Preface
Welcome to Chat and Share! Topic Starters for Today’s Students. In thisfour-skills book, students will improve their basic conversational skills while
following the lives of six college students in Japan. Mai and Yuya (from Japan)
share their ideas, hopes, and dreams with four foreign students: Sophie (fromthe US), Jack (from Australia), Kaira (from India) and Angelo (from thePhilippines). In 15 chapters, these characters will discuss topics that are ofinterest to college students all over the world, ranging from free time activities,
food, and fashion to Japanese culture, the environment, and modern families.
This provides a springboard for students to start expressing their own ideas onthese topics. Most students want to talk about important things, but theyoften lack the language skills that enable them to do so in English. This
textbook is aimed at lower-level students (CEFR A1 and A2). Approximately
85% of the vocabulary is at K-1 on AWL (Academic Word List) and thegrammar structures are fairly simple. Even students who lack confidence or
who have fallen behind in their English studies should be able to start talkingimmediately, and before they know it, they will be able to have real
conversations in English. English is not just a “subject” to study in school, but
it is a language spoken by millions of people in the world. This book aims tomotivate students and to show them that it is never too late to master English!
Many thanks to Victoria Yoshimura and to Suzanne Kamata for providing
photos for Chapters 8 and 14. And most importantly, I would like to thankMichi Tsutahara for her keen eye for details and her wonderful editing skills.
This book would not have been possible without her and I owe her a great dealof gratitude.
Finally, here is an important message for all students: Remember, you canspeak English if you learn the basics and if you keep on trying. Follow yourdream and you will find that nothing is impossible!

金星堂様 _Chat and Share

Chapter Overview for Students
Breaking the Ice
This warm-up exercise gets you to start thinking about the topic. You will beasked to give your own answers to some simple questions. Later, you will put
your thoughts and opinions to use!

Getting the TopicVocabulary Matching

You can expand your vocabulary by matching key words from the reading withEnglish definitions.
Reading

The short readings will introduce you to perspectives of culture, fashion, travel,family, lifestyles and diversity that you might not have considered before. The
vocabulary and grammar is easy, so you should be able to read most of themeasily without a dictionary.
True or False

You can check your understanding of the reading by answering the true-false
questions.

Speaking UpConversation AConversation A ❶ provides reading, listening, and speaking practice. The naturalconversations are like those carried out by college students everywhere. You will
listen to the characters’ dialogs, fill in some missing information, and then practicewith your friends.
Then in ❷, you will take the words and expressions from the previous section tocreate and practice your own mini conversations. This will help you build
confidence to make your own original conversations on various topics.
Conversation B

Conversation B provides more reading, listening and speaking practice. You willcomplete two key sentences by listening to the speaker. Here’s a hint: the numberof words you will need is given at the end of each sentence. These sentences areuseful in everyday conversations. They will help you express your own opinion.
Then, you will put to use all the expressions you have learned so far in the chapter
to create your own conversations.
4金星堂様 _Chat and Share

Expressing Yourself
Your Opinion

This section provides you with the opportunity to express your own opinions.
Through guided exercises, you will learn how to support your opinion with an
example or a reason.
Writing

Each chapter has a different writing task that is very practical. You will fill out anapplication, send an email, write an online review, and send text messages. Thesesimple exercises reflect many kinds of writing you will have to do in the real world.

Character Profiles
Yuya（Japan）
Mai（Japan）
Sophomore majoring in
Sociology
Head of the International
Student Association
Loves English andmeeting new people

Freshman majoring in
Economics
A little quiet, but a really
nice guy
Likes computers andwatching YouTube

Sophie（the US）

Jack（Australia）
Junior majoring in
Hospitality Management
Outgoing andadventurous
Loves sports and eating

Sophomore majoring inJapanese
Organized and ambitious
Loves books and isinterested in Japanese
literature

Angelo（the Philippines）
Kaira（India）
Junior majoring inBusiness
Loves traveling
Crazy about Japanese
pop culture

Junior majoring in Law
Likes to try new things
Good at cooking andusing computers

5

Table of Contents
Chapter 1

Campus Life

8

Reading How busy are you?
Opinion Meetings in the morning or in the evening

Chapter 2

Weekends

13

Reading Who has the most days off?
Opinion Stay home or go out

Chapter 3

Japanese Culture

18

Reading Japanese words in English
Opinion Animal cafés or maid cafés

Chapter 4Healthy Living

23

Reading Living a long and healthy life
Opinion Make your lunch or buy it

Chapter 5

Fashion28

Reading A controversial fashion adOpinion For or against unisex school uniforms

Chapter 6

Lifestyle

33

Reading Living with less: Minimalism
Opinion Pros and cons of being a minimalist

Chapter 7

Celebrations
Reading The highest earning song
Opinion For or against giri choco

38

Chapter 8

Travel43

Reading Alternative places to stayOpinion Stay at an Airbnb or not

Chapter 9Food

48

Reading Japanese food in the world
Opinion The best Japanese food

Chapter 10The Environment

53

Reading Earth Day
Opinion How to reduce air pollution

Chapter 11Business58

Reading SMS and email
Opinion A busy workplace or a quiet one

Chapter 12

The Internet and Social Media

63

Reading Fake news
Opinion The internet or TV

Chapter 13

Sports68

Reading First woman to run in the Boston Marathon
Opinion Belong to many clubs or just one

Chapter 14

A Barrier-free Society

73

Reading No limitations!
Opinion Hiring people with disabilities

Chapter 15

Modern Families
Reading 21st century families
Opinion Balancing careers and family life

78

Chapter 1

Campus Life
TopicTalking about campus life

OpinionMeetings in the morning orin the evening

Breaking the Ice
Fill in the blanks with your information, and then practice asking and answering theDL 02
CD1-02questions with your partner.

