An Analysis of Cultural Representations in A Senior High School ELT Textbook

Abstract

This study analyzed the cultural representations in senior high school grade XI ELT textbook for Merdeka curriculum. The visual images and written texts that incorporate cultural representations were identified by employing content analysis and analyzed using cultural dimension by Byram (1989) namely social identity & social group, social interaction, belief & behavior, social & political institutions, socialization & the life cycle, national history, national geography, and stereotype & national identity. The findings showed that 7 out of 8 aspects of the cultural dimension found in the ELT textbook. Mostly, the cultural dimension aspect found in the textbook was social interaction. Meanwhile, national history aspect was not found in the textbook. The cultural representation in the ELT textbook was represented in two ways, namely written texts and visual images. However, the cultural representation mostly found in the form of written texts. In conclusion, not all aspects of cultural dimension in the social context were represented in every content in the ELT textbook.