In order to conceptualize materials used in pair-work activities from a sociomaterialist perspective, this study examined the moment-by-moment unfolding of 67 pair-work interactions in beginner-level Japanese-as-a-foreign-language classrooms. The types of pair-work materials used in the focal classrooms--either textbook or teacher-designed…

The rationale behind this special issue is to underscore the importance of studying instructional materials in context--that is, how materials and textbooks are used by teachers and learners. Research on teaching materials needs to reach beyond traditional 'armchair' analyses and evaluations to appreciate the place of instructional materials in…

Using activity theory, an offshoot of sociocultural theory, we examined how a group of preservice teachers (PSTs) of English in Chile learnt to design language teaching materials. Data from PSTs, teacher educators, and mentoring teachers shows how the conceptual tool of "teaching English as teaching the textbook" is appropriated by a…

This qualitative study examines moments in the multilingual classroom when materials become prominent in whole-class interactions. Despite the critical impact that materials can have on classroom discourse and learning/teaching, research on "actual usage" of materials in second language (L2) classroom interactions has been scarce…

This study investigated a hidden curriculum in published language teaching materials by tabulating the number of instances that Canada was mentioned in 9 French textbooks and their accompanying workbooks and CD-ROMs. The materials were used at large public universities in the northern United States. For the present study, 2 raters, a Quebecois…

A sample form is presented for use in evaluating the cultural content of foreign language textbooks. (PMP)

The three major Latin textbooks published since 1968 are analyzed and they are shown to employ the latest theories of learning and of second language acquistion. (CK)

Portion of an unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1971. (DS)

Reviews four approaches to selecting language textbooks and outlines points to be considered before selecting. (CK)

This article presents a survey of textbooks for second-year college Spanish courses published in the last ten years. (CFM)

Describes and compares five basic German texts for high school students and includes the evaluative criteria used. (CK)

Paper is published with bilingual text. (DS)

Analyzes representative texts now in use in undergraduate Russian instruction, and seeks to stimulate investigation of texts which may have been overlooked in this survey. (AM)