Week 8 EFL

            I found the article by Taylor-Mendes extremely interesting.  I am sure textbook publishers spend an immense amount of time deciding about photos.  I understand creating a positive image of the United States by using professionally dressed individuals for the photos.  There is a large population of Americans who dress professionally for work on a daily basis.  These individuals are not only Caucasian.  There are many African Americans, Indians, Japanese, and many other ethnic groups who dress professionally.  There are also just as many causasians who are blue class workers dressed accordingly.  The textbook publishers should think outside of their comfort zone.  The same pictures could be expanded by showing a meeting of professionally dressed people representing a variety of cultures.  A photo of less professionally dressed people at a different workplace could be culturally diverse as well.  We like to think we aren’t a segregated country any more.  Maybe we ought to be showing the diversity there is in every aspect of the country.       

The textbook publishers aren’t thinking of the audience who will be reading this textbook.  Middle class white Americans aren’t going to be reading a EFL textbook.  Your target audience is going to be culturally diverse, so the pictures in the textbook need to target a culturally diverse audience.  The media producer’s ideal subject isn’t who is reading this textbook.  The pictures are promoting stereotypes.  

I absolutely disagree with the statement that “students of ESL may find it difficult or impossible to challenge the hidden meaning in the materials provided to them.”  If the students are indeed learning English, the first thing they understand are the pictures.  They are sure to have thoughts and feelings about them.  The captions under the pictures should also provide background.  If you are going to try and represent all the great things that can be had in American, then tell the story of how to obtain it!

Have textbook publishers ever been challenged?  Is the photos of tribally dressed individuals an attempt to be culturally diverse?   Do they understand the stereotype they are creating?  

In the readings by Holliday et al. the story about Martha and Reza seems to be following the pattern.  There are many misunderstandings about individuals that have cultures different then their own.  Martha was trying to “help” Reza by empowering him.  Reza’s background did not leave him in the position to need empowerment.  He was simply struggling in a new setting.  Martha was doing what she thought was right as a teacher.  Most teachers try to help their students in whichever manner that seems needed.  So it seems that even when we are trying to help we aren’t.  Now what?