Evaluation of the Communicative and Cultural Aspects of ‘Prospect Two’ Based on Cisar’s (2000) Checklist
Esfandiari, M., & Hamidi, H. (2018)
Abstract:
Textbooks are vital components of the language teaching programs. By using textbooks, learners can go forward step by step and find their ways; on the other hand, they are a kind of plan for teachers and help them manage their time in order to enhance learning in the classroom. The present study attempted to evaluate the new textbook used in Iranian junior high schools named ‘Prospect 2’ which was introduced by the Iranian ministry of education in 2013. To achieve this aim, Cisar’s (2000) checklist was used to reveal the merits and demerits of the textbook in terms of the communicative and cultural aspects. The sample of this study consisted of 10 teachers from Neka city. The questionnaire included 15 items containing two categories including communicative and cultural (images and culture) aspects. The instrument used in this study was a Likert-scale type questionnaire. The data were analyzed through descriptive methods using the SPSS software version 21. The findings revealed that the more courseware development integrates learners’ language and learning needs, teachers’ readiness to integrate the course books’ orientation, as well as current research on what constitutes adequate language learning, the more they will succeed in contributing to genuine language learning. Also, the occasional inclusion of some aspects of target culture in addition to those of Iranian culture might help ameliorate the efficiency of the book. Finally, using more variety in designing textbook exercises might help increase learners’ motivation.