Abstract:
Japanese students that go abroad to pursue university studies require proficiency in English language to succeed academically. The goal of this paper is to examine how the selected course books address cultural elements with a focus on reading comprehension, writing and critical thinking strategies. Results showed that cultural understanding is addressed in the course books, and students can make connections between their own culture and English culture. Using an Evaluation Checklist, the study is based on the analysis of English course books used in Japan and Canada for Japanese students. With some recommended modifications, the examined course books were found to support reading comprehension through communication activities and strategies.
