当代外语研究 ›› 2025, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (2): 7-22.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2025.02.001

• 教材研究 • 上一篇    下一篇

外语教材编写与外语教育生态重构——以上海市义务教育英语教材“三位一体”的编写实践为例

束定芳()   

  1. 上海外国语大学,上海,200083
  • 出版日期:2025-04-28 发布日期:2025-03-20
  • 作者简介:束定芳,教授,博士,上海外国语大学大中小学外语国家教材建设重点研究基地、上海市英语教育教学研究基地首席专家。主要研究方向为认知语言学、外语教育教学。电子邮箱: shudfingfang@shisu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    *教育部教材研究重点项目“大中小学外语教材政治思想审核机制研究”的阶段性成果

Foreign Language Material Development and the Reconstruction of the Foreign Language Education Ecosystem

SHU Dingfang()   

  • Online:2025-04-28 Published:2025-03-20

摘要:

教材研究主要涉及三大领域: 内容(content),使用(consumption)和编写(production)(Harwood 2014)。全球英语教材编写往往是出版社主导。编写者根据出版社的要求参与编写。编者往往是职业教材作者;国内的中小学英语教材编写基本上也是出版社主导,但严格按照教育管理部门的要求进行,接受官方组织的专业审核。编者往往是研究者加一线教师。由于教材跨地区使用,因此核心编者并非来自同一区域,也并非相关区域教育生态系统中的核心教研人员。这样的教材编写只有在教材开始使用后才会对某一区域的学科教学产生影响。

上海市的义务教育英语教材编写有机地把外语教育生态系统的各参与方以及生态系统中的重要给养(affordances)融合在了一起。首先,编者研究国家政策,特别是课程标准;研究已有的教材,特别是海外优秀教材;研究当地的外语教学实际情况;其次,教材编写组吸纳教材未来的核心使用者,即区级教研员和一线骨干教师等,参与到教材设计和编写过程中来。教材编写组不仅听取了他们的声音和建议,而且这些未来的教材使用者借助研讨和编写过程提升了自己的专业素养,进一步了解了教材的本质、理论依据和使用要点,从而为后续的教材使用奠定了坚实的基础。教材的编写过程实际上就是当地外语教育生态系统主要参与者之间的互动、合作、磨合、相互成就的过程。教材编写与教师发展和教材使用培训融为一体,与教材使用无缝衔接,成为此轮上海义务教育英语教材编写的最大特色,也是国际外语教材编写的一个特殊案例。教材编写催生了基础外语教育新生态,教材编写与生态构建互为目标,互为基础,相互成就。

关键词: 外语教材, 教材编写, 外语教育生态, 义务教育

Abstract:

Textbook research primarily encompasses three major domains: content, consumption, and production (Harwood 2014). Globally, the development of English teaching materials is typically publisher-driven, with hired writers participating in compilation based on publishers’ requirements, often involving professional textbook authors. In contrast, the development of primary and secondary English textbooks in China, while also publisher-led, strictly adheres to mandates from educational administrative authorities and undergoes official professional reviews. Compilers usually consist of researchers paired with frontline teachers. Due to the cross-regional use of textbooks, core compilers are not from the same geographic area nor are they key teaching researchers within the relevant regional educational ecosystem. Such textbook development only begins to impact subject-specific teaching in a region after the materials are put into use.

The development of compulsory education English textbooks in Shanghai has organically integrated stakeholders within the foreign language education ecosystem and critical affordances of the ecosystem. First, compilers study national policies—particularly curriculum standards—analyze existing textbooks (especially exemplary overseas materials), and investigate local realities of foreign language teaching. Second, the textbook development team incorporates core future users, such as district-level teaching researchers and frontline master teachers, into the design and compilation process. Not only does the team incorporate their feedback and suggestions, but these future users also enhance their professional expertise through collaborative workshops and the compilation process. This deepens their understanding of the textbook’s essence, theoretical foundations, and practical applications, thereby laying a solid foundation for subsequent textbook implementation. The compilation process itself embodies interactions, collaborations, negotiations, and mutual empowerment among key stakeholders in the local foreign language education ecosystem. Textbook development is seamlessly integrated with teacher professional development and training for material usage, forming the defining feature of Shanghai’s current compulsory education English textbooks and representing a unique case in international foreign language textbook development. This process has catalyzed a new ecosystem for basic foreign language education, where textbook compilation and ecosystem construction serve as mutual goals and foundations, fostering reciprocal advancement.

Key words: foreign language material, material development, foreign language teaching ecology, compulsory education

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