8 They are visually appealing. Commercial textbooks usually have high standards of design and production and hence are appealing to learners and
teachers.
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3. Textbook Selection
The Dominant role of textbook makes the selection of the textbook is an important decision. The important of the textbook encourage many writers
and publishers producing textbook in a large number for various students ‟
level. Swan states, “there are fewer dull courses around their days and many modern courses contain interesting, and motivating materials, with good text,
attractive visual and well chosen reading”.
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Due to that problem, the teachers job is the ability to decide which one of the appropriate textbook for large numbers of students although the lack
precise information about individual students. The teachers need to have enough information about it. The teacher is expected to be wise in selecting
the texts which are readable, understandable and interesting. To be truly effective to choose the texts, the teacher has to pay attention to some factors
influencing a text which includes its vocabulary and writing style, and more significantly can modify teaching strategies accordingly. Thus, the students
will be encouraged to read the material well The information of textbook can be obtained from two sources; they
are textbook description and textbook evaluation
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Jack C. Richards, Curriculum Development in Language Teaching, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001 , p. 254
12
Michael Swan, “The Textbook: Bridge or Wall?”, in Roger Browers and Chistopher Brumfit eds Applied Linguistic and English language Teaching, London: Macmillan pulisher
Limited, 1991, p. 34
a. Textbook Description
Textbook selection is defined as the collection and description of data on the content and form of the textbook itself. They are;
1 Authors‟ and publishers‟ information
The information provided by authors and publishers of textbooks usually leaves much to be desired. Boot 1976
giving in formation as „the provision of pertinent and verifiable
details about the textbook. 2
Textbook review Reviews could be called the most general and widely used type
of textbook description. The most important merit reviews is that they provide prompt information, If, of course, the editors
of journals publish quickly enough. 3
Checklist Both textbook description and evaluation can be carried out at
the basis of checklists. We shall limit ourselves to checklists aimed at textbook description.
b. Textbook Evaluation
Refers to the collection and description of the data on the effects textbooks have on their users. In textbook evaluation usually
distinguish between two, they are; 1
Users‟ judgment teachers and learners Users‟ judgment plays an important role in textbook selection, but
more often than not they are very hard to come by. Most textbooks, in fact, have been on the market for years before the opinions that have
been formed of them become in any way generally known. 2
Experimental research into the effect of textbook.
