依据《大学英语教学指南》，外教社策划推出了“跨文化交际英语课程系列”，力图充分挖掘大学英语课程丰富的人文内涵，满足各高校开设跨文化交际英语课程的需要。
“跨文化交际英语课程系列”包括跨文化交际技巧、英美文化、文学、中国文化等多个品种。品类丰富、涵盖面广，旨在帮助学生了解中外不同的世界观、价值观、思维方式及社会组织的差异，培养学生的文化与跨文化意识。提高学生社会语言能力和跨文化交际能力。
本书以中国英语学习者与欧美人士交往的常见细节和冲突为切入口，采用来信求助、专家释疑等新颖手法，将跨文化交际理论知识、实际案例分析和语言学习相结合，提供消弭误解、与西方人融洽相处的方法。本教程贴近学生生活，能持续吸引学生注意力，调动学生积极性，达到很好的课堂教与学的效果。

Acknowledgements
To the Teacher: Teaching Encounters with Westerners
Unit 1: Intercultural Communication
Letter to Fran:
Pete's First Day in China
Intercultural Communication:
Intercultural Communication and Understanding Westerners
Encounter:
The Gift
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Can We Generalize About "Western Culture"?
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 2: Interpreting Intercultural Encounters
Encounter:
The Taxi
Intercultural Communication:
Interpreting What Foreigners Mean
Letter to Fran:
A Helping Hand
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Individualist and Collectivist Cultures
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 3: Speaking in a Foreign Language
Encounter:
Mistakes
Intercultural Communication:
Speaking in a Foreign Language and Stress
Encounter:
The Compliment
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Difference in Rank and Power
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 4: Culture Shock
Letter to Fran:
The Shopper
Intercultural Communication:
Culture Shock and Culture Fatigue
Letter to Fran:
Not Eating
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Western Communication Styles
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 5: Expectations and Intercultural Encounters
Encounter:
The Invitation
Intercultural Communication:
Expectations and Projected Cultural Similarity
Letter to Fran:
The Goodnight Kiss
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Conformity in Western Cultures
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 6: Ethnocentrism
Letter to Fran:
Who Pays?
Intercultural Communication:
Ethnocentrism
Encounter:
Living Together
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Family Relationships in the US
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 7: Ingroups and Outgroups
Encounter:
Left Out of the Conversation
Intercultural Communication:
Ingroups and Outgroups
Letter to Fran:
Critics
Generalizing About Western Culture:
In/Outgroups in Collectivist and Individualist Cultures
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 8: Telling Stories About Encounters
Letter to Fran:
Exceptions
Intercultural Communication:
War Stories
Encounter:
Grandma
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Dealing with Conflict
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 9: The Benefit of the Doubt
Letter to Fran:
An American Friend
Intercultural Communication:
Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Letter to Fran:
Cars
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Friendship Patterns
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
Unit 10: Being an Effective Intercultural Communicator
Encounter:
Made in the USA
Intercultural Communication:
Being an Effective Intercultural Communicator
Encounter:
Democracy
Generalizing About Western Culture:
Advice for Communicating with Westerners
Learning About Other Cultures
Review:
Using Words and Word Combinations
References