CULTURAL CONTENTS IN THE ELT TEXTBOOK PREPARED BY THE INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Authors

  • Nurhamsi Deswila Department of English, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6513-0645
  • Martin Kustati Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-0127
  • Yunisrina Qismullah Yusuf Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Syahkuala Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7187-5117
  • Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun Department of English, Universitas Sutan Idris Malaysia, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0924-0065
  • Besral - Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia
  • Rehani - Department of Arabic Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp222-241

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Learning materials are powerful resources in facilitating students’ intercultural communication competence; therefore, this study aims to investigate the cultural contents presented in the textbook for Year 11 students in Indonesian secondary schools.  Methodology: This study employed a content analysis approach based on the framework by Cortazzi and Jin (1999). The texts, dialogues and images in the textbook were analyzed to understand which culture they represent.  Findings: The textbook contains elements of the target culture, native culture and other international cultures in varying degrees. The dominant culture presented in the textbook is the target culture (57.6%). Elements of native culture represent about one-third of the content (30.3%). However, the content related to other international cultures is very limited (12.1%). When there is a lack of exposure to international cultures, students’ cognitive and affective skills may subsequently reduce and this leads to difficulty in developing their intercultural competence. Revision to some parts of the textbook should be done to meet the ideal requirements. Contributions: The study provides insights into the cultural contents of the ELT textbook used in Indonesian secondary schools and it suggests that the textbook should be revised to meet the requirement of intercultural competence.

 

Keywords: ELT textbook, intercultural competence, international culture, native culture, target culture.

 

Cite as: Deswila, N., Kustati, M., Yusuf, Y. Q., Raja Harun, R. N. S., Besral, & Rehani. (2021). Cultural contents in the ELT textbook prepared by the Indonesian ministry of education for secondary schools.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 222-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp222-241

Author Biographies

  • Nurhamsi Deswila, Department of English, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    She is a Monash student alumni graduated in 2019, who is interested in the English language education especially in young learners. She loves studying curriculum and culture that impact education. She is a lecture at one of the universities in West Sumatera.

  • Martin Kustati, Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

    Prof. Dr. Martin Kustati is an English lecturer. She received her Doctoral degree from the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She works on TEFL, TESL, Semantics Pragmatics, Language Learning Strategies, Research Methodology, and Gender Studies.

  • Yunisrina Qismullah Yusuf, Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Syahkuala Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia

    Dr. Yunisrina Qismullah Yusuf is a lecturer in the English Education Department, Teacher Training and Education Faculty. She completed her PhD in Phonology in 2013 and her Master's in Linguistics in 2006, both from the University of Malaya. Her Bachelor's degree is in Education, which she received in 2002 from Syiah Kuala University. Her articles have appeared in reputable journals such as Language & Linguistics, Language & Communication, Language Sciences, Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, among others.

  • Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun, Department of English, Universitas Sutan Idris Malaysia, Malaysia

    Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun is an associate professor at the English Language and Literature Department, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. She is a teacher educator, researcher and supervisor both at Master and PhD levels in the area of ELT and teacher education. Her areas of publication and research include ESL teacher education, innovative pedagogy and classroom discourse. She was also the recipient of the prestigious National Academy Award 2015, Teaching & Learning Category (Social Science & Arts) organised by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

  • Besral -, Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

    Besral got his Masters degree in English Education from the Indonesia University of Education, Bandung (Indonesia) and Doctor in English Education from Padang State University (Indonesia).  He has been involved in Sandwich Like Program with the University of Illinois, at Urbana, Champign (USA). His research interests include EFL Writing instructions, Micro-Teaching, and Materials Development for Islamic Junior High School and Islamic Higher Education.

  • Rehani -, Department of Arabic Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

    Rehani is a language lecturer. She majors on Islamic education. She has written some articles on education and language.

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Published

2021-01-28

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1: Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

CULTURAL CONTENTS IN THE ELT TEXTBOOK PREPARED BY THE INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. (2021). Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 6(1), 222-241. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp222-241