Intercultural Encounters in Learning Material for English in Grade 6 in Sweden : A Content Analysis of World Englishes, Intercultural Accommodation and Intercultural Awareness

Sammanfattning

This study aims to investigate how English learning materials for Swedish middle school support the understanding of English as an international language. Three learning material series, each including a textbook, workbook and digital material were selected aimed at grade 6. The material underwent a mixed-method content analysis using Kachru’s (1985) concentric circles of World Englishes and Byram’s (2020) model for teaching and assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC). The analysis connects the ICC-model to curricular statements promoting intercultural awareness, the use of English in intercultural contexts, and communicative accommodation. The results showed that native varieties (such as British, American and Australian) were represented in the majority, with non-native speakers representing 3 % of all analyzed material. The analysis revealed examples of intercultural encounters featuring both converging and nonaccommodating behavior and examples of attitudes both supporting and opposing a willingness to communicate in intercultural contexts. The study suggests that future research should focus on teachers’ awareness of the intercultural aims of the syllabus and how teachers support the development of learners ICC in addition to using learning materials. It concludes that ICC cannot be considered supported by only relying on the learning materials examined in this study, and the limited representation of non-native speakers may not prepare learners for interaction in intercultural contexts.