Traveling and Living in the U.S.: Using Authentic English
S. Kathleen Kitao
Kenji Kitao Asahi Press Copyright C 1995 by Dr. S. Kathleen Kitao and Dr. Kenji Kitao. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the authors. Printed in Japan. This textbook is accompanied by a tape and a teachers' guide which includes an English explanation of how to use the textbook and answers for the exercises. For class adoption, we offer a complimentary tape and teachers' guide. Please contact us at the following address. Published by Asahi Press 3-3-5 Nishi Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101 Japan Phone (03)3239-0271 Fax (03)3261-0532 Introduction Although Japanese students study English for many years, they do not often have the opportunity to see authentic English--English written by and for native English speakers. The purpose of this textbook is to present Japanese students with authentic English and information about the language and situations related to it. In different chapters, they see, for example, a menu, a bus schedule and route map, and a job application. This helps students know what to expect in different situations in the United States and how situations differ in Japan and the U.S. However, the use of this book is not limited to students who have plans to go to the U.S. Even those who have no plans to travel abroad can be motivated to study English by encountering authentic language, seeing how English is used in real contexts, and learning about daily life in another country. This book is divided into twenty chapters, each of which begins with a piece of authentic English. This is used as a basis for introducing a situation that someone traveling or living in the United States would encounter--going through customs, finding a hotel, eating in a restaurant, etc. There are questions about the content of the authentic English, usually followed by a related dialogue, with certain useful expressions for that situation. Next there is an explanation of the situation related to the authentic English in the United States, and true/false questions about the reading passage. Pair Practice introduces more expressions related to the situation being presented in the chapter, and finally there is usually a role play using a guided dialogue. (Some chapters are short and have no dialogue, pair practice, or role play.) To the Students This textbook covers many situations that you might encounter in the United States. You should keep in mind, however, that situations vary in different parts of the United States, with people of different social or economic status, etc. The Northeast and the Southeast have many differences, as do small towns and big cities. Because of these and other factors, it is not always possible to make general statements about what will happen in each situation. However, based on the information in the book, you will generally know what to expect. In this textbook, we do not mean to indicate that the way things are done in Japan are wrong or that the way Japanese communicate is wrong. We are not suggesting that you should change the way you do things in Japan. The purpose of this book is to help you expand your skills and to know what to expect in a variety of situations in the U.S. This will help you communicate more effectively in English. * * * * * We would like to express our appreciation to John Rockelman of Doshisha Women's College, Karmen Rockelman, and Mary Noguchi of Ritsumeikan University for reading our manuscript and making valuable comments. Table of Contents Introduction (1) Arriving in the United States (customs declaration and I-94) (2) From the Airport to the City (airport shuttle advertisement) (3) Finding and Checking Into a Hotel (New Orleans Lodging brochure) (4) Facilities in a Hotel (guest services guide) (5) Restaurants in the United States (restaurant guide) (6) Eating in a Restaurant (menu) (7) Using the Telephone (Dialing Information and Rates) (8) Using Public Transportation (city bus schedule) (9) Taking a Taxi (New York Taxis) (10) Getting Around on Foot (map of Manhattan) (11) Sightseeing and Tours (San Francisco tour brochure) (12) Renting a Car (car rental information card) (13) Entertainment (entertainment guide) (14) Shopping (Pier 39 brochure) (15) At the Post Office (post office overseas parcel form) (16) Sickness and Injury (Patient History Information form) (17) Reporting Crimes and Losses (police report) (18) Applying for Employment (employment application) (19) Going to College (college application form) (20) Classified Advertisements (classified advertisements)
1.Arrving in the United States
