The World Cultural Content Analysis of English in an TOEIC Commercial Self-Access Material
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Abstract
This research aims to investigate the cultural components pertaining to World English as they are presented in the listening and reading segments of a self-directed TOEIC study resource. This is qualitative research. The samples were two TOEIC textbooks: Tactics for the TOEIC Test- Reading and Listening Test, and Introductory Course: Student's Book (P) Essential Tactics and Practice. The research tool was a check-list. Data were collected and then analyzed by content analysis. The findings revealed that the study resource includes a variety of accents, such as American, British, and Australian. However, accents from non-native English-speaking countries are underrepresented. The listening materials often refer to cultural practices, holidays, and idiomatic expressions common in the US and UK, with occasional mentions of Australian contexts. Scenarios in the listening exercises predominantly feature business meetings, customer service, and social interactions typical of the western settings. Language Use found that Vocabulary and idiomatic expressions are largely drawn from American and British English, with some Australian terms. Compared to resources for IELTS or TOEFL, which may include a broader range of accents and cultural references, the TOEIC materials seem somewhat limited in their representation of World English.
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