Teachers’ Practices Toward Cultural Representations in an EFL Textbook: Preparing Students for A Global Experience

Authors

  • Dian Novita Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Indonesia
  • Moh. Yamin Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Indonesia
  • Wahyu Taufiq Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Indonesia
  • Sema G. Dilna Cotabato State University, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i1.9548

Keywords:

teachers’ practices, cultural representations, EFL textbook, cultural integration

Abstract

Acquiring a foreign language necessitates navigating practical situations that transcend linguistic and cultural barriers. Therefore, it is the teachers’ responsibility to develop these abilities. However, teachers rarely do so in a foreign language (FL) teaching. Integrating culture into the process of language teaching becomes crucial. Utilizing the textbook is one method to incorporate culture into the FL classroom, as it contains cultural material and linguistics.  Limited research has been devoted to pedagogical analysis compared to the extensive concentration on content analysis in ELT textbook studies. The study aims to examine the teachers’ approaches to cultural depictions in an international English for Foreign Language (EFL) textbook, intending to educate students on a global worldview. The present study employed a qualitative research method with a case study design. The study recruited two junior high school English teachers who taught seventh-grade students at a private school in East Java, Indonesia. These teachers had incorporated cultural elements into their teaching. The instruments used to accomplish the research purpose were observation and post-observation interviews. The study's findings have verified that teachers utilized a comparative approach in presenting foreign cultural elements from the supplementary book to enhance English language learning. Exploring the students’ culture and contrasting it with foreign cultures has the potential to inspire greater participation from students in classroom activities. Using this strategy enables students to develop their English language proficiency in both linguistic and cultural aspects.

Author Biographies

Dian Novita, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo

Dian Novita is an associate professor in TEFL at English study Program, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Indonesia. She graduated her undergraduate program focusing on English Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia. In addition, she completed her graduate program and her doctoral program majoring in English Education and Literature at Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia. She can be contacted at diannovita1@umsida.ac.id.

Moh. Yamin, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat

Moh. Yamin is an associate professor in TEFL and Writing at English Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarmasin, Indonesia. He finished his undergraduate and graduate program focusing on English Education at Islamic University of Malang, Indonesia and his doctoral program majoring in English Education and Literature in Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia. He can be contacted at moh_yamin@ulm.ac.id.

Wahyu Taufiq, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo

Wahyu Taufiq is an Indonesian teacher, who likes to learn more to improve his ability to teach. He has two master degrees in Education majoring in two TESOL and Education in Information Technology in Education and training. Respectively, he has received both from the University of Wollongong, Australia in 2011 and 2012. Since 2012, he has been teaching various subjects related to English subjects at the English Education Study Program of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo. Instead of teaching, he is continuously doing research on English and Education, as well as making some books and several articles related to English Education and Information Technology in Education and training. He likes to talk on seminars and workshops related those fields and overseas scholarships like what he has done currently in several occasions in Indonesia and overseas.
You can follow his instagram @wahyu_taufiiq or facebook @wahyu taufiq.

Sema G. Dilna, Cotabato State University

Sema G. Dilna is a professor at Cotabato State University, Philippines. Currently, he is the University President at Cotabato University. He attained his bachelor of secondary in Education at Mindanao State University – Maguindanao. Additionally, he completed his master of arts and doctor at Cotabato City State Polytechnic College. He can be reached at dr_sem01@yahoo.com.ph.

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Published

2024-01-09

How to Cite

Novita, D., Yamin, M., Taufiq, W., & Dilna, S. G. (2024). Teachers’ Practices Toward Cultural Representations in an EFL Textbook: Preparing Students for A Global Experience. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(1), 254–267. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i1.9548

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