The Analysis and Evaluation of New American English File Series based on Tentative Textbook Evaluation Checklist of Joshua Miekley (2005)

Textbooks play a crucial role in language learning classrooms. The problem lies in the choice of the most appropriate one for a specific classroom and a group of learners to meet the criteria expected. The present study attempted to explore Iranian EFL teachers’ attitudes toward the appropriacy of the English textbook widely used in private institutes, new American English File series. To this end, the tentative textbook evaluation checklist developed by Joshua Miekley (2005) was completed by 100 EFL teachers of English private institutes in Sanandaj who had the experience of teaching the textbook. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive,inferential statistics and one sample t-test. The results of the study confirmed that Iranian EFL teachers viewed the textbook as an appropriate classroom textbook since the sub-parts like attractiveness, context, and supplementary sections were proved to be the most appropriate aspects in the American English File series. Since in the current technologically-driven education world language learners have access to the most user-friendly materials, the implications of this study might benefit the material developers and syllabus designers so that they could focus on exercises/ activities, content, vocabulary/ grammar, and background of textbooks to be more appealing to the learners and teachers

Keywords:

Textbook evaluation , material development , syllabus design , EFL teachers