CEFR Proficiency Levels of Secondary School English Textbooks’ Word Lists in Türkiye
Secondary School English Textbooks’ Word Lists
Abstract
Textbooks are crucial in foreign language classes, especially in young learners. It is almost impossible to observe a foreign language class conducted without a textbook. The quality assessment of younger learners’ textbooks is, therefore, vital considering their importance as language teaching materials. In this sense, this study sets out to investigate the accordance of the vocabulary list of purposefully selected up-to-date secondary school (5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade) English textbooks in the 2023-2024 academic year from ‘The Ministry of National Education Publishing’ approved by the Board of Education in accordance with the proficiency levels of CEFR. All the vocabulary lists of four books were subjected to a web-based analysis program called Text Inspector to determine their CEFR proficiency levels and compare the results to the intended level in the English Curriculum. The web-based program was used to analyze the English Vocabulary Profile of the books examined. According to the English Curriculum Model approved by MoNE, stage 2, comprising the 5th – 6th grades, equals A1 level (Breakthrough) of CEFR and stage 3, compromising 7th – 8th grade, equals A2 level (Waystage) of CEFR. Thus, similar material types and language functions are given to the students corresponding to their CEFR levels. The results obtained from the data show that the vocabulary above the students' intended level compromises 42,5 per cent of the total vocabulary. In 7th and 8th grade this percentage reaches 68.84 per cent. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the vocabulary in the textbooks published by MoNE is quite above the students’ comprehension skills based on the premises designated by the Ministry following the CEFR.
Keywords: CEFR; textbooks; word list; English Vocabulary Profile
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