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Imported English language textbooks were introduced in Malaysian schools as part of the Common European Framework Reference of Language (CEFR)’s roll-out in this country through the establishment of the Standards Based English Language Curriculum (SBELC), which is the official English language curriculum in Malaysia. However, concerns were raised with regards to the use of these textbooks. Despite advocates clamoring for the textbooks’ alignment to the CEFR and their contents, critiques were quick to point out their imbalanced cultural content, high lexical density, lack of supplementary materials, steep price point, ambiguous selection procedure, and fitness with the goals and objective of Malaysia’s language program and English curriculum. Doubts were also expressed about Malaysian English teachers’ preparedness to teach by using these books. It is then suggested that English language textbooks’ selection procedure in Malaysia to be refined through the establishment of a systematic and transparent textbook evaluation framework. This will help in streamlining future English language textbooks selection and development processes in Malaysia while preventing any unnecessary outcry in future.
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In-Text Citation: (Shak et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Shak, M. S. Y., Albakri, I. S. M. A., Tahir, M. H. M., & Adam, M. H. M. (2021). The Use of Imported CEFR-aligned English Language Textbooks in Malaysian Schools: Issues and Concerns. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(9), 954–963.
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