The Functions and Features of ELT Textbooks and Textbook Analysis: A Concise Review

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822110358
Author(s):  
Joseph P Vitta
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Textbook Analysis ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Concise Review ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Education Process

Decades of research have established that most English Language Teaching (ELT) contexts rely on textbooks and corresponding materials to drive the education process. Textbook analysis as a vital quality control check of these products has also become a popular trend in applied linguistics and second language (L2) research. In the main, ELT textbooks have been conceptualized in past literature as supporting target language proficiency while also giving the teacher everything required to conduct a lesson. Textbook analysis has subsequently checked products’ utility and quality in relation to such proficiency development. Over time, the scope of textbook analyses has expanded to include issues such as cultural representations in these products to address how the products help students become better at English in a multicultural and globalized world. While teachers and researchers can reference numerous well-known books on these phenomena, a concise summary of how textbooks function within ELT contexts and the defining features of textbook analysis research appears to be lacking. This brief report meets this need and is useful to stakeholders in the ELT community, such as teachers and program managers, who might not have the time nor the resources to consult such extensive sources of information.

scholarly journals Qualitative Perspectives on the English Language Content Knowledge and Methods on Communicative Language Proficiency, Implications for Succeeding in the IELTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-89
Author(s):  
Ali Al-Bulushi ◽  
Ali Al-Issa ◽  
Rima Al-Zadjali
Keyword(s):  
Student Teachers ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Sultan Qaboos University

Communicative Language Proficiency (CLP) in the target language is critical for the teachers joining English language teaching for different reasons. The Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman has sanctioned the score of Band 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as the main criterion for accepting English language teachers graduating from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Nonetheless, some fourth-year Student Teachers (STs) have failed to achieve the specified score due to reasons pertinent to the choices made in the initial English language teacher education program content knowledge and methods. This qualitative study, hence, investigates the perspectives of purposively selected STs and faculty members about the effect of SQU English Language Teaching (ELT) content knowledge and methods on the STs’ IELTS band scores. Results have shown that there is a need to reconsider the content knowledge and methods to create more opportunities for the program participants to use the language communicatively. Results have further shown that certain faculty members adopt certain teaching methods insensitive to the needs and interests of the STs and which negatively affect their CLP. The results have important implications for the STs’ success in the IELTS and hence their employability.

scholarly journals Source Culture and Target Culture in English Language Teaching: A Study of Intercultural Pragmatics and Students’ Learning Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazrat Umar ◽  
Maria Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intercultural Pragmatics ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Target Culture ◽  
Experimental Group

The study explores the role of intercultural pragmatics in theimprovement of students’ reading comprehension of English. This is anexperimental research conducted upon 50 eighth-grade Pashtun studentsaged around 12 and 13 years. The experimental group (n=25) was taughtan intercultural curriculum which included topics from the British culture(target culture) and Pashtun culture (source culture) in addition to theform of language. The control group (n=25) was treated traditionally inwhich the focus was on the structure and form of language. The pre- andpost-tests were administered to both groups. After comparing the meanscores of the tests, it has been found that the experimental group showedgreater improvement in their English language proficiency as comparedto the control group. It is recommended that topics from both the sourceand target cultures written in the target language be included in theEnglish curriculum. Further, training programs for language teachersshould include intercultural pragmatics in their syllabi. Further researchmay be conducted in the same area in different places with participantsfrom different cultures and age groups.

Success Factors in the Pedagogical Management of the English Language Teaching Managers

2020 ◽  
pp. 79-94
Author(s):  
Mayra Alejandra Vargas Londoño
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Research Information ◽  
International Language ◽  
The World ◽  
Globalized World

In the globalized world, the English language has become the international language, and it is used not only to communicate, but also to share research information and to connect the different countries around the world. In countries like Colombia and Mexico, there is still a low level of English language proficiency, so these countries have developed strategies to work on developing this level and at the same time develop the economy of the countries through their citizens. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the success factors in the pedagogical management of the teaching of the English language found in two language centers belonging to two higher education institutions in Colombia and Mexico.

