A Comparative Study of Two EFL Books: Prospect 1 and American English File 1

Melika Saghebi Ghale Joughi

Abstract


Textbooks play a fundamental role in the language learning process. Hence, textbook evaluation is critical, with a significant impact on the learning and teaching process. For evaluating ELT textbooks, theorists and authors have offered several evaluation frameworks based on several principles and criteria. The present study was an effort to compare the evaluation of two English textbooks used highly in Iranian schools and language institutes (Prospect 1 and American English file 1). In order to compare these two books, an evaluation checklist adapted from Miekley (2005) was distributed among English language teachers in Tehran. The participant teachers were told to respond to the individual checklists for each Prospect 1 and American English File 1. From the distributed checklists, 100 were returned to the researcher. The averages of the checked items were reported through the figures in order to compare the books. The results demonstrate contrasts in substance, significance, and attractiveness of courses between Prospect 1 and American English File 1. Thus, they can be helpful for curriculum developers, textbook designers, and instructors.


Keywords


Textbook evaluation, Miekley’s checklist, American English File, Prospect 1, Comparison

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References


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