Emerging stereotypes about the target culture through popular culture and cultural heritage references in EFL textbooks

Abstract

EFL textbooks are not only grammar references but also a tool through which learners get their first glimpses to the target culture. Thus, their content should be carefully selected to avoid providing the learners with a conventionalized view of the target society which is likely to contribute to create cultural stereotypes. This paper analyzes references to the target culture through the examination of two cultural categories: Popular Culture and Cultural Heritage in five 2nd Baccalaureate EFL textbooks used in La Rioja, Spain. The main purpose of the present study is to explore (i) the status of the target culture over other cultures in these materials and, (ii) the gender, nationality and ethnic stereotypes that may emerge from their content. Results evince that the target culture is predominant in EFL textbooks used by 2nd Baccalaureate students and stereotypes related to gender, ethnicity and nationalities are strongly present in their content.