An Evaluation of Senior Secondary English Language Textbooks Used in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Textbook is an instructional material for teaching English as a Foreign Language. Too many textbooks that often contain serious theoretical problems, design flaws, and practical shortcomings are used to teach the students resulting in poor performance. Abundant researches have been conducted in the area of textbook evaluation but in recent past years, not much research have been carried out on the current English language textbooks. The study therefore evaluated English Language textbooks for senior secondary school one in Ibadan, Nigeria. Seven research questions were answered in the study. Survey research design was
used in the study. The participants were 25 English Language teachers and 500 students in public senior secondary schools, Ibadan, Oyo State. Data were collected using a textbook evaluation checklist (r= .76). The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation . Based on the evaluation criteria used namely, development of speech, grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing and technical quality, New Oxford Secondary English came first. Effective English stood in second position out of the seven English language textbooks evaluated while Intensive English came third. Brilliant Macmillan English occupied the
fourth position with the Senior English Project placed on fifth. Nelson Functional English came sixth as New Practical English came last out of the seven English language textbooks evaluated It is therefore recommended that the Ministry of Education, Oyo State should access research findings on evaluation of English language textbooks before recommending English language textbooks. School principals and English teachers should keep themselves abreast of research
findings on textbooks evaluation to know the appropriate English language textbooks to choose for teaching and learning. In a nutshell, has successfully endeavoured to illuminate those time-tested but research-guided criteria that should inform the choice of ESL textbooks by policy-makers and teachers for effective implementation of English Language curriculum in our schools.