A study was designed to investigate English as a second language (ESL) teachers' and students' perceptions of the appeal and appropriateness of ESL textbook illustrations. In particular, the notion that response to the various stylistic representations of the human figure may, in part, be culture-bound was examined. Three basic questions were asked: (1) How do American ESL teachers and teacher trainees perceive ESL textbook illustrations of the human figure? (2) How do adult and college-bound ESL students perceive the same illustrations? (3) Are there significant differences in perception among the cultures or regional groups represented by the students and teachers? For this preliminary study, a booklet was prepared that contained six stylistically different representations of the human figure and a Likert scale opinionnaire for each sample illustration. Subjects tested were American ESL teachers and teacher trainees and Asian ESL students. Statistical analyses of the data showed significant differences in the response of the Americans and Asians for several of the six illustrative styles. (Author)