Study On Hemispheres Based On The Model Of Textbook Evaluation

College English is a significant compulsory course in higher education in China. Textbook is indispensable in English teaching because it plays a vital role in organizing teaching activity, finishing teaching content, realizing teaching objective, and developing students'language skills and learning strategy. In recent years, the English education has been developing fast in several stages. As English Course Requirements for Non-English Majors (syllabus) was issued, a large number of English materials emerged. The past "one material corresponding to one syllabus" printed and plain coursebooks have been replaced by the trend of diverse three-dimensional material compilation. However, the qualities of these materials are not commensurate with the quantities. How to select an appropriate and good material out of them? Material evaluation therefore is rather crucial.Considering the college English teaching situation, the present study constructs a English material evaluation model on the basis of analyzing the material evaluation theories both abroad and at home. The model composes of internal and external evaluation. The internal evaluation focuses on the internal accountability of the materials, the logical arrangement and effectiveness of materials from the eight aspects of guiding ideology, instructional objectives, materials package, materials design, language content, topics, development of skills, and learning and teaching methods. External evaluation focuses on the applicability of the materials in accordance with certain group of users and situation. And the data are collected by questionnaires and interviews.The thesis then makes internal and external evaluation on Hemispheres by means of newly-constructed model with quantitative and qualitative methods. Concerning the participants,200 sophomores from twelve majors and 16 English teachers from Nanjing Forestry University are involved in the questionnaires and interviews. Data obtained are analyzed. Results are discussed from eight aspects respectively, guiding ideology, instructional objectives, materials package, materials design, language content, topics, development of skills, and learning and teaching methods.The evaluation result shows that Hemispheres aims to build a teaching model of "student-centered, teacher-guided". With profound language content, authentic material design, wide-covered topics, large input, and transmitting culture, the material develops students'comprehensive skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translating. The textbook is basically suitable for college English teaching reform and meets students'and teachers'needs. However, there are limitations. The amount of vocabulary is too large while rules of grammar and translation as well as the spoken English material haven't been thoroughly interpreted and presented. Moreover, the Teacher's Book introduces background information in a rough way and lacks teaching activity design. In closing, the thesis proposes some suggestions. Three-dimensional material should be researched and developed further. We should draw on both summative and formative evaluation in order to improve students'self-evaluation consciousness.