Error Analysis for English Language Teachingat Primary Level

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Dr. Shreeja Sharma ◽  
Prof. Shubhra Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Error Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Primary Level ◽  
Indian Schools ◽  
Prime Concern ◽  
School Teaching ◽  
Linguistic Code ◽  
Global Language

The prime concern of every language teacher, and to some extent every linguist, is to device pedagogical methods and strategies which facilitate language acquisition. The concern of any teacher or applied linguist is, though not explicitly stated anywhere, to equip the learners with “correct” features of the language being learnt. Emphasis on “correctness” is due to the presumption that erroneous structures or deviations from linguistic code will lead to incomprehensibility and impediment in communication.As a result of such convictionsContrastive Analysis (CA) and Error Analysis (EA) focussed their attention on “correct” grammatical, lexical and syntactical features of Target Language (TL), in this case English.Both  Contrastive Analysts and Error Analysts analysed the language and tried to predict areas of ease or difficulty. This was often achieved with ‘some’ degree of success. However, in the present socio-educational milieu of Indian schools, where English language teaching is a significant stake, insights from CA and EA, particularly the latter, are either not taken into cognizance, or found inadequate. CA is taken into consideration, though obliquely, indirectly and cursorily, where English language is taught resorting to bilingualism. EA is usually ignored completely. Even when teachers correct students’ assignments and copies, they point out mistakes/errors, suggest corrections, but neither take into account why these mistakes/errors have occurred, nor how to prevent such cases in future. With the ever growing importance of English as a global language and a second language in India, no stakeholder in education can afford to undermine the significance of ELT.The time is therefore ripe to take a fresh look at Error Analysis (EA) and assess how it can be deployed as a powerful tool in school teaching.

scholarly journals Constraints on innovation in English language teaching in hinterland regions of China

2020 ◽  
pp. 136216882097985
Author(s):  
Neil Murray ◽  
Antony J. Liddicoat ◽  
Gavin Zhen ◽  
Penny Mosavian
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
English Language ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Chinese Government

Since the start of the twenty-first century, English has come to be seen by the Chinese government as a linchpin of its continued economic and political influence. Its resultant efforts to promote innovation in English language teaching align with the aspirations of a population, many of whom regard competency in English as a determiner of opportunity and success in their careers, and thus a vehicle through which to provide a good quality of life for themselves and their families. However, despite government-driven initiatives to improve English language education, change has been slow to materialize, especially outside of the main urban areas of Eastern China. Here, we report on a study that sought to explore the constraints governing attempts by teachers of English to innovate in universities located in some of the so-called ‘hinterland’ regions of Southwestern China. Key determinants that emerged, and which we discuss, included time pressure and competing priorities; scepticism towards new ideas; lack of investment in resources; the primacy of the textbook; students’ language proficiency; and opportunities for professional development. Together, these findings indicate the need for a change of culture if innovation is to be welcomed, both in principle and in practice, as a driver of positive change in the teaching of English in these universities. Teachers, their line managers, and university senior managers need to feel willing and able to engage freely in constructive and informed discourse, and in doing so consider recalibrating institutional priorities, thereby helping reconcile the pressures and tensions currently experienced by English language teachers and which impede progress.

scholarly journals THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AS A GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT SKILL: THE VIEWPOINT OF PAKISTANI ACADEMIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1071-1077
Author(s):  
Furrakh Abbas ◽  
Abdul Majid Khan Rana ◽  
Irfan Bashir ◽  
Azhar Munir Bhatti
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Employment Skills ◽  
The Status

