The representation of foreign cultures in English textbooks

Abstract

A case study of the foreign cultures represented in two English language textbooks used by Hong Kong secondary schools was conducted. Its aim was to investigate whether the representation of foreign cultures in these textbooks reflected the status of English as an international language. In order to do this, references to foreign cultures were categorized into four aspects: products, practices, perspectives, and persons. It was found overall that the representation favoured the cultures of English-speaking countries, while the cultures of Africa were under-represented. The selection of English language textbooks and the implications for redressing the imbalance in cultural content are discussed.