A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE QUANTITY OF THE NEW WORDS IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS

• Main Authors: Huei-lan Chang, 張慧蘭
• Other Authors: Kuang-hsiung Yu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/58300382308176850906

碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 英語學系 === 91 === The focus of this study is to investigate and compare the quantity of the new graphic word types occurring in the first volumes of the six sets of Senior High School English Textbooks (SHSET) currently used in Taiwan as references of textbook selection and evaluation. The six textbooks are the third editions (2001) of Da-tung, Far East, Lung-teng, Nan-yi, San-min I and San-min II. The issue is mainly explored from (1) the consistency in vocabulary with the five Junior High School English Textbooks (JHSET), (2) the density of new words, (3) new-word distribution in the word frequency list, and (4) the size of new words. New graphic words are discussed not only from the whole book but also the sections of reading selections and conversations (Text-SHSET), which are considered the main focus of instruction. The significant differences of percentages derived from data in each aspect investigated are tested with Chi-square tests and posteriori comparisons. The major findings of this study are as follows.1. There are significant differences in word overlaps with junior high school English textbooks, the density of new words, selection of words by word frequency, and the number of new words among the six senior high school English textbooks. 2. Far East contains the highest proportion (40%) of the graphic words in JHSET whereas San-min II contains the lowest (35%). In Text-SHSET, the highest and the lowest overlaps with JHSET are Da-tung (53%), and San-min II (40%).3. Far East has the lowest proportion of new-word density (20%), and San-min II the highest (25%). San-min I provides the most exposures to a new word (3 times), and San-min II the fewest (2.5 times). In Text-SHSET, the significant differences in the repetition among the six textbooks are not statistically distinct (1:1.6-1:1.7).4. In terms of distribution percentage of the new words in the English Vocabulary List, a 7,390-word word-frequency list, each textbook has a percentage of more than 70% new words adopted from the first 5,000 words, Lung-tung the highest (77%). 5. Far East has the lowest proportion (60%) of new words whereas San-min II the highest (65%). The word lists in each textbook shoulder 18% (Da-tung) to 30% (San-min I) load of new words. The findings have some pedagogical implications regarding criteria for textbook editing and evaluation, the quantity of new words, enhancement of vocabulary knowledge, multiple exposures to new words, and orientation of textbook selection.