textbooks as sources of technology. The term of textbooks has several meanings. According to the Oxford Advanced Dictionary Hornby 1986:893 textbook
means a book giving instruction in a branch of learning. It means that textbook is a kind of book used in some studies at school.
Another explanation comes from Deighton 1971:241 states that the term textbooks refer to the material which are employed by school or college students
as standard works on particular skill or subject. They are designed for classrooms with appropriate vocabulary items, illustration, students’ exercises, and teacher
aids. They range preprimary to the technical, medical, and scientific material used in a higher educational institution.
From the explanation above, I conclude that textbook is a kind of book used in some studies at school as standard works in a particular skill or subject as
standard works with appropriate contents.
2.1.1 Function of Textbook
Textbooks have many functions in order to contribute the teaching and learning program. The primary functions of the textbooks are: to provide practice
activities, a structured language program for teachers to follow; language model and information about the language.Richard, Tang and Ng 1992
Another definition given by Greene and Petty as quoted by Sanjoyo 1991:6 explain some of functions of textbooks that fall into:
1 To express a thought and modern views of lesson and demonstrate their
application in the teaching materials. 2
To present various, readable subject matter that is suitable with the students need and interest, as source of the learning programs to make a
real condition just like in the students’ real life. 3
To provide an arranged, gradual source in the expressional skills of communication.
4 To present together with the supplementary books.
5 To provide an evaluation and remedial teaching program suitable and
useful for both teacher and students. 6
To present exercises and practical tasks.
2.1.2 Value of the Textbook
Within any system of instruction or within any system of instructional materials, the textbooks play certain unique roles. To view textbooks as reservoir
of information is to view them in their least valuable and least useful light. It is not possible for any written record to be completely current and up-to-date.
There are many reasons why textbooks have assumed the role they play today in teaching, including practical factors as well as ideological ones Richard
1993:3: 1
Practical factors
The most obvious reasons for the use of textbooks are practical factors. There are times and cost benefits to teachers and schools in the use of
commercial materials.
2 Ideological factors
One point of view has been that good teaching will then result from the use of scientifically based textbooks or those based on “principled” approach
and which are developed by experts. The ultimate objective of the textbooks is to permit the students to
proceed on their own, by providing the basic facts, concept, generalization required for further study.
The second unique role of the textbooks is to afford the students a means of reviewing and reorganizing his knowledge.
2.1.3 Developing Criteria for Evaluating Textbooks
