Assessing the Vocabulary of Middle-School Textbooks of English

Abstract

The present research paper investigates the vocabulary size of the EFL textbooks designed for middle-school learners in Algeria. Particularly, this study focuses on the frequency and range of lexical items included in the glossaries of the four textbooks with reference to established word lists that were designed for learners of English as a foreign language, namely the New General Service List (NGSL) and Oxford 3000. The results indicate that many of the headwords included in the glossaries of the four coursebooks are off the NGSL list and that a lot of words are difficult, low-frequent and thus unnecessary for beginners. Textbook authors have to consider the selection of frequent and useful vocabulary in the future editions of the middle-school coursebooks of English.