Ibunka!

Intercultural Communication in Everyday Life

Ibunka! is a unique second-language textbook that introduces Japanese university students to basic topics of intercultural communication. Created by language teachers, it is dynamic, thought-provoking and fun!

It was designed for a wide range of intermediate-level EFL courses, including general English, communication and content-based classes.

The content is grounded in topics of everyday life, which are far more accessible than difficult theories and concepts. Students will learn to express themselves on these topics in a nuanced way.

How does "Ibunka!" work?

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Ibunka! Intercultural Communication in Everyday Life

ISBN：978-4-905343-30-1
Authors：Stephen Richmond, Bruno Vannieu
96 pages (A4), color
Price: ¥2,700 + tax

Free access multimedia site (audio tracks, vocabulary, etc.)

Table of contents (PDF)

Lesson examples (PDF)

Structure of Lessons

Two-step Progression

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.

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.

Guided Expression

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

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 …”

Online Resources for Teachers

Ibunka! is fully supported with digital complements for use in a range of teaching contexts.

1) Digital textbook

The entire textbook is available in convenient Flipbook format.

2) Online forms

Use these to assign homework or to gather and project student responses during class.

Concept

Intercultural Communication as Experienced by Real People

Through the Ibunka Survey, many people who live or have lived abroad shared their thoughts on a variety of everyday topics. This textbook is based on their responses.

Target levels

This textbook is for intermediate-level English learners. However, it can be adjusted to be used with a wider range of abilities and situations by using these features.