Textbook Analysis: Comparing the Recent and the Old First Grade High School English Textbooks, Teachers and Learners’ Perspective in Focus

The present study was an attempt to investigate and compare the effectiveness of the new and the old first grade Iranian high school English textbooks based on 30 EFL teachers’ and 300 high school students’ perspectives. In so doing, a textbook evaluation checklist and a questionnaire were used. The analysis of the results revealed that concerning the teachers' attitude, these books were nearly the same in terms of pronunciation and exercises; however, the old book was considered more efficient in terms of presenting grammar. Taking the rest of the items in the research instruments into consideration, the new book was more efficient. Taking the learners’ perspective into account, there was no significant difference between the books as far as the presentation of new vocabulary items was concerned. Considering the other pertinent items, the new book was evaluated as more efficient. The findings of this study would assist policy makers to pay more attention to the evaluation of textbooks and consequently the selection of an appropriate book based on the teachers and learners’ expectations, needs and interests.