Evaluating the Current ELT Syllabus (Spine 3) at Basic Education in Sudan

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the current national of English language textbook writing. Thus, it is not an evaluation of SPINE series. The study is descriptive in nature and it employs quantitative methods for the analysis of data. The materials of the study are the series of SPINE textbooks used in general education in Sudan. SPINE 3 of this series is selected as a sample because it occupies a critical position in the series with three years of English language education before it and three years after it. The sampling is more narrowed down by choosing ten main reading texts which are selected in a systematised random manner (every second and ninth lessons from each unit). The analysis is made more focused by restricting it to two dimensions; (a) selection, gradation and recycling of vocabulary, and (b) Thematic unit planning. A rigorous compilation of the new words in SPINE 3 was conducted. The analysis was carried out by using online tools for text analysis that are widely used for research in this filed. The analysis focussed on (a) word frequency according to the acknowledge General Service Lists (GSLs), and (b) readability indexes. The study came up with important findings the most important of which are (a) a huge number of SPINE 3 vocabulary (672 words) are beyond the level of Grade Eight students, (b) the texts have a high readability index with an average of 6.19, (c) there is no attempt for thematic unit planning, and (d) the vocabulary burden is unevenly distributed. The study recommends the adoption of scientific approaches to syllabus design and made suggestions further studies.