An evaluation of primary school year 6 (KSSR) english textbook

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of Malaysian Primary School Year 6 (KSSR) English textbook to determine the extent to which the textbook conforms to the universal characteristics of ESL/EFL textbooks. A modified version of Alamri’s (2008) English as Foreign Language (EFL) textbook evaluation checklist developed by Akef and Moosavi (2014) was distributed along with the textbook to 12 TESL postgraduate students and 18 primary school English Language teachers currently studying at University Technology Malaysia (UTM) for evaluation. The data collected from this study was analysed using descriptive statistical technique which is a quantitative method. The findings highlight some of the weaknesses of the textbook in compliance to the universal characteristics of ELT textbooks. These include lack of supplementary materials and teachers’ dissatisfaction towards language contents and language skills elements. The findings from this study can provide significant feedback for teachers, textbook designers, curriculum developers and policy makers to place more emphasis on textbook evaluation when developing textbooks.