Nowadays, textbooks contain reading materials that are different from outside classroom. Reading materials have to be presented to convey
a message for students. According to Nuttall, here are some characteristics of foreign language FL textbooks:
1. The desire that include numerous examples of a particular teaching
item is the effect of texts that are often contrived and distorted; 2.
Spoken usage is often as the reflection of texts; 3.
Commonly FL texts convey certain facts are expressed in the FL rather than message;
4. Many FL texts are over-explicit so there is no space for the learners
to practice reading skill; 5.
Many FL texts are not made available to convey meanings but playing with words.
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3. The Importance of Textbook
The publishing companies produce many kinds of commercial material such as teaching reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary,
audiotapes, textbook, etc. As Gebhard states commercial materials that are published have two advantages, they are well-managed commercial
materials and also save time.
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In the contrary, commercial materials also have disadvantages: the ideology conflict about teaching beliefs between teacher and author, the
assigned text of commercial materials trivialize the experience for the students, and commercial materials are written for a wide audience not for
specific material, teachers should select them for English Second Language ESL or English Foreign Language EFL students.
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Christine Nuttall, Teaching Reading Skills in a Foreign Language, London: Heinemann, 1982, pp. 19-20.
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Jerry g. Gebhard, Teaching English as a Second Language: a Teacher Self- development and Methodology Guide, Second Edition, Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan
Press, 2006, p. 102.
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Ibid., p. 103.
Good textbooks contain lively and interesting material for teachers and students and the following advantages of it are:
1. Textbooks offer suitable progression of language item;