Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis

Incorporating cultural elements into teaching is essential for Indonesian educators. However, a key issue currently observed is the lack of awareness among English teachers regarding the integration of cultural learning into English instruction. This study was to critically investigate how culture...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Amin Dalimunte, Irma Suryani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UNIB Press 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/37954
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author Ahmad Amin Dalimunte
Irma Suryani
author_facet Ahmad Amin Dalimunte
Irma Suryani
author_sort Ahmad Amin Dalimunte
collection DOAJ
description Incorporating cultural elements into teaching is essential for Indonesian educators. However, a key issue currently observed is the lack of awareness among English teachers regarding the integration of cultural learning into English instruction. This study was to critically investigate how culture is represented and introduced in an English textbook at the elementary level. Cultural contents were analyzed throughout the 2021 revised edition of the English textbook for grade 5 of elementary school, published by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC). The textbook was selected due to its widespread use in Indonesian schools and its production by MOEC. To analyze the data, a semiotic critical discourse analysis approach was employed on the basis of Kachru's concentric circle framework. Moran's 4P framework, addressing products, practices, perspectives, and people, as well as Bennett's theory on cultural values, were also used to further investigate the cultural dimensions presented in the textbook. The findings revealed a significant dominance of source culture content, while the representation of target culture and foreign culture was minimal. Of the 27 cultural views analyzed, expanding circle cultures were most prevalent. Our findings also indicated that product culture was the most prominent cultural dimension. The findings suggested that cultural embedment in the textbook facilitates students to have a broader perspective of diverse culture. Recognizing and understanding the multicultural values and their representations allows Indonesian students to develop their intercultural competence, which not only introduces them to diverse cultures but also strengthens their communication skills.
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spelling doaj-art-f8a6024bb60b4d03822b31e270138b8c2025-02-02T11:04:46ZengUNIB PressJournal of Applied Linguistics and Literature2502-78162503-524X2025-02-0110110.33369/joall.v10i1.37954Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysisAhmad Amin Dalimunte0Irma Suryani 1Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera UtaraState Madrasah Ibtidaiyah 1 Medan Incorporating cultural elements into teaching is essential for Indonesian educators. However, a key issue currently observed is the lack of awareness among English teachers regarding the integration of cultural learning into English instruction. This study was to critically investigate how culture is represented and introduced in an English textbook at the elementary level. Cultural contents were analyzed throughout the 2021 revised edition of the English textbook for grade 5 of elementary school, published by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC). The textbook was selected due to its widespread use in Indonesian schools and its production by MOEC. To analyze the data, a semiotic critical discourse analysis approach was employed on the basis of Kachru's concentric circle framework. Moran's 4P framework, addressing products, practices, perspectives, and people, as well as Bennett's theory on cultural values, were also used to further investigate the cultural dimensions presented in the textbook. The findings revealed a significant dominance of source culture content, while the representation of target culture and foreign culture was minimal. Of the 27 cultural views analyzed, expanding circle cultures were most prevalent. Our findings also indicated that product culture was the most prominent cultural dimension. The findings suggested that cultural embedment in the textbook facilitates students to have a broader perspective of diverse culture. Recognizing and understanding the multicultural values and their representations allows Indonesian students to develop their intercultural competence, which not only introduces them to diverse cultures but also strengthens their communication skills. https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/37954Critical Discourse AnalysisMulticultural valuesEnglish textbookMulticultural dimension
spellingShingle Ahmad Amin Dalimunte
Irma Suryani
Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature
Critical Discourse Analysis
Multicultural values
English textbook
Multicultural dimension
title Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
title_full Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
title_fullStr Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
title_full_unstemmed Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
title_short Multicultural values in ELT textbook for Indonesian elementary schools: a critical discourse analysis
title_sort multicultural values in elt textbook for indonesian elementary schools a critical discourse analysis
topic Critical Discourse Analysis
Multicultural values
English textbook
Multicultural dimension
url https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/joall/article/view/37954
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AT irmasuryani multiculturalvaluesinelttextbookforindonesianelementaryschoolsacriticaldiscourseanalysis