The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students
In the age of globalization, studies of cultural representations in foreign language textbooks take account of cultural sustainability. This article reports on a case study of cultural representations in two English language textbook series that are widely used in senior high schools in China. The s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944381/full |
| _version_ | 1828107561028550656 |
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| author | Jun Lu Yanhong Liu Lin An Ying Zhang |
| author_facet | Jun Lu Yanhong Liu Lin An Ying Zhang |
| author_sort | Jun Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the age of globalization, studies of cultural representations in foreign language textbooks take account of cultural sustainability. This article reports on a case study of cultural representations in two English language textbook series that are widely used in senior high schools in China. The study investigated whether the cultural representations in these textbooks contribute to the development of local cultural sustainability. Content analysis was employed to examine the texts used in these textbooks, with references to the synergy of the theoretical frameworks of cultural sustainability and world Englishes. The study results indicate that there is an imbalanced cultural representation with respect to the categories of international cultures and national culture in these textbooks. The results point to the cultures of the inner circle countries (BANA: Britain, Australasia, and North America) being predominant, while the representation of Chinese culture has a low profile. As these textbooks are an important learning and teaching resource in China, they have the potential to play a significant role in influencing learners’ worldviews as they develop their understanding of different cultures. The imbalanced presentation of culture may in turn lead to a biased worldview where learners, rather appreciating cultural diversity, may instead discriminate against certain cultures. The implications for redressing the imbalance in cultural representation and cultural sustainability are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:33:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3de9ff0d89d48df9284b24f486cc1f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:33:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3de9ff0d89d48df9284b24f486cc1f62022-12-22T04:29:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-10-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.944381944381The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school studentsJun Lu0Yanhong Liu1Lin An2Ying Zhang3School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, ChinaSchool of Foreign Studies, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, ChinaShanghai Center for Research in English Language Education, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Foreign Studies, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, ChinaIn the age of globalization, studies of cultural representations in foreign language textbooks take account of cultural sustainability. This article reports on a case study of cultural representations in two English language textbook series that are widely used in senior high schools in China. The study investigated whether the cultural representations in these textbooks contribute to the development of local cultural sustainability. Content analysis was employed to examine the texts used in these textbooks, with references to the synergy of the theoretical frameworks of cultural sustainability and world Englishes. The study results indicate that there is an imbalanced cultural representation with respect to the categories of international cultures and national culture in these textbooks. The results point to the cultures of the inner circle countries (BANA: Britain, Australasia, and North America) being predominant, while the representation of Chinese culture has a low profile. As these textbooks are an important learning and teaching resource in China, they have the potential to play a significant role in influencing learners’ worldviews as they develop their understanding of different cultures. The imbalanced presentation of culture may in turn lead to a biased worldview where learners, rather appreciating cultural diversity, may instead discriminate against certain cultures. The implications for redressing the imbalance in cultural representation and cultural sustainability are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944381/fullcultural sustainabilitysustainability educationEFL textbookscultural representationworld Englishes |
| spellingShingle | Jun Lu Yanhong Liu Lin An Ying Zhang The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students Frontiers in Psychology cultural sustainability sustainability education EFL textbooks cultural representation world Englishes |
| title | The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students |
| title_full | The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students |
| title_fullStr | The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students |
| title_short | The cultural sustainability in English as foreign language textbooks: Investigating the cultural representations in English language textbooks in China for senior middle school students |
| title_sort | cultural sustainability in english as foreign language textbooks investigating the cultural representations in english language textbooks in china for senior middle school students |
| topic | cultural sustainability sustainability education EFL textbooks cultural representation world Englishes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944381/full |
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