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Culture representation and language focus in English textbooks: A comparison of culture representation and language focus in two English textbooks in Japan and Sweden
University West, Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, Division for Educational Science and Languages.
2021 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

Language and culture are inseparably connected, and they together are often seen to belong to a particular country. However, when it comes to English, a globalised language, the language, and culture are truly transnational. Therefore, it would be interesting to see how the culture of English and the language itself are represented in the textbooks for its learners. This essay examined two English textbooks for upper secondary school students in Japan and Sweden, in terms of how English speaking culture is represented and what language features are in focus. In doing so, Critical Discourse Analysis has been applied as the analytic framework. The findings reveal interesting contrasts between the two countries’ textbooks. First, as for culture, the Japanese textbook centrally focuses on the country’s national culture, which is promoted and introduced in English. The textbook tries to secure the student’s English skills for introducing Japan internationally as a cultural ambassador, including grammar and vocabulary knowledge. On the other hand, the culture represented in the Swedish textbook is largely of English-speaking countries, particularly the US and UK. The focused skills by the textbook are the abilities to engage in oral or/and written discussions about various topics. Based onthe findings the essay suggests that English textbooks in the two countries should have a more balanced view of culture.  

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021. , p. 45
Keywords [en]
English textbooks, English as a foreign language (EFL), English as an international language (EIL), ESL Japan, ESL Sweden, EFL Japan, EFL Sweden, EFL textbook
National Category
Educational Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-16711Local ID: EXE601OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hv-16711DiVA, id: diva2:1580592
Subject / course
Educational science
Educational program
Teacher Traning Programme
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Available from: 2021-07-21 Created: 2021-07-15 Last updated: 2021-07-21Bibliographically approved

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CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

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Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf