A project to develop English reading texts for Japanese college students is described. Goals were to develop materials that will: (1) give students information about the United States, (2) interest students in reading English, (3) help students improve their reading skills, and (4) expose students to a variety of literary forms. Fifty important and/or interesting areas of culture or life in the United States that were incorporated in the materials are identified. In addition to selections that explain cultural information directly, the selections used various literary forms, such as dialogues, directions, newspaper articles, poems, a letter, and a movie scenario. Additional literary froms that were used are identified. Types of realia included in the materials, such as recipes, advertisements, and brochures, are also indicated. Besides having students read each passage at least three times in the class, the text was designed to have students do work related to the passage with exercises to gain more cultural meaning. It is suggested that visual aids help students better understand the main text, and that photographs, realia and maps made reading selections more real to students. Other learning activities include experience-based activities (e.g., making foods from English recipes), role playing, and writing exercises. Attention is directed to feedback on the materials from students and teachers, benefits of teaching culture, and previous studies on how well Japanese people understand American culture and how well they are taught about American culture in English courses. (SW)