Abstract
In spite of the crucial importance of textbooks, their increasing development day by day, and their significant effects on saving time, energy, and budgets, only few studies have been done on textbooks evaluation from a critical discourse analysis perspective. This study aimed to analyze and compare the gender representation in Top Notch and Summit series in order to find out if the gender representation is equally balanced in these two textbooks. The study, thus, analyzed the series in terms of nine major aspects of gender: female and male’s characters, female and male’s pictorial representations, female and male’s titles, activities, and firstness of female and male in the mixed gender dialogues. To that end, Fairclough’s (1989, 2001) models were adopted in order to detect the ideology behind these textbooks. The findings of study indicated that, in most cases, gender representation is more balanced in Top Notch series than in Summit series. The results of this comparative research would also help us gain a better understanding of textbooks currently used in Iranian language institutes.
Highlights
The importance of textbooks in today’s trends of language teaching and learning cannot be denied
4.2 Results of Second Phase of the Study. This part includes the results obtained from analyzing the textbooks in terms of five factors: a) female and male characters, b) female and male’s pictorial representation, c) firstness of female and male in the mixed gender dialogues, d) female and male’s titles, and e) activities
Regarding the results gained from the first phase of the experiment and with regards to dimensions namely a) gender relations in conversation parts, b) total relations, and c) male/female subject positions, as well as the second phase and the results obtained from analyzing the textbooks in terms of five factors: a) female and male characters, b) female and male’s pictorial representation, c) firstness of female and male in the mixed gender dialogues, d) female and male’s titles, and e) activities, it was concluded that these two series sure are biased towards specific gender
Summary
The importance of textbooks in today’s trends of language teaching and learning cannot be denied. As Richards (2001) puts it, textbooks are key components in most language programs In some situations, he believes, textbooks serve as the basis for much of the language input learners receive and the language practice that occurs in the classroom. He believes, textbooks serve as the basis for much of the language input learners receive and the language practice that occurs in the classroom He adds that they may provide the basis for the content of the lessons, the balance of skills taught and the kinds of language practice the students take part in. In other situations, they may serve primarily to supplement the teachers’ instruction. Textbooks may serve as a form of teacher training for inexperienced teachers because they provide ideas on how to plan and teach lessons as well as which formats they can use
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
