Examining the Cultural Representation in “Four Corners” ELT Textbooks

The current study tried to analyze the representation of culture and intercultural interactions in the Four Corners textbooks. In this study only Four Corners 3 in the intermediate level and Four Corners 4 in the upper intermediate level were examined. The texts and images of the two course books were scrutinized both quantitatively and qualitatively. As to identify nationality, using the Kachru`s model (1985), which divides English into three concentric circles including the inner circle, the outer circle, and the expanding circle, the names and pictures related to cities and countries were counted and specified. Then, regarding gender, all proper nouns and pronouns as well as the pictures depicting males and females were counted to examine the extent to which a balance can be found. Finally, the three categories of white, black, and yellow were used to analyze the skin color of the characters in the pictures in order to identify race. Also, as regards cultural interactions, the researcher considered the three indicants of physical (superficial) interactions, hybridized, and critical reflections. The results showed the expanding circle countries as the main nationality, and the white people as the major characters in the Four Corners textbooks. The total number of males and females indicated a more or less equal and balanced representation of gender in this series of textbooks. Regarding intercultural representation, it was shown that physical aspects of culture were prevailed by the inner circle. The findings also pointed out that much more attention was paid to critical reflections than the hybrid culture, while the critical reflections themselves were not focused adequately, as it would be expected.