This study reports an experience of integrating local culture in EFL textbooks for Chinese senior high school learners. The main focuses are why Chinese culture should be embedded in the EFL textbooks and how different aspects of Chinese culture have been incorporated in the texts and activities.
This study explores the possibility and feasibility of integrating local (native) culture in EFL textbooks for Chinese senior high school students. It starts by explaining how the New Curriculum Standards requires Chinese elements be embedded in EFL textbooks for senior high school students. It then focuses on how different aspects of Chinese culture are incorporated in texts and activities in the new textbooks the authors have been working on. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches are employed to meet the requirements in the national educational policy as well as the needs of the classroom. The study also discusses to what extent local culture could be included as part of the world culture in a foreign language textbook. This study will shed light on the development of ESL or EFL materials designed for a specific area or audience.
