Textbook Evaluation From The Perspectives Of Multilingualism And Multiculturalism

As globalization continues developing,English has become a lingua franca.The cross-cultural and trans-lingual communications are no longer confined to the native and non-native speakers.The communication models and guidelines are getting more and more dynamic and diversified.The multilingual and multicultural societal turn therewith becomes increasingly pervasive.As a result,this social trend has imposed new requirements on English language teaching and learning.As the medium of language and culture teaching and learning,whether English textbooks reflect the need of the current multilingual and multicultural social context still remains unknown.Therefore,this study tries to make a comprehensive and systemic case evaluation on Elite College English Course(2015)from the multilingual and multicultural perspectives by quantitative and qualitative methods.By evaluation,the study aims to answer the following three research questions:1)To what extent and how are multiculturalism and multilingualism represented in the textbook?2)To what extent has the textbook enhanced teachers' and students'awareness of multilingualism and multiculturalism?3)How can the textbook be improved in its recompilation so as to fit the current social context featured with multilingualism and multiculturalism?The evaluation in this study includes two phases:textbook analysis and survey of textbook users.Textbook analysis is performed by using the analytic schema of Hu&Mckay(2015),including eleven dimensions,such as topics,pedagogical orientation,language patterns,cross-cultural communication goals,language ideology,language-based critical thinking,etc.These dimensions are used to examine the extent to which the textbook has reflected multilingualism and multiculturalism.Survey of textbook users is extended in forms of questionnaires and interviews among teacher and student participants so as to explore the extent to which the textbook has enhanced the multilingual and multicultural awareness of its users.All 64 units in Elite College English Course(?,?,?,?)(2015)were analyzed.Besides,120 participants(100 students and 20 teachers)were invited to do the questionnaires.Among them,24(18 students and 6 teachers)were interviewed.The results reveal that:1,There exists a conspicuous Anglo-American dominance in Elite,which is reflected from its topic selection,task design,communication pattern and language ideology,etc.2,The Anglo-American dominance in Elite influences teachers' teaching practices and makes it very difficult to cultivate students'multilingual and multicultural awareness.3,Elite should emphasize the cultivation of students' multilingual and multicultural awareness by avoiding the Anglo-American dominance in its recompilation.For example,more topics from non-Anglo-American cultures or local cultures are to be added;more names,places,events and inventions from other cultures are to be mentioned;more content about cross-cultural communication,language-based critical thinking,such as inequalities in access to English,language-based social injustice/oppression and sociocultural impact of English learning are to be covered;more tasks which enable learners to explore their local life-worlds in which English has gained entry are to be designed;etc.