A Comparative Study Of Elementary English Textbooks Between China And Switzerland

In this essay, Swiss elementary English textbook Young World and Chinese elementary English textbook are chosed to be compared from two aspects, that is, surface layer and deep layer. Comparative methtod and literature method are adopted in the essay. According to the analysis of the two textbooks, advantages and disadvantages are presented and some reform suggestions of future Chinese elementary English textbooks are proposed in the essay.Research shows that the two textbooks have much in common in the aspects of designing, pictures, language skills,cultural awareness and so on. For example, the four language skills are intergrated in both textbooks and more attentions are paid to the communicativeness of language. But they are also different in the language input, topics and the arrangement of learning strategy content.Based on the comparison of two textbooks, the reform proposals of elementary English textbooks in China are as follows:(1) the surface structure of the textbook needs to be changed (2) as to the knowledge of language, attention should be paid to the reduction of words and the system layout grammar content.(3) as to language skills, the balance among listening, speaking, reading and writing should be attatched more importance.(4) as far as concerned the cutltivation of cultural awareness, materials of national culture and foreign culture should be selected in the textbooks so that multicultural literacy can be developed (6) attentions should be paid to the usage of supplementary teaching materials.(7) teachers should have more abilities to make their own decisions on textbooks.