A Study on the Cultural Content Presentation in the New Junior High School English Textbooks

Abstract

As a crucial component of English curriculum implementation, textbooks contain a variety of cultural content. This study analyzes the cultural presentation in the People’s Education Press (PEP) edition and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) edition using the Framework for Analyzing Presentation of cultures in English Textbooks that was developed by Zhang Hong. The results reveal significant differences between the two editions in terms of cultural types and categories of countries. The PEP edition focuses more on the presentation of “cultural products” and “cultural practices,” emphasizing the integration of local culture with everyday behaviors. In contrast, the FLTRP edition places greater emphasis on “cultural figures” and “cultural perspectives,” reflecting a stronger awareness of multiculturalism and intercultural communication. The study suggests that future textbook development should further diversify cultural types, balance regional representation, and enhance the inclusion of international cultural content to better support junior high school students in cultivating cultural awareness and intercultural communicative competence.