Cultural Values As Reflected in ESL Textbooks

Abstract

It is undeniable that learning a foreign language doesn’t boil down to mastering the rules of grammar and building extensive vocabulary. Any sufficient command of a foreign language presupposes familiarity with the culture behind it: the patterns of behavior which are considered acceptable, how people communicate with each other at work and in social context, what the attitude to time is, how people relate to junior / senior members of society etc. These factors influence mutual understanding to even a larger extent than using proper grammar and vocabulary. These values can also be different in various time periods. The study presented examines the ESL textbooks used not only in higher educational establishments but also for teaching adults in general. Adults usually have established system of values linked to their own culture; therefore it might present a challenge for them to learn and accept another value system different from their own. Some of the textbooks chosen for this research are British and American authentic ones, and some are the popular ESL textbooks issued in Russia. The aim of the research is to investigate cultural values, belief systems and background information about the Anglo-Saxon cultures and the world these books provide. The method applied is content analysis.