Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2023)
IJREE 2023, 8(1): 71-91 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Isaee H, Barjesteh H, Nasrollahi Mouziraji A. Screening EFL Teachers’ Perception on ‘Prospect 1’: The Case of Internal and External Evaluation. IJREE 2023; 8 (1)
URL: http://ijreeonline.com/article-1-729-en.html
URL: http://ijreeonline.com/article-1-729-en.html
The department of English Language and Literature, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
Abstract: (5584 Views)
Since 2012, the ELT experts of Iran’s Ministry of Education have developed and published series titled ‘Prospect’ which includes three successive textbooks designed for teaching English to the students of grades 7th, 8th and 9th of junior high schools of Iran. It is a fact that the key components of all educational programs are the textbooks, the efficiency of which contributes to the accomplishment of the pedagogical goals of the curriculum. With the goal of helping Iranian materials developers modify ‘Prospect’ series and improve the overall quality of the very textbooks, this study aimed to conduct evaluation over one of the series namely ‘Prospect 1’ through screening EFL teachers' perception who have been incorporating the textbook in their online and conventional classrooms at least during the last five years. By emulating a model provided by McDonough and Shaw (1993) on the basis of external and internal evaluation of textbooks, a 55-five-point Likert scale questionnaire was adapted by the researchers and the required data were gathered from 46 female and 58 male English teachers in urban and rural junior high schools of Gilan and Mazandaran provinces of Iran. The findings revealed that EFL teachers were relatively dissatisfied with some important facets of ‘Prospect 1.’ Our respondents believed that the textbook is really poor in printing quality, and it lacks attractive and motivating pictures and illustrations. Moreover, not incorporating variant dialects and authentic language, not using modern techniques such as typography and perceptual saliency, and not considering the needs of the learners or different learning styles, are among other shortcomings that seem to be in dire need of modification.
References
1. Ahmadi Safa, M., Ghonche Poor, A., Malek Mohamadi, R., Seifi, Z., & Zekrati, S. (2017). Prospect II: A textbook evaluation study based on EFL teachers' perspective. Journal of Language Research, 9(24), 7-32. https://www.magiran.com/paper/1778600/?lang=en
2. Ahmadi Safa, M., Donyaee, S., Sohrabi, S., Farahani, M., Khasemi, D., & Saeedpanah, E. (2018). First grade high school English textbook evaluation: Prospect I. Critical Studies in Texts & Programs of Human Sciences and Council for the Study of Humanities Texts and Books, 18(8), 1-24. https://criticalstudy.ihcs.ac.ir/journal/aim_scope?lang=en
3. Ahmadi Safa, M., & Karampour, F. (2020). A checklist-based evaluative study of English textbook "Prospect 3" from teachers' and students' perspectives. Iranian Journal of Applied Language Studies, 12(1), 1-34. https://ijals.usb.ac.ir/article_5647_892dcd6766a8bea27335857695cc1228.pdf
4. Ahour, T., & Golpour, F. (2013). Iranian new junior high school book (Prospect 1) Weighted against material evaluation checklist from teachers' perspective. Journal of English Language Pedagogy and Practice, 6(13), 16-35. https://journals.iau.ir/article_523993_506e5422b2a91703fd9d44b3f284d784.pdf
5. Ahmadi, A., & Derakhshan, A. (2014). The strengths and weaknesses of the Iranian junior high school English textbook" Prospect 1" from teachers' perceptions. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, 7(4), 47-58. [DOI:10.18488/journal.23/2015.4.1/23.1.37.48]
6. Ansary, H., & Babaii, E. (2002). Universal characteristics of EFL/ESL textbooks: A step towards systematic textbook evaluation. The Internet TESL Journal, 8(2), 1-9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285764417_Universal_characteristics_of_EFLESL_textbook_A_step_towards_systematic_textbook_evaluation
7. Azizifar, A. (2009). An analytical evaluation of Iranian high school: FLT textbooks from 1970 to 2010. The Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2(2), 52- 79. https://jal.tabriz.iau.ir/article_524129_737532a5ce2d1183368f135e13df1cae.pdf
8. Bemani, M., & Jahangard, A. (2014). Attitude analysis of teachers: The case of Iranian newly developed EFL textbook for junior high schools. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, 7(1), 198-215. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337900990_ATTITUDE_ANALYSIS_OF_TEACHERS_THE_CASE_OF_IRANIAN_NEWLY_DEVELOPED_EFL_TEXTBOOK_FOR_JUNIOR_HIGH_SCHOOLS
9. Brown, J. D. (2001). Using surveys in language programs. Cambridge University Press.
10. Byrd, P. (2001). Textbooks: Evaluation for selection and analysis for implementation. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 3, 415-428.
