In search of a common core of key vocabulary among EFL coursebooks for secondary education in Cantabria using corpus linguistics applications

Abstract

Nowadays, vocabulary is widely accepted as a crucial component in EFL learning and teaching. Investigators have demonstrated direct links between learners’ overall language performance and their vocabulary size. In this paper, we examine the glossaries of three EFL textbooks widely used for the 4th year of Secondary Education in Cantabria to determine to what extent the samples share key vocabulary. To carry out our research, we used the digital resource, Text Inspector, which draws on the corpus English Vocabulary Profile (EVP). A significant degree of lexical irregularity was found among the three samples, with entries ranging from Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels A1 to A2 and significant proportions of vocabulary not listed at all in EVP. Furthermore, the three glossaries have very little vocabulary in common. We argue that this lexical inconsistency can have a negative impact on learners, who are required to take a standardized test of English at A2 level at the end of Secondary Obligatory Education (ESO).