抄録
Japan's English language education system is often compared with that of Korea, China, and other East Asian countries. Research on English language education in Taiwan is increasing, but much remains to be studied. This research used a comparative and international education perspective to explore high school English education in Taiwan. The investigation focused on lesson topics that appeared in 1971 Ministry of Education (MOE) accredited textbooks, examining particular political factors that influenced lesson content and topic choice.
The goals of this study were to analyze English textbooks for the universal problem of nationalism (national identity and national pride with patriotism) typically found in social studies, history and geography textbooks. If such incidences of nationalism were found, subsequent research aimed to focus on clarifying the factors behind the inclusion of these elements in Taiwanese English language textbooks.
Nationalism was indeed found in English textbooks from the 1970s and 1980s. The decision-making process for selecting specific lesson topics and content was found to be influenced not only by educational concerns but also by socio-cultural, politico-economic, and historical concerns. The research revealed that the postwar Taiwanese government clearly recognized the need for education as an investment in human capital. Moreover, in the 1970s and 1980s, the close politico-economic and socio-cultural relationships between Taiwan and the US complicated the picture in terms of lesson topic and subject emphasis.