11. Chang, D. Y. (1996). Applications of the extent analysis method on fuzzy AHP. European journal of operational research, 95(3), 649-655. [DOI:10.1016/0377-2217(95)00300-2]
12. Ellis, R. (1997). The empirical evaluation of language teaching materials. ELT journal, 51(1), 36-42. https://eclass.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/ENL264/materials%20evlauation.pdf [DOI:10.1093/elt/51.1.36]
13. Hutchison, T., & Torres, E. (1994). English for specific purposes. Cambridge University Press.
14. Jahangard, A. (2007). Evaluation of the EFL materials taught at Iranian high schools. The Asian EFL Journal, 9(1), 130-150. https://www.asian-efl-journal.com/main-editions-new/evaluation-of-efl-materials-taught-at-iranian-public-high-schools/index.htm
15. Khandaghi Khameneh, A, & Hashamdar, M. (2021). Iranian EFL teachers' perspective towards the high school English textbook, Vision3: An evaluation based on communicative approach. International Journal of Research in English Education (IJREE), 6(3), 96-116. http://ijreeonline.com/article-1-540-en.html [DOI:10.52547/ijree.6.3.96]
16. Kiany, G. R., Mahdavy, B., & Ghafar Samar, R. (2011). Towards a harmonized foreign language education program in Iran: National policies and English achievement. Literacy Information and Computer Educational Journal (LICEJ), 2(3), 462-469. https://infonomics-society.org/wp-content/uploads/licej/published-papers/volume-2-2011/Towards-a-Harmonized-Foreign-Language-Education-Program-in-Iran-National-Policies-and-English-Achievement.pdf [DOI:10.20533/licej.2040.2589.2011.0064]
17. Littlewood, W., William, L., & Swan, M. (1981). Communicative language teaching: An introduction. Cambridge University Press.
18. Litz, D. R. (2005). Textbook evaluation and ELT management: A South Korean case study. Asian EFL journal, 48(1), 1-53. https://www.asian-efl-journal.com/Litz_thesis.pdf
19. Lynch, B. K. (1996). Language program evaluation: Theory and practice. Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH. [DOI:10.1017/CBO9781139524629]
20. McDonough, J., & Shaw, C. (1993). Materials and methods in ELT. Blackwell.
21. McDonough, J., & Shaw, C. (2003). Materials and methods in ELT: A teacher's guide. Blackwell.
22. McDonough, J., & Shaw, C. (2012). Materials and methods in ELT. John Wiley & Sons.
23. McGrath, I. (2002). Materials evaluation and design for language teaching. Edinburg University Press.
24. Mukundan, J. (2010). Evaluation of English language textbooks: Some important issues for consideration. Journal of NELTA, 12(1), 80-84. https://www.nelta.org.np/uploads/upload/M1CnoN.pdf [DOI:10.3126/nelta.v12i1.3432]
25. Nunan, D. (1999). Research Methods in Language Learning. Cambridge University Press.
26. Rahimpour, M., & Hashemi, R. (2011). Textbook selection and evaluation in EFL context. World Journal of Education, 1(2), 62-68. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1159058.pdf [DOI:10.5430/wje.v1n2p62]
27. Riazi, A., & Aryashokouh, A. (2007). Lexis in English textbooks in Iran: Analysis of exercises and proposals for consciousness-raising activities. Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics, 11(1).
28. Richards, J. C. (2001). Curriculum development. Cambridge University Press.
29. Richards, G. (2007). Cultural tourism: Global and local perspectives. Psychology Press.
30. Sadeghi, S. (2020). Evaluation of EFL textbooks from teachers' viewpoints on the ninth grade high school Prospect 3 based on Ghorbani's checklist. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 7(3), 47-61. file:///C:/Users/SMA/Downloads/1112-3601-1-PB.pdf
31. Salehi, H., & Amini, M. (2016). Teachers' perceptions of the new English textbook named 'Prospect 1' used in Iranian junior high schools. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 6(6), 407-416.
32. Shabani, M. B., & Nejad, A. M. (2013). An evaluation of the third-grade high school English textbook: An Iranian case study. Journal of Studies in Social Sciences, 2(1), 67-80. http://www.ikiu.ac.ir/public-files/profiles/items/0e1322158afe48e1856b7479305df540.pdf
33. Sharabian, S., Kheierabadi, R., Alavi Moghaddam, S. B., Anani Sarab, M. R., Forouzandeh Shahraki, E., & Ghorbani, N. (2013). English for schools: Prospect 1. Iran's School Book Publishers.
34. Sheldon, L. E. (1988). Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials. ELT journal, 42(4), 237-246. [DOI:10.1093/elt/42.4.237]
35. Skierso, A. (1991). Textbook selection and evaluation. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 2, 432-453. (2nd Ed.). Boston: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
36. Tavakoli Gheinani, M., Tabatabaei, O., & Chakhorzade, S. (2017). Critical evaluation of Iranian junior high school textbooks (Prospect 1, 2, 3): Teachers' view in focus. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research Volume, 4(8), 241-255. file:///C:/Users/SMA/Downloads/750-2295-1-PB.pdf
37. Tomlinson, B. (2012). Materials development for language learning and teaching. Language teaching, 45(2), 143-179. doi: [DOI:10.1017/S0261444811000528]
38. Tomlinson, M. (2008). The degree is not enough: Students' perceptions of the role of higher education credentials for graduate work and employability. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 29(1), 49-61. [DOI:10.1080/01425690701737457]
39. Tomlinson, B., & Masuhara, H. (2004). Developing language course materials. Portfolio Series.
40. Tomlinson, B., & Masuhara, H. (2017). The complete guide to the theory and practice of materials development for language learning. John Wiley & Sons.
41. Ur, P. (1996). A course in language teaching: Practice and theory. Cambridge University Press.
42. Widdowson, H. G. (2007). Discourse analysis. Oxford University Press.
43. Williams, D. (1983). Developing criteria for textbook evaluation. ELT journal, 37(3), 251-255. http://textbookuse.pbworks.com/f/Developing+criteria+for+textbook+evaluation.pdf [DOI:10.1093/elt/37.3.251]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