Purpose of the Study: The current research aims at exploring the need of effective English skill as a global employment skill and its various reasons, as there are various Pakistani institutes which are dedicated to The English language teaching and reinforce its relationship with employability. The importance of the study being conducted in Pakistan becomes more evident as English enjoys the status of the second language in the country. Methodology: Current study uses a mixed-method research design and employs both questionnaires and interviews as research instruments. The questionnaire was administrated on a sample of 392 university students while a sample of 13 informants from university faculty participated in an interview for data collection. Main Findings: The study concludes that the importance of English was associated with increased connectivity due to globalization. The study also concludes that the importance of English for finding jobs and making a career was well-established. To conclude, it can be said that English language proficiency is amongst the top global employment skills in the viewpoint of Pakistani academia. Application of this Study: The study implicates that the importance of English for employment across the globe and a successful career will further lead to the formulation of English Specific courses for different professional and occupational groups in Pakistan. The originality of the Study: There is a scarcity of empirical evidence in terms of the importance of English as an employment skill though English is considered very important as an elite language and a status symbol. The study proposes to fill in the gap by providing empirical evidence, therefore, the research is being conducted to assess the status of English and its importance for global employment skills.

scholarly journals Arab English Language Teaching Candidates Climbing the IELTS Mountain: A Qualitatively Driven Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Al-Issa ◽  
Ali Al-Bulushi ◽  
Rima Al-Zadjali
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenology ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews

As a high-stakes international language proficiency benchmark, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requires different and special Language Learning Strategies (LLS), which pose numerous challenges to its takers. Some Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) majoring in English Language Teaching (ELT), have therefore, failed to achieve an overall score of Band 6 on the IELTS as a language proficiency requirement and a condition mandated by the Ministry of Education for selecting English language teachers among. This qualitatively driven hermeneutic phenomenology study, hence, discusses this issue from an ideological perspective. The study triangulates data from semi-structured interviews made with six fourth-year ELT Student Teachers (STs) at SQU and the pertinent literature. The critical discussion revealed various ideologies about the powerful impact of the IELTS on the STs’ English language development. The findings have important implications for the practices of the teachers in the Omani ELT school system and elsewhere.

Indonesian Learner Cultural Characteristics and Perception toward Western Culture

Educatio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jalaluddin Jalaluddin ◽  
◽  
Iwan Jazadi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Western Culture ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Western World ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
International Language ◽  
Shed Light

This paper argues that to have a successful learning of English in Indonesian schools, the consideration of culture should be at the forefront. That is, it is acknowledged that to learn English as a second or foreign language cannot be separated from the target language culture or the western culture. On the other hand, the perspective of English as global or international language allows the integration or use of students’ local cultural background into the teaching materials. To shed light on this critical issue, this study seeks to describe Indonesian learners’ characteristic cultural backgrounds and their perception toward western culture. Relying on a literature study and the first author’s experience and observation, the findings show that Indonesian learners share the culturally embedded characteristics of passivity, shyness, and lack of critical thinking, while perceiving western culture as negative, colonizing, dominating, and threatening. Therefore, it is concluded that English language teaching in Indonesia should integrate students’ local cultures and be prepared and implemented by highly skilled Indonesian teachers and practitioners who are abreast with ELT theories and development at the world level including those from the western world.

scholarly journals English in Brazil: Insights from the Analysis of Language Policies, Internationalization Programs and the CLIL Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyria Finardi ◽  
Roberta Leao ◽  
Livia Melina Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Language Policies ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Globalized World

<p class="Normal1">The paper proposes a reflection on the role of English in the globalized world and its teaching/learning in Brazil. With that aim, the study reviews language policies and internationalization programs in Brazil regarding the role of foreign languages in general and of English in particular. The theoretical framework includes a review of an English language teaching (ELT) approach used mainly in Europe, as a result of globalization and internationalization, the Content and Language Integrated Approach (CLIL). In order to support this reflection, a case study was carried out to examine pre-service English teachers’ beliefs on the use of CLIL in Brazil. The results of study show that pre-service English teachers understand the importance of the CLIL approach though they are aware of the various obstacles to its implementation in that context. The study suggests a review of language policies in Brazil so as to ensure a convergence between them and internationalization policies and approaches, at all levels of education. Regarding the ELT approach analyzed, the study concludes that despite the difficulties associated with the implementation of CLIL in Brazil, it represents a relevant alternative in that context.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document