Textbook Analysis: Comparing the Recent and the Old First Grade High School English Textbooks, Teachers and Learners’ Perspective in Focus
الموضوعات : Research in English Language PedagogyNazila Mirzaei 1 , Omid Tabatabaei 2
1 - Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - English Department, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
الکلمات المفتاحية: Textbook, teachers’ belief, evaluation checklist, Evaluation,
ملخص المقالة :
Abstract The present study was an attempt to investigate and compare the efficiency of the new and the old first grade high school English textbooks by focusing on thirty teachers and three hundred learners’ attitudes through a textbook evaluation checklist and a questionnaire. The analysis of the results revealed that, with regard to teachers' attitude toward the two books compared with each other, these books were nearly the same with regard to pronunciation and exercises. The old book was considered more efficient regarding grammar. Regarding the rest of the items, the new book was more efficient. Taking the learners perspective into account toward these two books compared with each other, there were no noteworthy difference between the books regarding vocabulary. Regarding the other items, the new book was considered more efficient. The findings of this study can assist decision-makers to pay more attention to the evaluation of textbooks and consequently the selection of an appropriate book according to the teachers and learners’ expectations, needs and interests.
Alemi, M. & Sadehvandi, N. (2012). Textbook evaluation: EFL teachers’ perspectives on “pacesetter series”. English Language Teaching, 5(7), 64-75. Retrieved from www.google .com
Azizifar, A. & Baghelani, E. (2014). Textbook evaluation from EFL teachers’ perspectives: the case of “top-notch” series. International SAMANM Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 2(1), 2308-2372. Retrieved May 12, 2013, from: www. google.com
Birjandi, P, Soheili,A. (2005). English Book 1. Iranian textbook publication and distribution. Tehran: Iranian.
Cunningsworth, A. (1995). Choosing your course book. Oxford: Heinemann.
Ellis, R. (1997). The empirical evaluation of language teaching materials. ELT Journal, 51(1), 36-42. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.
Hutchinson, T. & Torres, E. (1994). The textbook as agent of change. ELT Journal, 48(4), 315- 328.
Jahangard, A. (2007). Evaluation of EFL materials taught at Iranian public high schools. ELT Journal, 9(2), 130-150.
Mukundan, J., Hajimohammadi, R. & Nimehchisalem, V. (2011). Developing an English language textbook evaluation checklist: a focus group study, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(12), 100-106. Retrieved from www.ijhssnet.com
Rahimpour, M. & Hashemi, R. (2011). Textbook selection and evaluation in EFL context. World Journal of Education, 1(2), 62-68. Retrieved from www.sciedu.ca/wje
Richards, J. C. (2011).Tactics for listening. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sabzalipour, B., Mousavi, Y. (2013). The evaluation of Iranian high school English textbook from the prospective of students. Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 3(8), 481-484. Retrieved from www.textroad.com
Sheldon, L. (1988). Evaluating ELT Textbooks and Materials. ELT Journal, 42(2), 21-37.
Tosun, S. (2012). A comparative study on evaluation of Turkish and English foreign language textbooks. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, 1374-1380.