The use of religion in ELT textbooks and its effect on learners' comprehension Iran: positive or negative?

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to focus on religion in general and Islam in particular among diverse cultural elements involved in ELT commonly referred to as cultural barriers. Knowledge of their use in ELT textbook is of great importance due to the fact that they may unintentionally causemisunderstanding and hence hinder the learning process if used in ELT materials ignorantly; though nobody denies their usefulness if used appropriately. Cortazzi and Jin (1999) classify the textbooks into those who mirror the source culture, target culture and international target cultures. This article distinguishes between source and target language religion with respect to the Islam and Christian differences in worshiping style, burial, birth and wedding ceremonies, eating, having pet, understanding nature of religion, religious song and style of dress. In this study materials were provided through a questionnaire based on method for interlanguage assessment (DCT) and distributed among 120 Muslim students of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. The findings show that ELT textbooks in Iran commonly range between the two poles of cline of source- target language religion. Also they illustrate that this important factor is not seriously considered in ELT textbooks in Iran. Finally the effects of its use on learners' comprehension were investigated and solutions for overcoming problems were proposed.