Culture Swap

Culture Swap: Adventures in the U.S.A. and Japan

Welcome to the home page of “Culture Swap”, a free animated video series for EFL learners. More details will be added as they become available.

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Why did we create this video series?

We asked first-year students at Hiroshima Shudo University to identify the areas of English (categories from the Eiken Can-Do list) in which they lack confidence, and we created the series to address these areas in an e-learning format. Please note that it is entirely possible to use the videos without focusing on the can-do items. It is our intention that teachers adapt the series by focusing on the content areas that they plan to teach in their classes: pronunciation, grammar, pragmatics, culture, etc. We hope that in the future, any supplementary materials created by teachers can be shared freely among users of the series.

Features of the series:

-natural English: casual phrases, normal speed, unaffected pronunciation

-one or more can-do items targeted in each episode

Plot:

Ayumi, a Japanese student interested in the U.S., decides to participate in a homestay program in New Jersey. Meanwhile, Robert, an American student interested in Japan, decides to go to Japan for a short-term study abroad program. We follow their adventures as they experience a new culture and a few surprises.

Main Characters:

  • Ayumi Yamashita – Japanese university student. Jun’s classmate. Goes to New Jersey, U.S.A. to participate in a homestay program. Likes dumb jokes?
  • Jun Takeda – Japanese university student. Ayumi’s classmate. Befriends Robert and introduces him to life in Japan.
  • Britney Jones – American university student. Robert’s sister. Shows Ayumi around and helps her adjust to life in the U.S. Doesn’t seem very interested in Japan.
  • Robert Jones – American university student. Britney’s brother. Loves Japanese culture, goes to Japan for a study abroad program. Might be in for a bit of a shock…

Culture Swap Demo Movie:

Story:

The story proceeds in a parallel fashion in both Japan and the U.S. Episodes taking place in Japan are in blue, and episodes in the U.S. are in red. Each episode is 2-4 minutes long.

  • Episode 1: The Spark
  • Ayumi discusses an American homestay program with Jun, and Robert talks with Britney about a study abroad program in Japan.
  • Episode 2: Soft landing
  • Robert arrives at the airport in Japan and Ayumi arrives at the airport in the U.S. Their new life in a foreign country is about to begin.
  • Episode 3: The Big...
  • Ayumi and Britney head off to New York City. Can Britney figure out Ayumi’s sense of humor?!
  • Episode 4: Saved by the bell
  • Robert joins Jun’s university English class, and is slightly taken aback by the attitude of his Japanese classmates.
  • Episode 5: Welcome, Honorable Customer
  • Ayumi and Britney go shopping in New York, and chat about some differences between American and Japanese culture. Is Britney starting to get interested in Japan?
  • Episode 6: Lost!
  • Robert gets a chance to explore the university campus on his own. He bumps into Jun’s friend Mika and they go to a café together. But when Jun walks in…
  • Episode 7: Turning Japanese
  • Britney and Robert get a chance to video chat over the Internet and find out about the recent happenings in each other’s life. And there’s something different about Robert…
  • Episode 8: Get the message
  • Britney is out so Ayumi has to answer the phone. When she picks up, it’s Britney’s friend Zoe. Can Ayumi take the message?
  • Episode 9: To slurp or not to slurp
  • Jun and Robert are at the university cafeteria eating ramen together and chatting about movies. So what really is the best way to eat ramen?
  • Episode 10: Newsflash
  • Britney and Ayumi are sitting in a coffee shop having a chat. When Britney sees the newspaper that Ayumi brought over from Japan, they start talking about the news. Will Britney be able to remember the name of the Japanese prime minister?
  • Episode 11: Jun vs. Robot
  • Jun and Robert head off to the tennis courts to play a game of tennis with some friends. Jun gets angry at a cell phone. And there’s something a little weird with Robert…
  • Episode 12: Jewannago?
  • When Ayumi is unable to understand an English phrase that Britney uses, the two begin to teach each other more about their native languages.
  • Episode 13: Pot luck plans
  • Robert’s time in Japan is coming to an end. To say farewell, Jun and Robert make preparations for a pot luck party.
  • Episode 14: Cheers!
  • The day of the party. When all of the guests arrive, Robert is in for not only one surprise but two!
  • Episode 15: What a week!
  • It’s been a fun-filled week for Ayumi, Britney, Robert and Jun, and a lot of wonderful memories have been made. Where will their next adventure take place?

Project Members:

  • Shinya Ozawa (Hiroshima Shudo University)
  • Mitsuko Takei (Hiroshima Shudo University)
  • Timothy Curtis (Hiroshima Shudo University)
  • James Ronald (Hiroshima Shudo University)

This project was funded by the following grants:

  • 「循環的な改善により行う初年次教育において活用できるeラーニング教材の開発」（科学研究費補助金基盤研究 (C). 研究代表者. 2012-2014年度, 24531222）
  • 「修道力を涵養するeラーニング・コミュニティーの形成-アクション・リサーチに基づいた教育力向上の試み-」（広島修道大学学術交流センター重点領域研究. 研究代表者. 2011-2013年度）