The cultural dimension in TEFL : a case study of the cutting edge series

Other Title(s)

البعد الثقافي في تعليم اللغة الإنجليزية كلغة أجنبية : دراسة حالة لسلسلة Cutting edge

Dissertant

Shatnawi, Muhammad Husayn Hamid

Thesis advisor

Bani Abd al-Rahman, Abd Allah Ahmad
al-Abd al-Haqq, Fawwaz Muhammad

Comitee Members

Shair, Awatif Ali
al-Duwayk, Badr Said
al-Jadri, Adnan Husayn

University

Amman Arab University

Faculty

Faculty of Educational Sciences and psychological

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Date

2005

English Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the role of culture in foreign language textbooks through content analysis, and the extent to which culture is represented in the Cutting Edge series.

The study also aimed at exploring the attitudes of students and instructors at Yarmouk University toward the importance of English and the inclusion of culture in TEFL.

This study attempted to answer the following questions: 1- What are the cultural aspects that are implied in the Cutting Edge textbooks ? 2- What are the prevailing attitudes of both students and instructors toward English culture as manifested in Cutting Edge textbooks ? 3- What are the prevailing attitudes of both students and instructors toward the significance of the English language and the inclusion of Arab-Islamic culture in the curriculum of English as a foreign language ? 4- Are there statistically significant differences among students and instructors toward English language and culture due to their gender and cultural orientation ? 5- What are the suggestions proposed by instructors and students regarding the Cutting Edge ? The sample of the study consisted of 300 male and female students and 20 instructors at the Language Centre at Yarmouk University.

Two questionnaires were used to achieve the objectives of the study.

One was for students and the other was for instructors.

The researcher also interviewed some of the instructors and students to add more validity to the findings of the study.

The researcher also analyzed the content of the Cutting Edge series: the pre-intermediate level, the intermediate level and the upper intermediate level to find out the cultural aspects in these textbooks.

The analysis of the Cutting Edge textbooks revealed that the textbooks include these cultural aspects: historical, economical, geographical, literary, political, religious, social, man-woman relationship, habits, customs and traditions, and aspects related to the way of living.

The results also showed that there were two trends regarding the issue of including culture in TEFL.

One trend supported the inclusion of Western culture, while the other one believed in minimizing the Western cultural loading in TEFL.

No statistically significant differences or interaction were found in the students’ responses due to their gender and cultural orientation.

Also, no statistically significant differences in the instructors’ responses were found due to their cultural orientation .

Regarding gender, the results revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of females.

Instructors and students proposed some suggestions regarding the Cutting Edge series.

Based on these findings, the researcher recommends that foreign English language textbooks used at Jordanian/Arab universities should be evaluated and analyzed thoroughly to make sure that these textbooks do not include any cultural aspects that go against our religion and culture.

The researcher also proposes some other recommendations related to TEFL in general and the Cutting Edge in particular.

Main Subjects

Educational Sciences
Languages & Comparative Literature

Topics

• Education
• Higher education
• Learning
• Curriculum
• Second language learning
• Case studies
• Jordan
• English language

No. of Pages

215

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-403510