Abstract
The purpose of the current study is exploring and comparing the representation style of arts & crafts which is projected in the local and foreign textbooks in Pakistani context at primary level. The content analysis was employed to find out percentages of categories and sub categories of reading passages and exercises of the prescribed English textbooks in this research. For relevant data collection an eclectic model was devised as some of the major categories with slight modification were taken from Stern, H.H. (1983) model. The analysis of the two selected textbooks revealed that the Oxford textbook tends to promote activities based on arts and crafts as they help the child to unfold his/her creativity, intelligence and sense of beauty and aesthetics. They help to enjoy the pleasure creativity and beauty through the study of music, pictures/paintings and sculptures. On the contrary the PTB textbook plays an inactive role as it offers insufficient instructional material to its learners in this indispensable area of learning. and activate their artistic talent.
Key Words
Ideology, Socio-Cultural Practices, Foreign Language Education, Inter-Cultural Speaker.
Introduction
Arts and crafts denote to a wide range of activities concerning to make things with one's own hands, in other perspectives. All the handiworks based upon making attractive and useful things by hand are given the names as arts and crafts. EFL learners enjoy arts and crafts as due to these activities, they may learn skills such as colouring, paintings, making crafted items or making things (Prins, 2008). Moreover, Prins (2008) indicates that arts and crafts are a form of expression or an aptitude to do human doings and the products of these events, typically relating to creative or practical skills. Picture making, paintings, sculptures, music, dance, drama, and visual arts are included in this field. In the course of teaching/learning process of L2, it is very significant to have learners motivated with the things they love, and they like to do, they requisite to have the self-assurance and low nervousness and anxiety so that they have better results and not to produce any perceptual barrier which will upset them in their future. Such kind of approach was propagated by Stephen Krashen`s Affective Filter hypothesis. Krashen (1982) claims that foreign language learning should occur in an anxiety-free situation. He asserts that anxiety produces an emotive difficulty that restricts the normal ability to learn languages. Krashen states this barrier as an ‘Affective Filter’. In this regard, it is the duty of teachers to mitigate their learners` this state of affairs as much as they can do by developing program based activities that involve their attention and concentration to encourage them to communicate in the target language and facilitate them to feel efficacious.
This ‘Affective Filter’ hypothesis speculates the concept of an effective filter which is a mental barrier that stops the learners from entirely consuming the understandable response they obtain for the target language learning.
Materials and Methods
The main purpose of the study was to analyze and
compare EFL textbooks (foreign and local) prescribed for primary schools (fifth
grade) in Pakistan to identify arts & crafts activities which are projected
in the local and foreign textbooks. To what extent arts & crafts activities
of the countries in which the texts were written are present, will be analyzed,
versus arts & crafts activities of the local community. Data were collected
from the two English textbooks 5 (foreign and local) prescribed for the primary
schools of the Punjab (Pakistan) province. Units of both textbooks were read in
addition to exercises both written and oral as well as activities designed for
listening comprehension. Reading passages were categorized by themes and sub-themes.
Reading passages that did not fit the previously designed sub-themes were
listed as miscellaneous. Content analysis will be employed to find out the percentages
of categories and subcategories of reading passages and exercises in these two
books. For relevant data collection, an eclectic model
was devised as some of the major categories with slight modification were taken
from Stern, H.H.
(1983) model in
which he proposed six aspects of culture teaching. While in the formation of subcategories,
the researcher has employed his own teaching experience. In this research
project, arts and crafts activities are divided into three subcategories such
as pictures/paintings, sculptures and music. At the start reading passages of the two books were
read and classified based on themes. Themes originally refer to the underlying
thought or general impression of a reading passage, providing the reader with
its general sense and implications. Statements regarding arts & crafts
activities were recognized for analysis, and its sub-themes were identified
Arts & Crafts
Table 1.
Textbooks |
Paintings |
Sculptures |
Music |
Total |
The Oxford textbook |
|
|
|
|
The Punjab textbook |
|
|
|
|
Arts & Crafts
The first objective of the
current research was:
To investigate the
statements by which the arts & crafts activities are projected in the local
and foreign English textbooks in Pakistani context at the primary level.
