Yumin Gao- Developing a Comprehensive Rubric for Evaluating Chinese Language Textbooks.docx

This article reports on the development of a comprehensive rubric for evaluating Chinese language textbooks. To develop this rubric, I first analysed existing rubrics for reviewing language textbook using SFL genre theory as an analytical framework. In particular, I drew on Feez & Joyce (1998) work on developing text-based syllabus design which incorporates a range of SFL approaches and principles in designing a curriculum and teaching-learning resources. A review of the existing rubrics identified four broad aspects that need to be considered in reviewing language textbooks. These include Design, Language, Pedagogy, and Connectivity. However, I also observed that none of the existing rubrics included all four dimensions and there were many variations in what issues were considered within each aspect. Based on this analysis, I then developed a comprehensive rubric for evaluating Chinese language textbooks. In this article, I introduced a new rubric and piloted it through the analysis of a student-created Chinese language workbook, demonstrating its practical use and initial validation.