Is Inside Reading Appropriate for Iranian EFL Academic Context: A Textbook Evaluation Study

This study was planned for evaluating a textbook, namely Inside Reading the Academic Word List in Context, book ۱ by Arline Burgmeier, which is currently utilized broadly in English as Foreign Language academic context of Iran. In doing so, a checklist created by Ghorbani (۲۰۱۱) was adapted and applied so as to see to what extent this book adjusts to the universally accepted standards of EFL textbooks. The data were gathered based on the specified standards which consider the relative realization of the general features of EFL textbooks adapted to the requirements of students. These merit scores were extending from ۰ to ۲ showing total lack to perfect match of criteria to their realization in the textbook. Hence, the gathered data were exported to SPSS version ۲۰ in order to be descriptively analyzed. The discoveries for the seven broad subheadings included in the checklist indicated that ۸۱ percent of the textbook under evaluation matched the common worldwide features of EFL textbooks. The results also showed that the book is really suitable for increasing the learners’ level of reading and vocabulary competence, along with improving the use of reading techniques for Iranian non-English college students in General English Courses. It is hoped that textbook developers and language teachers will take into their account general features in EFL textbooks by utilizing appropriate checklists so as to come up with their ideal course books.

Keywords:

EFL Textbooks , Evaluation Checklist , Inside Reading the Academic Word List in Context , Iranian EFL Learners