Table 2.
Textbooks |
Pictures/Paintings |
Sculptures |
Music |
Total |
Oxford
Textbook |
06 18.75% |
07 21.88% |
19 59.38% |
32 |
The
Punjab Textbook |
06 85.71% |
00 00.00% |
01 14.29% |
07 |
Note: statistical figures
in columns refer to the analysed statements and their percentage about Arts and
Crafts:
Arts and craft was the
category devised for the data analysis attained from the two English textbooks.
This main category was divided into three subcategories as pictures/paintings,
sculptures and music. In the Oxford textbook statements indicating the sub-theme
of pictures/painting were reported six times which were 18.75% of the total 32
statements. On the other hand, in the PTB textbook, six statements were
analyzed in this context, with 85.71% of the total number of statements.
After he had…………the Picture, he Showed into the
Teacher. |
||
A. drew |
B. draw |
C. drawn |
D. drawing |
E. drawed |
|
(Oxford textbook 5, p. 130)
·
On the corner of a page of a book, draw a little
picture of a man walking (Oxford textbook 5, p. 139).
·
We see a large number of different pictures quickly
following each other (Oxford textbook 5, p. 139).
·
We see twenty-four different pictures in each
second of time! In between each picture, there is a very short time when there
is no picture at all (Oxford textbook 5, p. 139).
·
But we do not see this because we go on seeing the
picture which has just gone (Oxford textbook 5, p. 139).
·
We see 86,400 different pictures in one hour
(Oxford textbook 5, p. 139).
·
The pictures of our national heroes are also
displayed on the boards (PTB textbook 5, p. 12).
·
The walls of the room are covered with charts (PTB
textbook 5, p. 12).
·
In the Oxford textbook, seven statements were
analysed, which pointed towards sculptures with 21.88% of the total statements.
On the other hand, the PTB textbook did not offer a single one so, and the
percentage remained zero in this subcategory.
·
They built a very big wooden horse (Oxford textbook
5, p. 65).
·
The Greeks left the [wooden] horse outside the wall
(Oxford textbook 5, p. 65).
·
They did not see the door on the side because it
was cleverly made (Oxford textbook 5, p. 65).
·
That night, when the Trojans were asleep, the
soldiers opened the door in the wooden horse and came out (Oxford textbook 5,
p. 65).
·
Music was the last subcategory to be analysed in
both the textbooks. In this sub-theme, the Oxford textbook surpassed the PTB
textbook with a leading margin as in the Oxford textbook, and the researcher
found 19 statements out of 32 with 59.38% of the total statements. While in the
PTB textbook, only a single statement was analysed, carrying just 14.29% of the
total number.
·
The girl sings ……..(Oxford textbook 5, p. 01).
·
They sang the song nicely (Oxford textbook 5, p.
04).
·
He likes music (Oxford textbook 5, p. 31).
While his brother…………the piano |
||
A. Had Played |
B. Will Play |
C. Was
Playing |
(Oxford textbook 5, p. 31).
·
She has sung for five minutes (Oxford textbook 5,
p. 47).
·
She started singing …….(Oxford textbook 5, p. 47).
·
I didn’t use to like music, but I do now (Oxford
textbook 5, p. 50).
·
Zohra was singing and so …….(Oxford textbook 5, p.
86).
·
Helen stopped singing and so ……..Teresa (Oxford
textbook 5, p. 86).
·
Mary sings very nicely (Oxford textbook 5, p. 87).
·
Helen sings very nicely, too (Oxford textbook 5, p.
87).
·
Aslam sings well (PTB textbook 5, p. 03).
Chapter IV was divided into
three portions. Section one was comprised of the detailed account of these two
analysed textbooks, second part discussed the objectives of the present study
and summarized the findings, and the last part offered the discussion on the
findings.
