Critical textbook analysis in Spanish language teaching: identifying neoliberal content

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article illustrates how neoliberalism has penetrated language teaching (materials) in a very profound manner. In addition, it issues something of a call to language teachers and students to become aware of the ideological nature of the materials that mediate their activity. The article contributes to a growing field of research on the links between the content and activities of language teaching materials and the economic, political, social, cultural and historical context from which they arise. It begins with a discussion of the current dominant form of global capitalism, neoliberalism, and what it entails in terms of policies, practices and ways of being in the world. It then moves to a review of previous publications on how neoliberalism has a direct impact on the content and activities contained in commercial language teaching materials. Next, it critically analyses a textbook for adults currently used by Spanish language teachers worldwide. It ends with the two observations, one pessimistic and one more positive: while critical studies on neoliberalism and language textbooks over the last decade have had little or no influence on language teaching materials, there is hope that teachers and students might engage in the kind of critical analysis of said materials outlined in this paper.