Cultural transmission in textbook sets used for teaching Turkish to foreign students

Abstract

This study examines the cultural elements in textbooks from five sets used for teaching Turkish as a foreign language. It identifies the cultural elements included in reading texts, compares their distribution across A1-C1 levels, and evaluates, based on the data, the themes in which cultural transmission is prominent or limited. The study examined 688 texts in 23 textbooks. The study was conducted through a qualitative research approach using document analysis, and the data were analyzed through descriptive analysis. As the data collection tool, the Rubric for Cultural Elements Reflected in Texts, based on the sociocultural knowledge classification in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, was used. The data were evaluated under 7 main categories and 46 subcategories. The study was limited to reading texts; idioms, proverbs, listening texts, and visuals were excluded. The findings show that cultural elements are concentrated under values, beliefs, and attitudes, whereas body language, living conditions, and interpersonal relations are represented more limitedly. Additionally, the category of “other countries, states, and peoples” was examined as a separate dimension of analysis, and it was found that intercultural content was not evenly distributed across the textbook sets. In conclusion, cultural content in textbooks should be organized more evenly and functionally across levels and in a way that supports intercultural awareness. The study offers a comparative perspective on cultural content planning in Turkish teaching sets and aims to contribute to material development for learners of Turkish as a foreign language.