Discussions on the Findings
One of the evils of colonialism was the defamation of the Sub Continent cultures and traditions. Young people are particularly defenceless when they are bombarded with cultural attributes of other people that are supposed to be superior to their own. In both the textbooks, a minor number of arts and crafts activities are portrayed and in public sector schools arts, and crafts are not included in the curriculum as a subject. By the introduction of arts and crafts as a subject to the young learners and involving them in such types of activities in schools, the administration can improve their mental, physical and social development. By introducing arts and crafts as a subject or inclusion of excessive textual material can be very beneficial for the learners in numerous ways such as it enhances students creativity, sharpens decision-making skills of the students, it improves students’ memory and visual learning, it boosts confidence among the students, it helps the learners to be socializing, it also improves self-expression of the students. Arts and crafts not only help in the above-mentioned characteristics but also in improving their academic excellence. Above all, arts and crafts activities are such activities filled with lots of fun for learners.
The present investigation has reported the research findings of the arts & crafts activities should be enhanced that are projected in the local and foreign textbooks in Pakistani context at the primary level. These findings are further discussed below in response to the research question, which is devised using the research objective as a cue.
Research Question# 01
What types of representation style of arts & crafts are projected in the local and Oxford English textbooks?
In the modern world, visual sources of communication are very important. Over the last decades, the importance of photographic materials in education has increased rapidly. Realizing the importance of arts and crafts based activities in the educational sector, the sub-themes of this research project such as pictures/paintings, sculptures and music increase learners’ physical and social development. Arts and crafts activities are divided into three subcategories such as pictures/paintings, sculptures and music. The analysis of the two selected textbooks revealed that the Oxford textbook tends to promote activities based on arts and crafts as they help the child to unfold his/her creativity, intelligence and sense of beauty and aesthetics. They help to enjoy the pleasure of creativity and beauty through the study of music, pictures/paintings and sculptures. On the contrary, the PTB textbook plays an inactive role as it offers insufficient instructional material to its learners in this indispensable area of learning.
Research Question# 02
What is the impact of arts & crafts projected in the local and Oxford English textbooks on 5th-grade learners while learning L2?
Arts and crafts was the category devised for the data analysis attained from the two English textbooks. This main category was divided into three subcategories as pictures/paintings, sculptures and music. In the Oxford textbook statements indicating the sub-theme of pictures/painting were reported six times which were 18.75% of the total 32 statements. On the other hand, in the PTB textbook, six statements were analyzed in this context, with 85.71% of the total number of statements. There is no doubt that arts and crafts activities are actually fun for the young learners and can mature their leaning capabilities and the Oxford English textbook for grade five performed this responsibility well as compare the PTB published English textbook. Arts and craft activities like pictures/paintings, sculptures and music, which can improve and enhance the interest of the leaners and activate their artistic talent. By familiarizing arts and crafts based activities to the young leaners and connecting them in such activities in schools, the institutions will invest in building their intellectual/cognitive, physical, and social development. Similarly, arts and crafts activities can enhance the agility of the students, improvement of hand-eye coordination, make able to students in learning to appreciate art and culture, improve their self-expression, boost their confidence, and help the learners to become social, enhance creativity among the students, boost their memory and visual learning and sharpen learners’ skills of decision making.
Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
The current study has its starting point to view and compare the arts and crafts activities suggested in the two English textbooks in the context of Pakistan.
The instructional material offered in the Oxford English textbook 5 indicates that the key importance is attached to providing learners with diverse sights of English-speaking nations and their cultures irrespective of the context in which this textbook is written. This textbook also indicates that the selection of texts, topics and exercises for the development of the target students’ intercultural awareness and of their cultural and national values. In both the textbooks, a minor number of arts and crafts activities are portrayed, and in public sector schools, arts and crafts are not included in the curriculum as a subject. The analysis of the two selected textbooks revealed that the Oxford textbook tends to promote activities based on arts and crafts as they help the child to unfold his/her creativity, intelligence and sense of beauty and aesthetics. They help to enjoy the pleasure of creativity and beauty through the study of music, pictures/paintings and sculptures. On the contrary, the PTB textbook plays an inactive role as it offers insufficient instructional material to its learners in this indispensable area of learning. Arts and craft activities like pictures/paintings, sculptures and music, which can improve and enhance the interest of the leaners and activate their artistic talent. By familiarizing arts and crafts based activities to the young leaners and connecting them in such activities in schools, the institutions will invest in building their intellectual/cognitive, physical, and social development. Similarly, arts and crafts activities can enhance the agility of the students, improvement of hand-eye coordination, make able to students in learning to appreciate art and culture, improve their self-expression, and boost their confidence. By the introduction of arts and crafts as a subject to the young learners and involving them in such types of activities in schools, the administration can improve their mental, physical and social development. By introducing arts and crafts as a subject or inclusion of excessive textual material can be very beneficial for the learners in numerous ways such as it enhances students creativity, sharpens decision-making skills of the students, it improves students’ memory and visual learning, it boosts confidence among the students, it helps the learners to be socializing, it also improves self-expression of the students.
