Welcome
to

Four Seasons
The Wonderful World
of Japanese Writers of English
フォーシーズンズ・英語で表現された日本の心

Introduction
by John Pereira
English at the Crossroads
Courtesy of the Mainichi Daily News,
October 4, 1982

While International English is no more than mere fiction, there can be no doubt that the Japanese write English differently than do Koreans, Chinese, or people from other countries as there is this quality of Japanese-ness to it.

Stories
EFL Reading
& Writing

Basic-Intermediate Level

Intermediate-Advanced Level

Lovers
by Ito Mari

Kumalish
by Takeuchi Osamu

The Paper Plane
by Ose Katsushi

Glenn
by Enda Kazuko

Alice in Nara
by Noda Fumiko

And, in a world of growing internationalization, this is something to welcome!

We need, of course, to be cautious and an attitude of "anything goes" is, to say the least, counterproductive. What we look for in selecting a writer as a model for learners to read, aside from proper grammar, are qualities such as creativity, charm, and relevance. Because of this, we have chosen for the Writing Section of this course some materials written by Japanese students. No great stylists, here, but still learners are able to share in the experience and to develop confidence. "If s/he can do it - so can I" can often become a strong current of motivation.

Essays
EFL Reading
& Writing

Basic-Intermediate Level

Intermediate-Advanced Level

Double Beds
by Ono Satoyo

Be Quiet,
Mommy is Studying!

by Sugai Etsuko

ISSEI, NISEI, SANSEI
by Nakayama Yo

Different
by Kawaoi Isuzu

Travel Writing
EFL Reading
& Writing

Intermediate-Advanced Level

In Search of The Northern Lights Lake
by Urashima Hisashi

Here, then, is a sampling from Four Seasons, two anthology-textooks designed for a reading and writing course. Both volumes include original writings in English in various genres by Japanese writers. We hope reading and composition instructors will enjoy the essays, poessays, stories, poems, travel writing, manga, and cartoons, and feel encouraged to take one more step in this direction - a road which has brought learners, and teachers too, a lot of satisfaction. So, let's begin!

Poems
EFL Reading

Basic-Intermediate Level

Intermediate-Advanced Level

Time and Space
by Koriyama Naoshi

Frozen Love
by Nagayama Mokuo

How Can I Reach You?
by Shimazu Nobuko

Cafeteria
by Kono Keiko

Manga
EFL Reading

Basic-Intermediate Level

The Princes of Lotus Kingdom
by Toto Akeru

For comments, suggestions, or further information contact: joaobarrospereira at gmail dot com
御連絡は、joaobarrospereira あっとgmailどっとcom(あっとを@へ、どっとを.へかえて下さい)へ


Links

New Technique! New Methodology! Unique Teaching Materials for EFL Teachers!
John Pereira's EFL Japan
"a world of difference"

違いがわかるムジョン・ペレイラのEFLジャパン

New Genre! POESSAYS
what I say or write is NOT what I mean!

For more about Critical Thinking:
もっとクリティカル思考
Critical Thinking Through Poesssays

Akeru's World of Paintings -Houses of Goa
鳥図明児(ととあける)のイラストコレクション
(ゴアの家々, 体験記:インドで個展を開く etc.)

POESSAYWORLD
-West Meets East and Aristotle Meets Basho-

東洋と西洋、芭蕉とアリストテレスの出会い

素材提供 Illustrations by KUISHINBOU
Copyright; (C) by John Pereira
All rights reserved.