The Representation of the ‘Ideal Life’ in an English Language Textbook: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

English as a foreign language (EFL) is taught as a compulsory school subject in South Korea, from the third year of until the last year of formal schooling; then again at university, students take further compulsory English classes. There has been some evidence that these classes are not producing students who can speak English (DeMarco, 2011). In this paper I use critical discourse analysis as practiced by Bloor and Bloor (2007), Fairclough (1992), and Kress and van Leeuwen (2006) to provide systematic techniques for describing and later, interpreting the images, topics and discourses within one global commercial, textbook, Top Notch 2. My preliminary findings suggest that this book shows the 'ideal life' to be life of travel, find dining, and visiting museums: a life which characterizes people as white middle-class, slim, attractive, young, well-dressed, healthy, wealthy and happy. What is more, the ideal life is a lifestyle that caters to western cultures and values at the expense of Korean values and agency. English language teaching (ELT) literature has established that when students encounter hegemonic discourses resistance to learn can occur (Canagarajah, 1999).