AN ANALYSIS OF GENERAL ENGLISH TEXTBOOK AT THE PREPARATORY YEAR PROGRAM IN AN EFL SITUATION
Dr. Taj Mohammad
(Assistant Professor,Dept. Of English,Najran University, KSA) tajmohd09@gmail.com ABSTRACT A textbook is usually a published book specially intended to assist students to improve their linguistic and communicative abilities (Sheldon, 1987). Its basic purpose is to achieve course goals, aims and objectives. If a textbook is not selected properly, it directly affects teaching learning environment of an institution. The present research aims to to critically analyze the contents of the textbook currently being used at Preparatory Year Program Najran University. The study attempts to identify whether prescribed textbook
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It is usually concerned when the textbook is already in operation. Ellis (1997) mentions two main approaches: micro approach and macro approach to evaluation of materials for the purpose of selecting, improving and modifying materials to meet the learners and teachers' needs in a specific teaching and learning context. A micro evaluation focusses on the efficiency of the tasks and a macro-evaluation focuses on a general assessment.
In another study Zohrabi and Sabouri (2012) evaluated the merits and demerits of Iranian first year high school English textbook. In this study, quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interviews) methods were used to gather data. The findings of this study showed that English book is structure- based and it cannot meet the curriculum goals and students' needs.
In the same fashion, the present study attempts to find out whether "Cutting Edge" meets course objectives and learners' needs or not. As Zohrabi and Sabouri adopted questionnaire and interview methods to gather data from the learners, the same methodology is adopted in this study as well.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To critically analyze the contents of the textbook currently being used at