A content analysis on cultural representations in efl course books with teachers' perspectives

Abstract

This study aims to investigate cultural representations in two currently-used English language teaching course books, Breeze 9 and Breeze 10, which were developed by the Turkish Ministry of National Education. The Breeze course book series was prepared for the students of general high schools in Turkey. The samples in this study, Breeze 9 and Breeze 10, were selected via purposive sampling, and 9 English teachers were selected via convenience sampling. In order to analyze the course books in terms of cultural representations, content analysis was conducted. This study is a predominantly quantitative study, though it includes a subsequent qualitative component. In the data collection process, a modified form of the categories suggested by Pfister and Borzilleri (1977) is utilized, including five general cultural themes: family unit and the personal sphere; the social sphere; political systems and institutions; environmental sphere; and religion and the arts. As for the teachers of English, a structured interview including five questions was developed and administered via e-mail. This study concludes that both course books include cultural elements regarding home culture, target language culture, and international target cultures. It is revealed that representations of international target cultures outnumber those of home culture and target language culture, thus indicating the status of English as a lingua franca. The responses of English teachers also confirm the result of the content analysis by stating the importance of culture in foreign language teaching and the inseparability of language and culture as being consistent with the relevant literature.