The use of translation tasks for integrating intercultural content in TEFL course books : a case study

Abstract EN

This paper investigates the cultural content of global TEFL course books currently used in university-required courses in several Arab universities.

Taking the recent edition of New Cutting Edge-Upper Intermediate (2005) as an example, the writer provides a critical appraisal of the cultural content of this course book.

To this end, the writer focuses on the concentration of this course book on the target culture to the neglect of the leaner’s native culture.

To overcome this problem, the writer calls for limited use of translation in EFL classes and proposes specific translation tasks that aim a t: a) helping the learner comprehend target culture concepts, b) redressing the balance heavily in favor of target culture by incorporating materials that are drawn from the learner’s native culture, and c) increasing learner motivation in the target language.

Meanwhile, the writer calls for the judicious use of the proposed translation tasks and specifies certain pedagogic requirements for their use.