本书精选20篇在美国生活的外国移民学生的习作，讲述了他们在成长过程中曾经发生过的一些故事，有误会，有尴尬，还有几分淡然的无奈。也许文笔有些略显稚嫩，但正是那份青涩的感觉让人读起来不仅趣味盎然，而且很容易让有类似背景和经历的人产生共鸣，堪称青春版的《喜福会》。对生活在大洋另一端的中国学生来说也同样具有很好的借鉴意义。

一个小女孩第一次去美国的学校上学，打扮得漂漂亮亮，没想到招来老师和同学异样的目光；被美国人邀请去家里吃饭，却发现居然要自己带看做的菜过去；精心为朋友准备了生日礼物，可是却被对方拒绝。这一切到底是为什么呢？如果想知道原因的话，就请你打开这本《英语背后的故事——Ovr Own Stories》吧。

Unit 1 Clothing

 Reading: The Dress of Lace

Unit 2 Holidays

 Reading: Trick or Treat?

Unit 3 Health and Illness

 Reading: Coining

Unit 4 Food Taboos

 Reading: Hamburgers

Unit 5 Eating out

 Reading: Eating the Western Way

Unit 6 Guests and Hosts

 Reading: Potluck

Unit 7 Confusing Phrases

 Reading: Quit Pulling My Leg

Unit 8 Greetings

 Reading: Hand Kissing

Unit 9 Forms of Address

 Reading: What Should I Call You?

Unit 10 Body Language

 Reading: An Eye for an Eye

Unit 11 Touching in Public

 Reading: I Want to Hold Your Hand

Unit 12 Dating

 Reading: Breaking up

Unit 13 Weddings

 Reading: Lady in Red

Unit 14 Good Luck and Bad Luck

 Reading: Debby's Birthday Present

Unit 15 Parents and Children

 Reading: Respect

Unit 16 The Classroom

 Reading: School Daze

Unit 17 The Changing Role of Women

 Reading: Who Pays the Check?

Unit 18 Attitudes toward Aging

 Reading: Jack's Tale

Unit 19 Stereotypes and Prejudice

 Reading: Sticks and Stones

Unit 20 Religious Practices and Beliefs

 Reading: The Surprise

Worm Map

Answer Key

Chinese Version