, there are some rules. When saying good-bye, friends say, Bye never Bye-bye. The latter one sounds childish. It is the way a parent would an infant to speak. In other cases, travelers with a simple See you later. or Call me. They say this even if it is to happen. 157
Unit 10 Special University Lectures by Famous Speakers Universities often guests to speak to large audiences on campus. These can include famous professors and celebrities. The audience may be more in seeing the speakers than in hearing their lectures. Such speakers would tell the students interesting of their professional or personal lives. The may report on very famous guest lecturers. The news of a famous speakers lecture will be widely in the local community. The of the lecture may be the biggest topic for some days. This is one way a university can students and become famous in society. 158
Unit 11 Student Internships It has always been common for college students to work during their. This is true during the three-month summer vacation. In recent years, a new trend has. Students work as at major companies during the summer between the third and fourth years. Universities can some students at the best companies. Other students may find jobs at firms. Students who hope to get very good jobs after graduation should have done a summer. It gives them a vital over students with ordinary work experience or no work experience at all. 159
Unit 12 Weddings Take Many Forms America has a population, so weddings take many forms. Of course, economics are a major for most couples. First, news of a wedding is announced in the local paper or online. Then, the couple may get advice from their leader. Most couples rent halls or use church basements for receptions because those places have all the for serving large meals. However, those places have no professional wedding planners, so the couple and their families plan the party themselves. Information is gathered from many. There are few common concerning refreshments, entertainment, or even the nature of the reception. Weddings and receptions really show the of each couple. 160
Unit 13 People Eat More Because of the All Around Them Pricing food cheaply has always been a common trend in American life. Supermarkets even items sold below their cost. This is a sales which is not common in Japan. Restaurants this trend by offering so much food that no one can eat it all. This helps in getting more. Everyone likes a bargain. In and rural areas, where people enjoy gardening, giving vegetables to neighbors for free also keeps costs low. Using government discount coupons at stores is one way Americans with low can get food cheaply, too. They buy the coupons at a lower cost and then use them to buy food of a higher values. A natural of this trend is for Americans to eat a lot. 161
Unit 14 Various Kinds of Kisses In early, American boys and girls give their mothers and fathers good-night kisses. To kiss ones parents is normal during the school years. As adults, many couples not kiss each other good-night, but they may also kiss each other good-bye in the morning. Some train systems call the areas in of stations Kiss N Ride. Traditionally, took their husbands to stations by car, because they wanted to use the family car later in the day. Also, it is common to see women kiss their friends when they say hello or good-bye. 162
Unit 15 How to Use College Cafeterias Cafeterias in American universities are in student dormitories or in the Student Union for students who come from their homes. have students do most of the work as part-time workers. In the dormitories, you will see students show college ID cards without. They paid for the whole year in. You can understand American college life by looking at the students in the cafeteria. Most students their friends to sit with them. Those groups may be club members or classmates. Many clubs make their members eat together so that they feel that they to the club. 163
Unit 16 Life in an American Apartment About one-third of all Americans live in apartments. Most American apartments are often provided to the renters without. However, they will have, stoves and light fixtures. Most apartments are rented directly from the landlord through in daily newspapers. Few people rent apartments through real agents. Larger apartment have resident managers to make minor repairs or plan repairs by professionals. such as gas and electricity might or might not be included in the rent. Renters must also pay security to cover any damages they may cause. 164
Unit 17 The Fast Life Leads to Nuking Quick Dinners Many Americans feel that food is fuel to quickly. Fast food is for working people. Slow, relaxing meals may be the. However, something faster but not necessarily tasty is often a. Rushed breakfasts and short lunch are common. In evenings, people dinner with other activities to save time. This makes people feel the meal itself should be fairly simple. This idea long ago led to canned foods, fast foods and frozen foods. In the last 30 years, recipes using have been quite standard. Microwave ovens use to heat food. Therefore, people say that the food is nuked. This gives the that nuked food is not really healthy. 165
Unit 18 Enjoying World-class Entertainment The United States has the worlds largest entertainment. It is easy to find movies and concerts which far less than in Japan. Major universities have large halls and. Some singers whose names are well-known here. Others want to attract students with university concert tours. Starting times are often later at night. Also churches and community centers provide space which people can use for free concerts. If you have a, visit Las Vegas. It has not only but also family entertainment. Tickets, whose prices are not too, are easily available. 166
Unit 19 The Last Class, a Test Day but Sometimes a Party Day Universities everywhere give their students grades. Of course, students often finish with a test, but the grading in America is a little different from the Japanese system. The last class is often the day when students have a test or give a presentation. However, all throughout the semester are graded, and these are up for the final grade. The final is only one part of the students grade. This is the why the atmosphere in the last class is not especially serious. with some presentations, some classes where students eat or enjoy themselves are quite normal. 167
Unit 20 Restaurants Change to Attract More Customers Until the 1970s, fast-food were minor places that people visited to grab a quick snack. The shops did not even have tables or chairs! All orders were to go. At that time, ordinary restaurant dining required a waiter or waitresses. more options were added to attract customers. Drinks became self-serve to cut costs. Buffet tables were added to choices. Both fast-food and other restaurants this. Now, the line between the two is not as clear as it was in the. 168
Unit 21 Gift Giving for Weddings and Other Americans give gifts for various occasions, but to Japan there are few rules concerning gift-giving. Americans give larger gifts for Christmas and weddings. There are small gifts for birthdays, and retirements. Wedding gifts do follow some. Couples often a list of gift ideas at a major local store. Guests then choose a gift from the list to their budget. Wedding gifts should be, not personal. Also, the two families give special gifts. The parents usually give a far more expensive gift. Because the family traditionally pays for the wedding, that brides parents give a cheaper gift. This tradition may seem, but it is still strong. The couple usually pays for the. 169
Unit 22 Making for Vacations in America American vacations are not into one short period as Japanese vacations are. The summer vacation, the longest of the year, be taken any time during June, July or August. The second longest vacation is in the winter. The period around Thanksgiving and from Christmas to New Years Day is called the Holidays. The time for family to together is not so much Christmas as Thanksgiving. New Years Day is the least important of the three. New Years Eve is a day for couples, not families. Married couples may their vacations 50-50 between the wifes family and the husbands family. If is spent with the wifes family, they might spend Christmas with the husbands family. The following year, its the other around. 170
Unit 23 Two or More Colleges It is very lively for American college students to attend two or more colleges before they finish a four-year. There are a few reasons for this. If a family needs to save money, a student may at home and study at a two-year community college near the family home. After their second years, the student will enter a university as a student. Other students decide they do not like their first university. They find another university that more suits their tastes or needs. They after a semester, a year or a couple of years. If they took standard classes, they can get at the new college for classes they took at the old college. By doing this, they can still graduate on. 171