ABSTRACT
While the content of materials for English language teaching (ELT) traditionally represents the cultures of the Inner Circle such as those of the U.S. and the U.K., materials for teaching EIL should cover varieties of values including those of the Outer Circle (ESL countries) and the Expanding Circle (EFL countries), along with a focus on the learner’s own culture. As a case study in the Expanding Circle, this chapter investigates what changes have occurred in the cultural content of English textbooks for the public school system in Japan ever since the inception of ELT in the country in the late 19th century. This research reveals that transitions in socio-political environments constantly lead to tangible shifts in the cultural components of English textbooks. It also shows an ambivalent relationship between nationalism and EIL (English as an International Language) philosophy, as evident especially during World War II.
