CEFR Alignment In English for Nusantara: Evaluating a Junior High School Textbook

In the dynamic landscape of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Indonesia, particularly with the ongoing implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, this qualitative descriptive study addresses a critical need for comprehensive instructional materials evaluation. It evaluates the alignment of 'English for Nusantara' Grade IX textbook with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) A2 level. Focusing comprehensively on four English language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—data were systematically collected through a detailed document analysis of Chapters 1 to 5 of the textbook. A meticulously developed rubric checklist, directly derived from CEFR A2 descriptors, was employed to assess the extent to which the textbook materials effectively support A2-level language learning outcomes. The findings reveal a high degree of alignment with CEFR A2 across all four skills, indicating the textbook's strong potential to foster foundational communicative competence. Specifically, listening activities consistently feature short, clear audio texts related to familiar, everyday topics, promoting comprehension of high-frequency vocabulary. Speaking tasks provide ample opportunities for basic, structured communication and interaction. Reading texts are concise, authentic, and well-supported by visuals, aiding in the development of basic reading strategies. Furthermore, writing tasks effectively guide students in composing simple, connected sentences for practical purposes. These robust results underscore that the 'English for Nusantara' textbook is highly suitable for use within the Merdeka Curriculum. It serves as an effective and reliable pedagogical tool, empowering junior high school students to achieve the targeted A2-level proficiency in English, thereby contributing to their communicative abilities and readiness for further language learning.