THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LIFE PRE-INTERMEDIATE COURSEBOOK IN PROMOTING CULTURAL AWARENESS AND LANGUAGE LEARNING WITHIN SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of the “Life Pre-intermediate Coursebook” (Vietnam Edition) in enhancing cultural awareness and language learning among non-English major students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT). English proficiency is essential in Vietnam, where it is a compulsory subject in the education system. Coursebooks are vital tools for language acquisition; however, their selection and evaluation can be challenging. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 235 students and five teachers to analyze the coursebook's impact on language skills and cultural understanding. The findings reveal that while the coursebook is valued for its global topics and authentic materials, there are concerns regarding its limited cultural relevance to Vietnamese students and an imbalance in the development of language skills. Specifically, students and teachers expressed a need for more culturally relevant content and identified issues with the reading and writing sections of the book. Reading materials were viewed as lengthy and inconsistent, while writing instruction lacked adequate guidance and feedback. The study highlights the importance of evaluating coursebooks and the necessity of adapting materials to meet the specific cultural and pedagogical needs of Vietnamese learners.