Cultural Representations of English in Textbooks for Language Teaching and Classroom Practice in the Netherlands: Analysis and Practical Recommendations

Abstract

The thesis “Cultural representations of English in Textbooks for Language Teaching and Classroom Practice in the Netherlands: Analysis and Practical Recommendations” provides two analyses: an analysis of Of Course! 4 VWO (third edition) and New Headway Advanced (fourth edition) as well as an analysis of selected teachers’ views on and practices concerning cultural representations of English. This study highlights the importance of distinction between English as a foreign language (EFL) and English as a lingua franca (ELF). The approach of EFL or ELF determines the representation of nationalities and cultures within the classroom and textbook/workbook.

This study found that the books examined represent predominantly cultures from countries of Kachru’s Inner Circles of English. It is also concluded that the 5 teachers using either New Headway or Of Course! show a slight preference for representations of cultures belonging to the Inner Circles of English. This is in line with the traditional approach of EFL, but seems to the intentions of CEFR and OnsOnderwijs2032. To accommodate the development of intercultural competence this study presents practical recommendations in form of a validated curriculum design.