Contribution/Originality of the Study
The significance of the present study lies in the fact that through the thorough analysis of arts and crafts activities contained in the textbooks, an instrument in the form of suggestions and recommendations would be developed to identify and evaluate these factors as they are found in a Pakistani EFL context. The current study, therefore, offers guidelines in the form of recommendations that can be applicable for researchers, teachers and administrators who deal with the production and use of textbooks at the primary school level.
i. The existing study is noteworthy since it investigates the role of arts & crafts projected in local and foreign English textbooks in Pakistani context at the primary level.
ii. Statistics from the study investigates the representation style of arts & crafts and the impact of these activities projected in the local and Oxford English textbooks on 5th-grade learners while learning L2.
iii. The research is significant as it explores arts and craft activities like pictures/paintings, sculptures and music, which can improve and enhance the interest of the leaners and activate their artistic talent.
iv. The contemporary study would contribute both the curriculum wings, i.e. federal and provincial, in planning a suitable curriculum to make Pakistani kids comfortable in learning a foreign language.
Limitations of the Study and Research Gaps
In conducting the current research work, a huge number of limitations were perceived, and research gaps were generated as publicised underneath:
i. The present research is limited to explore the texts of Oxford English Textbook Grade 5 and the English Textbook 5. So, further researches on below and upper grades of the conducted research can be piloted to view the all-inclusive perspective of the target population.
ii. This work is limited to reconnoitre the texts of Oxford English Textbook Grade 5 and the English Textbook 5 published by Punjab (Pakistan) Textbook Board (PTB) prescribed for the government, semi-government and private schools of the Punjab province. Contrary to this in future researches, the other three provinces of Pakistan can also be included for improved consideration of the subject.
iii. This study includes only the comparison of Oxford English Textbook Grade 5 and the English Textbook 5 published by Punjab (Pakistan) Textbook Board (PTB). While in upcoming researches this circle can be expanded to Cambridge EFL Textbooks and other publishing agencies’ textbooks published for Pakistani learners so, that the results and findings to be more universal and comprehensive.
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Cite this article
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APA : Ahsan, M., Hussain, Z., & Younus, N. (2020). Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level. Global Language Review, V(I), 199-207. https://doi.org/10.31703/glr.2020(V-I).21
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CHICAGO : Ahsan, Muhammad, Zahoor Hussain, and Noshaba Younus. 2020. "Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level." Global Language Review, V (I): 199-207 doi: 10.31703/glr.2020(V-I).21
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HARVARD : AHSAN, M., HUSSAIN, Z. & YOUNUS, N. 2020. Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level. Global Language Review, V, 199-207.
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MHRA : Ahsan, Muhammad, Zahoor Hussain, and Noshaba Younus. 2020. "Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level." Global Language Review, V: 199-207
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MLA : Ahsan, Muhammad, Zahoor Hussain, and Noshaba Younus. "Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level." Global Language Review, V.I (2020): 199-207 Print.
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OXFORD : Ahsan, Muhammad, Hussain, Zahoor, and Younus, Noshaba (2020), "Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level", Global Language Review, V (I), 199-207
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TURABIAN : Ahsan, Muhammad, Zahoor Hussain, and Noshaba Younus. "Exploring the Role of Arts & Crafts Projected in Local and Foreign English Textbooks in Pakistani Context at Primary Level." Global Language Review V, no. I (2020): 199-207. https://doi.org/10.31703/glr.2020(V-I).21