THE USE OF CEFR IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION REFORM: FOREIGN TEXTBOOKS AND CULTURAL ISSUES

English language education in Malaysia has undergone reforms to meet economic growth needs and nurture human capital for international connections. Since 2017, foreign textbooks have been introduced to match CEFR standards, but concerns have been raised about their cultural impact. This paper evaluates the cultural elements in CEFR textbooks from primary to secondary levels in Malaysia using a qualitative synthesis method and cross-verification. A total of 13 journal articles were reviewed, revealing that foreign textbooks depict more foreign cultures such as celebration, seasons, transportation, food, attire, characters' names, and Spanish vocabulary. However, some elements are culturally neutral. The use of foreign textbooks promotes diversity, authentic language usage, and opens students' horizons, making them more appreciative of others. Teachers are encouraged to be creative in adapting materials if foreign elements are deemed challenging for students.