An Analysis of Ideologies in English Textbooks for Thai Students: A Case Study on Direct Method Reader for Thai Students
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate and analyze the ideologies in a series of English textbooks titled Direct Method Reader for Thai Students that was used during the 1930s to the 1970s and analyze how these ideologies are linked with Thailand’s historical context. The analysis used the theoretical framework of critical discourse analysis and content analysis. The sampling was three volumes of Direct Method Reader for Thai Students. Data analysis involved reading the content, analyzing the language features, and analyzing the ideologies in relation to the context. The findings revealed that two dominant ideologies were presented in the series: the ideology of nationalism and the ideology of morality and discipline. The ideology of nationalism inculcated patriotic feelings into students. The ideology of morality and discipline taught students to respect the adults and know their duties. This study could contribute to developing awareness among teachers about the biased nature of textbooks and encourage them to be more critical about the content of their textbooks, that is, be able to analyze the perspectives of the textbook writers.
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References
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