The Intensification of Global Social Dynamics: The Case of ELT Textbooks in Iran

Globalization encompasses the growing interconnectedness of different aspects of human life worldwide, extending to economics, culture, politics, technology, and communication. While globalization has brought about positive outcomes such as cultural awareness and transnational cooperation, it has also raised concerns about favoring Western and English-language dominance, as well as creating disparities in educational opportunities and standards. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the extent to which ELT textbooks represent Western cultural values and to explore Iranian teachers’ perceptions of globalization in ELT textbooks. Top Notch 2A/2B books were selected for content analysis, and 10 EFL teachers were purposefully chosen for interviews. The results revealed that global ELT textbooks contain cultural norms that conflict with Islamic and Iranian values, and that the interviewed teachers acknowledged cultural tensions between global and local textbooks. The study provides recommendations for curriculum developers to address these issues.