1. What time do you wake up every day?
─ I wake up atevery day.
2. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
─ It takes me about.
3. Do you spend more time studying or hanging out with friends?
─ I spend more time.
4. Do you prefer studying in the morning or at night?
─ I prefer studying.

Getting the Topic
Vocabulary Matching Match each word or expression with its meaning.

1. manage time ・2. recommend ・3. submit・
4. practical・
5. pack・8・ a. to turn in・ b. to put things into a bag・ c. to decide what to do and when to do it
・ d. to advise
・ e. useful and helpfulReading Read the passage for information.

How busy are you?

DL 03

CD1-03

Learning how to manage time isimportant.

Experts recommend

planning ahead and dividing days
into blocks of time. It is important tonot only schedule time for school,5

part-time jobs, and study, but also formeeting friends, exercising, and evenplaying video games.
Adults often tell teenagers what to do and when to do it. But college
students must learn how to manage time themselves. They must wake up, 10
go to class, and submit assignments on time. Unfortunately, this is difficult
for many students to do.
Here are two practical tips that can help you. Prepare everything youneed for school the night before. Pack your bag and decide what you willwear. By doing these things, you can save a lot of time in the morning. 15
Another useful tip is using a timer. Set it for twenty minutes and focus on atask that must be done. Don’t check your phone! You can do a lot in twenty
minutes. After that, take a five-minute break. Soon the job will be finishedand you can spend time on things you like.

True or False Answer if the statement is true or false.

1. It is a good idea to make a schedule for work, study, and leisure.
2. College students find it easy to manage time.
3. Checking your phone often can help you get a lot done.
4. It is good to focus on a task for twenty minutes.

Chapter 1

[T/F]
[T/F]
[T/F]
[T/F]

Campus Life

9

Speaking UpConversation A Mai and Yuya like to practice English with each other. Here,they are talking about after-school activities.

❶ Listen to their conversation and fill in the blanks. Next, practice it with yourDL 04
CD1-04
partner.

Mai: What do you do 1
school, Yuya?
:Yuya I usually study in the library. Then I 2
go home or go to
my part-time job.
Mai: Wow. I 3
you’re a loner.
Yuya: I’d like to make new friends, but to tell the 4, I’m a5shy.
6Mai: You should
us at the International Student Association.
Yuya: What do you do there?
Mai: We have discussions about 7cultures. We visit some
8interestingin Tokyo. We have parties. It’s a lot of fun!
Why don’t you come to our next 9?
Yuya: Maybe I will. It sounds interesting. I want to study abroad next year,
so a club 10that might be good for me.
Now list the International Student Association’s activities.
◯ have discussions about ()◯ visit some (◯ have () in Tokyo)❷ Using the expressions you have learned so far, fill in the blanks and thenpractice these three mini-conversations with your partner.

1. A: What do you doschool?
 B: I usuallyhome, but today I’m going to do some shopping.
2. A: You want to
new friends? OK, youjoin
our English club.
 B: What do you do there?
3. A:
don’t you come to our club meeting this Friday?
 B: I think I. It sounds!

10

Conversation B The members of the International Student Association are
introducing themselves to Yuya.

❶ Listen to their conversation and complete the two key sentences.
Conversation

DL 05

CD1-05

Key Sentences

DL 06

CD1-06Mai:

Before we start our meeting, let’s welcome Yuya. Tell him where
you’re from and say one interesting thing about yourself.
Jack:
I’m from Sydney. I like sports and eating!
:Sophie I’m from the U.S. I want to be a novelist.
Kaira:
I’m from India. I’m crazy about Japanesemanga!
Angelo: I’m from the Philippines. I’m majoring in law.
Yuya:
Nice to meet you all! I’m from Japan and I
want to study abroad someday.
1 Yuya, weMai:(9 words)

at 5:00.
Yuya:
Oh. I work every Wednesday evening.
Sophie: 2 Why don’t
Jack:In the morning? Before nine? You can’t be serious!

(7)?

❷ Take turns being A, B, and C and practice this conversation with two friends.
You can choose expressions from the hints or think of your own.

A: Before we start our meeting, please introduce yourself to name .
a , and I’m crazy
B: I’m name . I’m from hometown . I’m majoring inabout b !
C: Nice to meet you, name . My major is a .
B: Nice to meet you too, name .
C: How often do you have meetings?
A: We usually meet c .
Hintsabc

literature / management / economics / physics / computer science
video games / Italian food / American TV dramas / photography
once a month / every other day / every day except Tuesdays andSundays

Chapter 1

Campus Life

11

Expressing Yourself
Your Opinion Express your own view by answering the following question.
Review the key sentences you learned on the previous page, if you like.
Question

Which would you prefer, having club meetings in the morning, afternoon,or evening?
─ I preferbecause─ I don’t want tobecause

Writing a Self-introduction Imagine you want to join the International StudentAssociation. Fill out this application form and write a short paragraph aboutyourself.

First, fill out the application form.
International Student Association Application Form
・Name

[]

・Nickname[]・Major[]・Interests[]

・How many classes?

[]

・Busiest day of the week[]

Next, complete this short paragraph by filling in your own information.
● About Me ●My name is. Everyone calls me I’m majoring in.
My interests areand I haveclasses. The busiest day of the week for me is12.
.
.