Realia Comprehension Questions 1. What are these forms? 2. What is the name of the person who filled out these forms? 3. How many family members are traveling with him? 4. Where will he be staying? 5. How long does he plan to stay in the U.S.? 6. Is he bringing more than $10,000 into the U.S.? 7. What is the value of goods he purchased abroad and is bringing into the U.S.? 8. What is his passport number? 9. Where did he board the plane? Dialogue Immigration Official: May I see your passport and your customs and immigration forms? Akio: Here you are. Immigration Official: What are you planning to do in the U.S.? Akio: I'm sightseeing and visiting friends. Immigration Official: How long will you be here? Akio: For two weeks. Immigration Official: Are you spending the two weeks in New York? Akio: No, I'll spend a few days in California before I go back to Japan. Immigration Official: (stamps immigration form) Enjoy your stay. Vocabulary 1. immigration: department of the government that controls people coming into and leaving a country 2. sightseeing: going around visiting places of interest, as tourists do Useful Expressions 1. I'm sightseeing and visiting friends. 2. For two weeks. 3. I'll spend a few days in California before I go back to Japan. Arriving in the United States When your plane lands in the U.S., you will have to go through customs and immigration, whether you are changing planes or not. After you get off the plane, follow the signs that say "Customs and Immigration." Be sure to get in the line for people who are not U.S. citizens. An immigration official will check your passport and customs and immigration forms. The official may also ask the purpose of your visit, where you are staying, whether you plan to work, etc. He/she will stamp your passport and immigration card and attach the card to your passport. At most airports, you pick up your luggage after immigration, and then go on to customs. (You must pick up your luggage to go through customs even if it has been checked to your next stop.) There will be several places to pick up luggage, so look for a sign with your flight number. Usually when you go through customs, you will show your customs declaration form and be asked only a few questions. (You need to declare the value of any gifts that you are bringing from Japan [question 11 on the customs declaration form]). In rare cases, you might be asked to open your baggage. After customs, there is usually a place to exchange money. The exchange rate is often similar to bank exchange rates. If you are boarding another flight, there is a counter outside the customs area where your airline receives your luggage again. You can also get information here about the gate for your flight. True/False Questions If the statement is true, circle "T." If it is false, circle "F." If the information is not in the reading, circle "?." T F ? 1. You go through customs and immigration at your last stop in the U.S. T F ? 2. You only need to show the immigration official your passport. T F ? 3. An official will attach your immigration card to your passport. T F ? 4. You can tell where to pick up your luggage by finding the sign with your flight number. T F ? 5. Most people have their luggage inspected when they go through customs. T F ? 6. You only have your luggage inspected if you declare a large amount. T F ? 7. The exchange rate at the airport is much better than at a bank. T F ? 8. If you are boarding another flight, you should take your luggage to the airline check-in counter. Pair Practice Listen to the tape and fill in the blanks. Then practice the dialogues with your partner. A: Are you planning to 1__________ while you're in the U.S.? B: No, I'm just here for sightseeing. * * * * A: Where will you be 2__________? B: I'll be staying with a friend in Chicago. * * * * A: I was on flight UA 810. Where do I pick up my luggage? B: It'll be at the carousel on the 3__________. * * * * A: My luggage didn't come out on the carousel. B: Tell the clerk in that 4__________. * * * * A: Where do I take my luggage for my connecting flight? B: Through those doors to the 5__________. * * * * A: I'm 6____________ with flight 345. B: Put your luggage on the conveyer belt here. Your flight leaves from gate D23. Role Play Student A--You are an immigration official. Read the immigration official's lines. Student B--You have just arrived in Los Angeles from Osaka. You are going to spend three weeks in the U.S., staying with a friend in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. You are only in the U.S. for sightseeing and to visit friends, and you are not going to work in the U.S. Immigration Official: May I have your passport and customs and immigration forms? Student B: Here you are. Immigration Official: How long are you planning to be in the U.S.? Student B: (answer the question) Immigration Official: What do you plan to do while you're here? Student B: (answer the question) Immigration Official: Are you going to work? Student B: (answer the question) Immigration Official: Where are you going to be staying? Student B: (answer the question) Immigration Official: [stamps the passport and form] Enjoy your stay.Catalog (in Japanese)