A Study Of Cultural Content In English Textbooks For Primary Schools By People Education (Proficient Edition)

On multicultural background,the cultivation of cultural awareness and cultural consciousness is beneficial to the improvement of students' core literacy,and not only consistent with the English curriculum reform,but the way to make national culture widespread and innovative.The textbooks,which are the window of culture and the tool of cultural teaching,can make the goal true.The author finds that cultural contents in English books of primary school is neglected by documentary analysis,and the lacking contents are not explained in existing research.Thus,according to the theory of multicultural education and cultural consciousness,with the content analysis,the paper analyzes the problems of the cultural contents that includes eleven concrete parts.Also,the number of four areal culture contents made up with local culture,target language culture,other cultures of the world and comparing culture are counted and analyzed in PEP Jingtong English textbooks for primary school.The questions are as following:Firstly,the number of cultural contents in textbook is high.But they are not distributed uniformly.The quantity of other cultures of the world and comparing culture is lower than target language culture obviously.The quantity of history,geography and traditional customs is higher than technology and values.The quantity of target language culture is low in grade six.Secondly,the local culture shows Chinese confidence.But there is a real lack of technology,literature,ethnic culture and national cultures of different areas.Thirdly,the materials of comparing culture are realistic.But the topics are lacking,especially architecture and behavioral norms.And the cultural countries tend to select China,American,Britain,Canada,Australia and New Zealand.Most countries of other cultures of the world are not mentioned.Though mentioned,the cultural contents are single.Fourthly,other cultures of the world show a compatible and harmonious picture of multiculture.But the cultural countries are limited to some economically developed countries,such as Germany,France,etc.Besides,the cultural contents of literature and sports are lacking.With the analysis of the statistical result,the paper's suggestions on design of cultural contents are mainly in the following three aspects.Firstly,enrichthe contents of local culture in three fields:traditional culture,ethnic culture and regional culture.The technology and literature should be especially mentioned.Secondly,enhance the proportion of other cultures of the world by choosing more international countries and increase the diversity of topics.Thirdly,pay more attention to the harmony of multiculturalism by cultural differences.That means harmony without sameness,and differences without conflict.The ultimate goal is to make cultural consciousness available,that is,every kind of culture is unique,and enjoying the beauty of local culture is as important as other cultures of the world.If culture represents itself with diversity and integrity,the world can be more harmonious and beautiful.